Alpheus
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2009
- Messages
- 1,759
I was perusing around Craigslist the other day and happened across this add.
http://norfolk.craigslist.org/pts/1528192379.html
I figured that's a pretty good price for a rebuilt small block, Ill bite.
I call him up and run down to the OBX to have a look. He tells me that the engine was totally rebuilt using new pistons,rings,bearings,mild cam,lifters, the whole kitten caboodle. He shows me all of the receipts for the machine shop work for hot tank,magna flux, line boring,cam bearings, cylinder boring and honing. He said that after he rebuilt the engine he installed it in his truck and it ran like crap. He said it was missing and not firing on all cylinders. He did a leak down test and found that the # 2 cylinder had no compression and he figured he must have broken a piston ring.
After hearing this story I noticed 4 piston rings sitting on top of the engine. He told me they were extras in the kit. I thought it was weird but OK.I tried to talk him down a little but I ended up paying 300 bucks for it. I get it home and start tearing it down. I pulled off the oil pan and checked the main bearings and the rod bearings, and sure enough they are brand new. I pulled of the intake and heads and removed the # 2 piston and was in shock at what I found, or didn't find. There was no piston rings on it. The oil scrapers were there but no compression rings. I pulled the rest of the pistons out and the # 6 piston didn't have any rings either. This explains why it ran like crap and didn't have any compression. It also explains why there were "extra" piston rings in the kit. Not only that but all of the ring gaps were in perfect alignment, right down to the oil scrapers.
I called the guy up and asked him who assembled the engine. He said why? I told him what I found and he said" You have got to be ***** me! Well my guys put it together". I just thought this was funny because this guy owns an engine shop. I put the "extra" rings on the pistons and put it all back together. Now I have an extra engine for my boat just in case...
http://norfolk.craigslist.org/pts/1528192379.html
I figured that's a pretty good price for a rebuilt small block, Ill bite.
I call him up and run down to the OBX to have a look. He tells me that the engine was totally rebuilt using new pistons,rings,bearings,mild cam,lifters, the whole kitten caboodle. He shows me all of the receipts for the machine shop work for hot tank,magna flux, line boring,cam bearings, cylinder boring and honing. He said that after he rebuilt the engine he installed it in his truck and it ran like crap. He said it was missing and not firing on all cylinders. He did a leak down test and found that the # 2 cylinder had no compression and he figured he must have broken a piston ring.
After hearing this story I noticed 4 piston rings sitting on top of the engine. He told me they were extras in the kit. I thought it was weird but OK.I tried to talk him down a little but I ended up paying 300 bucks for it. I get it home and start tearing it down. I pulled off the oil pan and checked the main bearings and the rod bearings, and sure enough they are brand new. I pulled of the intake and heads and removed the # 2 piston and was in shock at what I found, or didn't find. There was no piston rings on it. The oil scrapers were there but no compression rings. I pulled the rest of the pistons out and the # 6 piston didn't have any rings either. This explains why it ran like crap and didn't have any compression. It also explains why there were "extra" piston rings in the kit. Not only that but all of the ring gaps were in perfect alignment, right down to the oil scrapers.
I called the guy up and asked him who assembled the engine. He said why? I told him what I found and he said" You have got to be ***** me! Well my guys put it together". I just thought this was funny because this guy owns an engine shop. I put the "extra" rings on the pistons and put it all back together. Now I have an extra engine for my boat just in case...
