I'll also add that my brother built my 347 stroker motor and I've had two major issues with it so far, neither one was his fault. The first was that after it was built, I installed the rear pilot bearing into the crank (my first time ever) and didn't know that it was supposed to be flush with the back of the block. Of course, it was sticking out because the stroker kit manufacturer (EAGLE) didn't drill the back of the crank deep enough to have it sit flush. Being a rookie at installing this bearing and installing the engine (first time on my own), I didn't pick up on it. A month after installation, I'm up at New England Dragway and on my first pass, the flywheel was hitting the back of the block and making a rapping sound. Yep, the transmission pushed on that bearing so badly, it moved the crank forward in the block and wiped out all the main bearings while also ruining the crank. One thousand dollars later, I had a new balanced crank that was drilled correctly and the car ran like an animal! Passes at the track were in the 11.50 - 11.80 range at 118 - 121. It lasted one year and then I lost oil pressure because a .30 cent snap ring broke off of one of my Comp Cams rocker arms, got into the aftermarket oil pan and matching pickup tube (no screen like a factory Ford unit) and into the oil pump, locking it up. WTF! Luckily, I heard the noise, looked at the oil pressure gauge, and shut it off immediately, saving my stroker kit and block!
We're about to dive into fixing it and I'll be making some changes for sure (single guide plates for each push rod instead of the standard issue guide plates that control two pushrods at once, steel rocker arms instead of the weaker aluminum bodied rocker arms, and a girdle on top of everything). Like you guys, we've had our frustrations with our own stuff and it happens. Yes, it sucks but perseverance will get you through it. Here's to hoping it gets fixed correctly and your dad gets to beat the bag out of it as much as he wants!
By the way, I called Eagle about the incorrectly drilled crank and they said that they make two stroker kits, one for the early four speeds that use a pilot bushing (which isn't as deep) and one for the later model five speeds that use a pilot bearing (which is deeper). Hmmm, how come they don't advertise that when you're buying a stroker kit? They also said that if we had noticed that BEFORE the installation of the crank in the block, they would have sent out another crank. My brother now checks EVERYTHING and doesn't assume anything is machined correctly when he buys something.
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