2.3l Stroker Prolem..major Major Problem

[lb_gst99]

Ok guys...as I was typing up the master official 2.3l Stroker build thread...I had to go to bowling in my league (for scholarship $$$) anyway...as I approach the bowling ally...I hear an unpleasant noise...didn’t sound like the motor nor did it feel like it but it still caught my attention...the clutch that i put back in my car was a little worn but it had some life still left...now let me explain...

As i got to a stop...no noise...but...when I lightly applied pressure to the clutch...i herd a "cow bell" type of noise...lightly!!!...so I creped home...called the guy who built my motor and told him...so I brought it in this morning...

Let me get this out the way...

The motor was just built. 2.3l stoker

-new 4g64 crank (balanced not cut at all)
-Wiseco stoker pistons (.020)
-eagle h-beam rods
-Clevite 77 mains & rods
-ARP everything
-new oil pump
-new clutch sleeve cylinder
-all new gaskets
-all new seals
-5w30 oil (non synthetic)
-block hot tanked and honed fresh

First start up let go thru 2 heat cycles to assure coolant flow...
Drove 62miles...changed the oil...inspected it...came out normal...barely any sparkly to it from the bearings...

Refilled with same oil 5w30 no synthetic...up to 180...only problems were all coolant hoses were beginning to leak due to the down time…but car never over heated...not once…no way!!!!.....but then I was planning on doing another this week coming up....

I’ve never touched the highway...never revved passed 4200...never went faster then 60mph...downshifted all the time...and did many 3rd gear pulls not passing 4k...MBC set at 11psi..and only 80% throttle...

Now back to the problem...we lifted the car and started it to get a better ear of the problem...so under-drive pulley removed...(from my ear it sounded as something loose…so the last thing we were thinking of was the crank)...he took a 15in rood and was able to move the crank!!!!!....from the outside...to double check…he pushed the clutch sleeve in and you can see the crankshaft slide outward from the block......so we drained the oil...and yes....it was very very very sparkly...the thrust bearing had underwent some extreme stress and wore .....so yes I guess you can say a new 4g64 crank..."walked"....

How can this be? He told me everything in the build we flush...the oil clearance and all...he said it went flush...so how could it walk after 200miles?????

Now i was told (from someone on tuners)..if something goes wrong within the 500 mile break-in period...it was built wrong...can this be true?

Now another thing...my motor is a Nov 98' motor (7-bolt of course..) But a late model. I had a set of clevite main bearings but they only make them for the 92-97 and they did not require the thrust bearing washers...while ACL makes them for the 97-99...but you need the washers too...

Did this occur because I had the wrong thrust bearing, and not having the thrust bearing washers?...or was it the build? Or a bad crank?

I did 2 months of research b4 doing this project...I knew what I was getting into but I’ve never see results like this...ever!

I'm not a big fan of posting for help...I use the search button often...but this has got me stumped...and with this I think I’ll be at about 5.5k $$$$...I just need a little help guys...

I was going to order the ACL bearings and thrust washers…but I want so feedback first.

 

[josh_GST]

I am undergoing a similar problem right now. My car slung a rod bearing so I opted to swap to a 6 bolt and build the piss out of it. Got everything back together and before it even left my garage I heard the lovely knock sound from the rods hitting the block. My fault however was using a turned crank.

Do you have an oil pressure gauge? If so at any time did you notice it getting too low or dropping to zero when this sound happened?

 

[slowgsr]

I am also curious as to what the oil pressure is/was.

 

[lb_gst99]

No. It never dropped below 0.

As for you josh if i'm not mistakin I know you have to Trim materical off the block to accomidate for the increased rod angle in a 6bolt. Correct me if i'm wrong..but I'm pretty sure. not saying thats the knocking sound but just a suggestion on what it might be.

 

[lb_gst99]

Think i've got it...I didnt use a split thrust bearing and my motor was built 11/98 which is after the summer of 98 when mitsubishi did infact fix the crankwalk problem buy using the split thrust bearing...This is why evo 8 dont crankwalk due to the split thurst bearing...so i'm going to order the ACL main berings...along with the Washer set 2morrow from Extreme psi...to bad their closed untill 1/2/2008!

But...Please..correct me if i'm wrong!!!

 

[Boo5t_Addict]

Did you mention an underdrive pulley in your first post? If so, dump that and get a crank pulley that actually does some good. Either OEM or Fluidampr. There are many threads debating this, and it's well worth the extra $$ for the added insurance of having a properly balanced rotating assembly. Good luck with your motor, I hope everything turns out well.

 

[lb_gst99]

Did you mention an underdrive pulley in your first post? If so, dump that and get a crank pulley that actually does some good. Either OEM or Fluidampr. There are many threads debating this, and it's well worth the extra $$ for the added insurance of having a properly balanced rotating assembly. Good luck with your motor, I hope everything turns out well.

It was metioned yes, But thats where I heard the noise through but that was not the problem.