My thoughts would be did it vibrate when it went to transmission shop? If not it shouldnt have when it left. Subscribed to this.
The trans had downshifted (from a lower RPM/speed) and was up around 3500 RPM when it threw the rod. It's an automatic.
Well, I wasn't really getting into it much as it was probably about to shift back to third. 3500RPM isn't too far removed from the 3200RPM my car cruises at just going down the highway at 70mph.
Doesn't sound like abuse. Hope the engine builder covers it but I suspect the flexplate or torque converter wasn't properly imbalanced/balanced and it broke the engine. Expect the blame game will begin. You can personally verify the part number on the flexplate now to be sure it was correct.
I believe that the flexplate went back to the motor rebuilder but the trans rebuilder kept the TC though. Yeah, I'm hoping that they don't start blaming each other and leave me in the middle without a car and neither side taking responsibility for the problem.
Ok, got the news today. I talked to the motor rebuilder and he said the dipstick tube that the guys put in after the initial motor rebuild 9 months ago wasn't seated in the hole in the timing cover and that it looked like the motor had run out of oil. I told him that I had checked the oil level just a few days prior to the rod being thrown and it was good, and that when the rod left a hole in my oil pan it dumped a LOT of oil out. I've never had a leak around that area before, so who knows. Anyway, he said the motor wasn't salvageable and that he was going to have to build me a new one. I asked how much this was going to cost me for the new motor and he said....."Nothing on your end. I'm getting the parts together right now and it won't be done until next week, but I think you'll be happy." WOO HOO!!!! Now I just will need to find out what the cost will be to get it all put back in the car, or if that is going to be covered too. Either way, it's all going to be cheaper that I expected.
You'd better be sure of the (im)balance of the flexplate and torque converter before the new engine goes back in. Not that I'm mention it to the engine builder. Maybe he knows what REALLY happened to your engine and balance wasn't the issue ... or ... maybe not. Also, be sure you know whether the crank in the new engine's crank needs 28 or 50 oz harmonic balancer and torque converter. He could be using any 302/5.0 core to rebuild. I'd also ask about the firing order, if he doesn't install plug wires, and flat or roller lifters.
He knows what vehicle the motor is going in, so I hope that he tries to keep the motor from the same era for firing order/balance/etc., but we'll see. I'm going to give him a call on Friday to check on the progress.
Well, he already had the block (I have no idea what year) and is now gathering everything else to build up the new motor. At this point I don't care WHAT year it is...I just want to have something that works right the first time and lasts me a good while.
