Another engine bites the dust...

[Shawn]

For the last two years, I've been slowly collecting parts to get my K5 back on the road. I had purchased a built 406 SBC, with forged internals and also purchased some nice AFR heads to go with it along with roller cam, MPFI, etc. Before installing it, I decided to take it by my local machine shop and have them inspect it. Unfortunately, I got bad news today from my machine shop and was told one of the steam holes had cracked into the cylinder wall from the previous owner. I have no recourse going back to the guy since it was well over a year ago when I bought it. So now I'm looking at buying a new Dart Little M block... I thought about buying another used GM block but after you spend the money to machine the splayed main caps, and other services, price is fairly close to a new Dart block. With estimated 500+ at the crank, and possible forced induction in the future, it makes more sense to upgrade to a stronger block.

For a good a laugh, I went through all the engines I have gone through for the K5-

K5 Engine History-
350 ci- Stock, not enough power
383 ci- Lost bearings and crank due to oil pump pickup not welded to pump
454 ci- Used. Lost main bearings due to improper clean and build
454 ci- New. Not enough power due to crappy peanut port heads
496 ci- Spun rod bearings, lost crank due to bad machine work
540 ci- Never installed- sold due to finances
496 ci- Used, never installed. Change mind for 406 SBC
406 ci- Used, never installed. Found crack in GM block
406 ci- New Dart Block ordered. Will use rotating assembly from engine above

Wondering if I hold the record on most engines for one K5!

 

[badmix]

Nice..im still on my stock 305cid at 143k on the odo.

You need to just go with a Merlin 500cid and be done with it.

 

[scottsdale86]

290HP crate engine from GM Goodwrench. For what i need and want a truck for it is perfect for me. As far as I know (3rd owner) this is the 4th engine in the truck.

 

[76zimmer]

For the last two years, I've been slowly collecting parts to get my K5 back on the road. I had purchased a built 406 SBC, with forged internals and also purchased some nice AFR heads to go with it along with roller cam, MPFI, etc. Before installing it, I decided to take it by my local machine shop and have them inspect it. Unfortunately, I got bad news today from my machine shop and was told one of the steam holes had cracked into the cylinder wall from the previous owner. I have no recourse going back to the guy since it was well over a year ago when I bought it. So now I'm looking at buying a new Dart Little M block... I thought about buying another used GM block but after you spend the money to machine the splayed main caps, and other services, price is fairly close to a new Dart block. With estimated 500+ at the crank, and possible forced induction in the future, it makes more sense to upgrade to a stronger block.

For a good a laugh, I went through all the engines I have gone through for the K5-

K5 Engine History-
350 ci- Stock, not enough power
383 ci- Lost bearings and crank due to oil pump pickup not welded to pump
454 ci- Used. Lost main bearings due to improper clean and build
454 ci- New. Not enough power due to crappy peanut port heads
496 ci- Spun rod bearings, lost crank due to bad machine work
540 ci- Never installed- sold due to finances
496 ci- Used, never installed. Change mind for 406 SBC
406 ci- Used, never installed. Found crack in GM block
406 ci- New Dart Block ordered. Will use rotating assembly from engine above

Wondering if I hold the record on most engines for one K5!

Do you have a quick disconnect wiring harness/hoses'/exhaust/etc yet?

 

[Deuling]

Dang i beleive my 305 is the original but no idea. Original owner passed away so i bought it from his cousin. He thought it had a 350.... But then i scratched the paint off the sticker lol. My heart sank haha. Oh well 408 soon .

 

[thatK30guy]

I swear you have the shiittiest luck with motors.

 

[jwilson76]

Have you looked on http://www.racingjunk.com, you can usually find decent deals. You might consider a GM Bowtie block instead of the Dart if price is a concern. The 184 blocks come with the 4 bolt splayed caps and can handle the power you would be looking at.

 

[imiceman44]

I swear you have the shiittiest luck with motors.

Either that or he is hard on the engines.
Half of them was abuse or blamed the builder.

 

[Shawn]

Nice..im still on my stock 305cid at 143k on the odo.

You need to just go with a Merlin 500cid and be done with it.

I wish I could afford a Merlin! The 540 I had before would of been cool to install but hard on gas.

290HP crate engine from GM Goodwrench. For what i need and want a truck for it is perfect for me. As far as I know (3rd owner) this is the 4th engine in the truck.

Nice!

Do you have a quick disconnect wiring harness/hoses'/exhaust/etc yet?

You would think! I can now remove and install engines while in my sleep.

Dang i beleive my 305 is the original but no idea. Original owner passed away so i bought it from his cousin. He thought it had a 350.... But then i scratched the paint off the sticker lol. My heart sank haha. Oh well 408 soon .

You will love the 408!

I swear you have the shiittiest luck with motors.

I know... Sucks! Funny how I can push 730whp with a turbo 4 banger, abuse the crap out of it and not have a single issue!

