1987 Rebuild engine, oil light flash, bad sounds

1987gpa · May 3, 2016

Hello everyone, I just finished rebuilding my dads 87 t-type. Stroker kit and cam was all bought in Gn1performance. Everything went back together fine. Rebuild oil pump, new timing chain, Everything was done by the book with a good mechanic of mine.

Dad started to do his 500 mile break in. and after about 200 miles, the Oil light flashed and sounded like there was no oil coming up. Dad took it to a shop here in Seattle, and right away they said it needs a engine.

Now I can hear everything moving and no rod sounds and lifters are working.

What do you guys think could have happen.

Oil was primed before engine went into car. everything was great.

I know its hard to say what happened over the internet. But I just feel bad for my dad, he spend all this money and now the shop wants $5k to do a new engine.

Any ideas would be great.

And sorry if i posted this in the wrong area.

TurboBob · May 3, 2016

how far was it driven after the oil light came on?

what diagnosis did the shop do before they declared the engine dead?

what does your mechanic friend say? Has he gone to look at it?

Chuck Leeper · May 3, 2016

What Bob said^^^^^^^^^^^

TurboBuRick · May 3, 2016

Sounds like the bearings self clearance'd. Was the block checked and line honed prior to assembly?

Thats a bitter pill..

Nick Micale · May 3, 2016

1987gpa said:
Hello everyone, I just finished rebuilding my dads 87 t-type. Stroker kit and cam was all bought in Gn1performance. Everything went back together fine. Rebuild oil pump, new timing chain, Everything was done by the book with a good mechanic of mine..........

And sorry if i posted this in the wrong area.

There is no book on building a V-6 Biuck striker, experience is the key.

Take it apart and see what is screwed up?

TurboBob · May 3, 2016

could be:
oil filter collapsed inside
oil galley plug blew out
oil pump failure, or pressure regulator stuck
cam bearing slipped
main/rod bearing failed or spun
oil pickup loose
rope oil seal failure clogging the pickup screen
all the oil leaked out

among others.

Bob

Jerryl · May 3, 2016

Add to what Bob said;
Incorrect cam bearing
Oil gallery clearance broke through
Rear cam bearing incorrectly installed
Cam sensor gear pin sheared

1987gpa · May 5, 2016

TurboBob said:
how far was it driven after the oil light came on?

what diagnosis did the shop do before they declared the engine dead?

what does your mechanic friend say? Has he gone to look at it?

He drove less than a block.
The shop took off the oil filter and said that there is too much metal to be normal.
They also said something about a flat cam and why we did not use a roller type. This is the info I got from my dad.

They said we should know something by Friday about what they think, but they are leaning towards a rebuild.

turbocamino1 · May 5, 2016

call the shop back... tell them to push it outside... salvage heads,scrap the rest.... start over...you will be miles ahead financially. sorry for your loss.

1987gpa · May 5, 2016

turbocamino1 said:
call the shop back... tell them to push it outside... salvage heads,scrap the rest.... start over...you will be miles ahead financially. sorry for your loss.

Yeah it is what it is. Non GNnorthwest will rebuild it. But I still want to know what really happened. So once I do, ill let you guys know.

Thanks

1987 Rebuild engine, oil light flash, bad sounds

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