90 Voyage(r) to SDAC!

[wheming]

Oh no. That's kinda heartbreaking.

When I was installing the new trans and converter in slug, I marked the torque converter on the groove before installation. When I went to do the timing I saw no mark when everthing else was right. Turns out that torque converter had two grooves 180 deg apart, and I picked the wrong one.

[Pat]

That is a bummer....keep on it though!

[moparman76_69]

What pistons do you need? I have some stock 2.5s I can send you.

[Captain Chaos]

I just wanna say you are a real trooper...it would be hard for most of us to keep going at this point, but you aren't going down without a big fight!

I concur. Sorry to hear about the misfortune.

And I wouldn't have guessed that brown paint looked so nice on a van, congrats!

Are you saying you like it in the brown? lol

[jonnyb]

What pistons do you need? I have some stock 2.5s I can send you.

I wish the block was stock - I've got a good set of stock mahle's on the shelf too, but unfortunately it's bored .040 so it looks like my only choices are junk hypers or forged. Thanks for the offer though. Although, with that much timing and the amount of pinging I heard when it let loose, I have to say that the hypers that were in there held up better than I thought (well, at least 2 of them did...LOL!).

The only forged I see with the stock size wrist pins are the wiseco's, so I'm going to give Chris a call shortly and see if he has any in stock that he can to a quick ship on. I doubt I'll get that lucky that he has a set of 2.5 .040's, but who knows.

I'm bummed though - the block and head are not crossdrilled and I used my last 005 gasket when I put it together. As far as I know, you can't get those anymore. The gasket surprisingly looks fine. Would it be bad to try to copper spray and reuse? I've seen others who have had success doing that.

Anyway - off to work so I can earn money to buy more parts....LOL!

Jon

[wheming]

I have a few 006 (I think) gaskets. I could send you one, but not sure the best way to ship to be sure it gets there intack.
And the gasket is new but older date stamp. I have a similar one in Slug right now.

[2.216VTurbo]

Awe Johnny that blows man! Gotta say I am impressed that you just keep after it. I'd prolly push it into the corner of the shop and let it mock me for months and months I am pulling for the Voyage(R) to make it to SDAC

[BadAssPerformance]

I am pulling for the Voyage(R) to make it to SDAC

Plus infinity!

[jonnyb]

Just got off the phone with Chris at TU - he's got some .040 wiseco's in stock and he's going to overnight them to me. I have 2 spare 006 gaskets Wayne, but I'm bummed that this had to happen to my last 005 and I'm really thinking about reusing it, but I don't really want to to this again in a couple days...LOL! I most likely try to modify one of my 006's to make it work though.

So let's see - get pistons tomorrow, get block prepped wednesday, put shortblock together wednesday night, plop head on and get it running thursday. I've got plenty of time...I mean, who wouldn't just jump into a fresh rebuild and drive it 600-700 miles to race...LOL!

Jon

[wheming]

Sounds like you got a plan!
Going to be a busy week.
Those things make my issues seem small...

[Captain Chaos]

We're pullin n prayin for ya.

[csxtra]

Jon and Wayne:

[wheming]

Oh no...
Plans could change for me if I need to go to FL instead...

[jonnyb]

Jon and Wayne:

Sweet! LOL!

Well, I just got home a few minutes ago and the pistons weren't there. They were overnighted via the USPS and all I got for the overnight fee was a piece of paper saying that I need to sign for them before they can be delivered and if I want them today I have to pick them up between 4:45 and 5PM at the post office. Otherwise I can sign for it and leave the slip, and they'll deliver them in two days (Friday) or I can pick them up between 8:30AM and 5PM tomorrow or Thursday. I leave for work at 7:30 and get home around 5:30, so I guess I'm not going to see those pistons until Thursday (I have that day off), and that won't work - way too late! Gee thanks USPS!

I guess it's OK though. Last night I cleaned up the head and there was some minor damage that looked like it would clean up easily, but then I noticed exhaust valve/seat #4 looked like it took some damage. I started thinking about the time to pull apart that entire head and inspect it and was weighing that with the unknowns of going with another spare head I have, but have never ran. And quite honestly, neither made me comfortable! LOL!

So I was thinking about just putting the original engine mated to the new trans in to cut down on the variables. That engine ran fine - just the trans was quirky. So this piston snafu sealed the deal on that thinking. It won't be as fun as a the nice garret turbo that was on the new motor, but at least I'll have confidence in the reliability of the entire engine and the only new variable will the trans and tc (and the front mount intercooler, but that shouldn't really change anything reliability wise).

Man - I just looked at my back in the mirror to confirm there's no string coming out of it - because I sure do feel like I'm a yo-yo being pulled back and forth!

OK - time to go out and pull the rest of the drivetrain - can't say I'm going to work at it too long though...mother nature is not co-operating again and there's some pretty bad rain out there again. I think I need to spend less money on cars and more money on garage space!

[wheming]

Well that's a bummer, but your decision is a good one.
Last year when I found I had bad motors I gave up. And I almost feel like doing that this year too. I really wanted MeanMini there.
And Slug doesn't look like she'll be in race shape. Mini's calibration in Slug seems like it has some issues.
So it has all taken the wind out of my sails. And getting sick didn't help either!

[jonnyb]

OK - engine/trans are out. Enough playing in the rain for me today. There's no rain in the forecast for the next couple of days, so hopefully tomorrow after work I can clean up the original motor a little bit, bolt the new trans up and get them dropped in. Then I'll button it up on Thursday hopefully by late morning (have the day off) and take the official plan B test drive...LOL!

Things to do once it's up and running:
- apply emblems, new decals and stripe set
- install johnny's rear sway bar
- fix and install rear hatch trim that got dropped and shattered

That's not too bad - if all goes well with the test drive...LOL!

I have all new AC components that I was wanting to put in so that I have functioning AC for the trip, but I don't think I'll have time for that and it will just be in the way and a pain when I go to swap the new motor in after SDAC.

[jonnyb]

Well, the van made it here - 2:42AM and I'm beat. Kelly and I hit so much traffic on the way out the 12 hour drive turned into a 14.5 hour drive. While the van isn't anywhere near what I'd hoped, at least it got me here without incident!

[Pat]

You are a trooper! Have a great time

[Captain Chaos]

You are a trooper! Have a great time

+11ty billion

[wheming]

Nice!
Way to go Jon!