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By Scooter - 5 Months Ago
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Hello. First post, so probably going to drop alot of information to start. Such as what I have found in my "good 312 engine".
As I was told it had the top end rebuilt 2 owners back and was in running condition. I dropped it in the car and started it. Smoked alot but no odder and no distinguished color. Driving it showed blue smoke. Thankfully I didn't drive it far or run it for long.
Pulled the heads and found about an ounce of oil in a few of the cylinders. Had three spark plugs that showed a good fire, the rest were oil soaked.
Did I mention I heard a clattering sound at idle? Turns out the engine was bored .030 over and someone stuck a single standard bore piston in the block. Other things that were found upon disassembly were 5 of the oil control rings installed improperly, crank undersized .010/.010 with standard connecting rod bearings, number 3 connect rod cap installed 180 degrees out, oh and standard size rings installed. I did not pull the cam and really don't want to. I know I should but I'm already pushing my budget and the oil flow to the heads wasn't horrible.
Needless to say my mind was blown at what I found. I ordered a new set of crank bearings, connecting rod bearings, double roller timing set, .030 over rings and a new .030 over piston, but the weight is 20g heavier than the weight I gave to the supplier. How big of a deal is this and should I remove more weight from the pison?
Hopefully the question isn't lost in all of that info.
Thanks
Scooter
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By DryLakesRacer - 5 Months Ago
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If you have a gram scale find some aluminum that weighs 20 grams to see what it looks like. With a dremel grinder and a burr you can find a lot of areas to remove metal. I have taken 15 grams out of one once and I believe left it 5 grams heavy and it ran many thousands of miles in a pickup. I had to fix a friends 292 YBlock that was .040” over and power honed one cylinder to .050” over which is a std 312 and he bought a replacement piston that was 2 grams over the one we took out. It ran like a top.
Sinceyou have it apart I would put positive seals on the valve and just relap them. Good Luck.
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By Scooter - 4 Months Ago
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Thanks. How close should I get it?
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By Scooter - 4 Months Ago
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Also don't think I can go with positive seal type valve seals. Heads are stock. Valves are probably at the limit for end play but they seal.
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By Ted - 4 Months Ago
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Welcome to the site. I trust you did not pay too much for that engine but as a core, it’s still worth something. Just the 312 crankshafts by themselves are bringing premium prices.
Removing 20 grams from a single piston is a substantial amount. The factory variance for piston weights tends to be about six grams but a professional balance job will get those variances down to a ½ gram variance or less. Rather than trying to lighten the piston for the whole amount, you might have better results finding a lighter wrist pin for that particular piston and approaching the weight reduction from that direction.
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By Scooter - 4 Months Ago
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Thanks Ted.Spent $800 on the whole engine, with dual exhaust cast manifolds, 4 barrel intake with a Edlebrock Carb, 12v generator and starter.
Could I remove metal from the center of my current wrist pin? I can take it to work and slap it in the lath. there is a lot of meat left in the bottom of the piston. The weight difference is probably my fault as I used our Kitchen scale to weigh the existing piston for the weight. All I know is that my existing piston comes up a 758g and the new one comes up at 776g. it is a Silv-O-Lite piston.
I have some other questions While I am at it. I did remove the cam. The number three bearing felt pretty good. possibly has a little bit of wear, but barely Feel it. Nervous about replacing them as I have heard the bearing sets out there now for the Cams are questionable. I am curious about what the cam is. I believe it's stock. Has ECZ with an A below it behind the first journal and a 32 after the first lobe. I would like to share the build with the forum as I am sure there are things I am missing. Just not sure which folder to put it in. I have alot of pictures and some videos if anyone is interested.
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