95 331GT

Ok, so I had this machine shop put together a 331 stroker for my 95 GT. It's an Eagle Cast Crank with a pioneer balancer, Eagle H beam rods, probe pistons,Fidanza aluminum flywheel,and the ever popular trick flow 350 370 top end kit. SO here's the story...I get the motor installed, first thing I hear is the weights on the balancer scraping on the plate between the motor and trans when the clutch is pushed in but it wasn't all the time because when the motor warmed up it went away...so being the ignorant idiot I am, I drove the thing for the 500 break in miles and it ran just dandy. I never took it past 5000 rpm and didn't even get to race anyone. Well after a while I got really annoyed by this damn rattle so I slipped the trans out and just for fun I grabbed the flywheel and wiggled, to my surprise the crank moved back and forth about 3/4". Fun... so we yanked the motor and the thrust bearing was destroyed and the crank ruined. I took the motor and trans over to the machinst and he claims there's no issue with the clutch being misaligned or anything on the transmission end of it. So my question is... Is it possible the balancer is way wrong or the crank or something I'm just not seeing and has this happened to anyone else???? Thanks

FullAuto

Did you use a 28oz balancer?

mjr46

It's hard to tell what initialy caused the problem something was either too tight or out of alignment you'll have to fix the problem and check all clearences and tolerances and bellhousing alignment to see if clutch disc is aligned in the center?? i'VE LEARNED IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE RIGHT you better do it yourself expecially when it comes to machine work or at least double check the machine shops work after they give it back to you.

Joel5.0

Take that at "face value".......which means, they did a lousy job on the engine then......they did all the work besides the installation....right?....

PS: And next time, for the break in, after the 1st. startup oil change....drive it like you stole it....just don't hold a steady engine speed for a long time.

67mustang302

Destroying a thrust bearing is hard to do that quickly. It usually happens over time from riding the clutch., but not to that extent. I'm thinking that something was assembled wrong internall, the crank endthrust was set wrong, used the wrong bearing, bad balance job etc.

95 331GT

I did use a 50 oz balancer, Thanks for all the replies, you have given me a good place to start

DMmustangLX

does any body know the compression ratio on a 89 5.0 it was out of a lx model mustang. im thinking about changing the pistons out to get a little higher compression im puttin a ford racing hydrualic cam and lifters, 1.6 rocker arms porting the intake and heads. if anybody can help me out let me know

94StinkinLincoln

between 8.5 and 9.5, some1 can help more

GT350

It just so happens I took a machine shop to court last thursday, suing him for $3,000, his engine builder broke my thrust main cap and installed it anyway, so the motor ran for less than 300 miles, finally giving out after it ate every bearing in it! But I'm hopeing that 2 good things come outof it, 1, I built a 347 this time around instead of another 306, and 2, I hope the judge gives me the $3,000,he will notify me of his decision this coming week,oh and I also don't trust anybodys work anymore and assembled my 347 from the ground up and it now has 1300 miles and runs SUPER! First engine I have done completely, I usually had them do the short block, but never again. Not nearly as complicated as I always thought, I suggest that everyone learn the simple task of building a motor, easier than I ever thought. And I was told by 3 machine shops that once you lose the main thrust cap the block is junk because the 2 pieces are insepperable and can't be replaced from another block, any thoughts on that?

tinman

IMHO, I think you CAN replace the thrust cap.
Otherwise, how could the aftermarket sell billet steel caps?
Also, you'll be align honing any replacement cap.......
I've always built my own stuff for 30+ years, it's not that hard and if you shell out for a few specail tools, you'll have have them forever......