Have you looked on http://www.racingjunk.com, you can usually find decent deals. You might consider a GM Bowtie block instead of the Dart if price is a concern. The 184 blocks come with the 4 bolt splayed caps and can handle the power you would be looking at.

I need to look more on racingjunk.com but I'm so tired of getting used parts that have an issue I later find. Good idea on the 184 block even though the new Dart block is on its way.

Either that or he is hard on the engines.
Half of them was abuse or blamed the builder.

Bad luck, bad decisions, bad machine shops or just not happy with the performance.

 

[rjfguitar]

Hey Shawn, post up some pics of the Potent Rodent, I haven't seen pictures of your K5 in YEARS and I remember yours being a good one.

 

[Shawn]

No current pics since its just been sitting in the garage with years of dust on it, no hood, and broken rear springs. Here's one before the 496 let go in Moab.

(rear springs are shot)

 

[Deuling]

You will love the 408!


.

 

[Fordum]

Do you have a quick disconnect wiring harness/hoses'/exhaust/etc yet?

Thats weird. I was talking to two old mechanics this afternoon, about a pistol of all things, and engines came up.
I mentioned the problems I have been having and how I was having to run my old Ford until the parts came in for my Bentz.

That moved the conversation into old versis new cars, and we started talking bout Hudson terraplanes, and other cars.

One of the guys told about an older guy who used to work on the Cord racing team. Don't know if it was cross country or what, but he had said that his crew could change a complete engine in a Cord in less than 30 minutes.

He said that all the connections were in one unpluggable block on the firewall.

I had to go, and never thought to ask if that was factory or a specialty of the racing cars.

 

[blazinzuk]

I had a zuk with bad luck on the motor. 3 stock ones a modfied 1.3 a modified 1.6 another 1.6 then finally back to a 1.3

If I had my buddy with me we could pull a zuk into the shop and drive it back out with a new motor in less than an hour. Under 45 if we had air tools

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Semi-unrelated.

Shawn, I wandered off for part of the last decade...so you never got built by the buggy/truggy bug a lot of guys on here did? Yours is still stockish body?

I was just telling someone the other day about how ten years ago everyone was getting those wrap around rear bumpers to protect their rear quarters and now you can barely find a place that will make them.

I say build something crazy at any rate.

 

[rjfguitar]

No current pics since its just been sitting in the garage with years of dust on it, no hood, and broken rear springs. Here's one before the 496 let go in Moab.

(rear springs are shot)

Nice rig, I remember it being clean with a cool paint scheme and once apon a time it had a Skyler on there too.

 

[folkenheath]

I vote Ramjet 502, and leave it together, don't take it apart.

Also, I don't think they count if you never installed them. They were never part of the K5 then.

Your rig looks sweet by the way!

 

[onetonbb74]

hmmm, since 2003...

350- stock- had a hole in the pan and was missing a rod when I purchased the truck
307- used- 100 dollar engine to move the truck around, then put it in a buddies chevelle later
454- used- installed to transport when I was moving, but needed a lot to run.
350- used- installed cause it ran and had everything for it already. Cracked heads and no compression one day
454- used- too much cam for peanut port heads, didn't run right.
350- used- out of another truck, no power and still carbed.
350- used- upgraded to tbi with this used gem, then threw a rod 3 months later.
350- new- crate tbi 350 still in there running right now.

hopefully Im good for a year or so...Im tired of swapping motors too.

 

[Shawn]

Semi-unrelated.

Shawn, I wandered off for part of the last decade...so you never got built by the buggy/truggy bug a lot of guys on here did? Yours is still stockish body?

I was just telling someone the other day about how ten years ago everyone was getting those wrap around rear bumpers to protect their rear quarters and now you can barely find a place that will make them.

I say build something crazy at any rate.

Yeah, I still hung around with Fox and Toby with their buggy setups before they sold them. I prefer to keep my sheet metal and still be streetable.

Nice rig, I remember it being clean with a cool paint scheme and once apon a time it had a Skyler on there too.

Thanks!

I vote Ramjet 502, and leave it together, don't take it apart.

Also, I don't think they count if you never installed them. They were never part of the K5 then.

Your rig looks sweet by the way!

I wish I had 10k! Though I'm getting closer to that mark. Eventually I'll be adding something different to the 400 SBC to make more torque and power than the 502.

hmmm, since 2003...

350- stock- had a hole in the pan and was missing a rod when I purchased the truck
307- used- 100 dollar engine to move the truck around, then put it in a buddies chevelle later
454- used- installed to transport when I was moving, but needed a lot to run.
350- used- installed cause it ran and had everything for it already. Cracked heads and no compression one day
454- used- too much cam for peanut port heads, didn't run right.
350- used- out of another truck, no power and still carbed.
350- used- upgraded to tbi with this used gem, then threw a rod 3 months later.
350- new- crate tbi 350 still in there running right now.

hopefully Im good for a year or so...Im tired of swapping motors too.

Think you have me beat!

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Good to hear. I'm kind of glad the buggy/truggy movement has calmed down and more guys are running stock bodies again. I got tired of the butchery and waste.