[Roverjosh]

Any thought of buying a used engine that is in better shape?

So CJ, yeah, I had originally thought of buying a used motor and just throwing it in. When I first got the truck I wasn't finding much and I wanted to the "fun experience" of building a motor with my kid.

LOL!!!!

Well hindsight is 20/20. These are not LS based motors with TONs of aftermarket support and deep deep deep piles of spares floating around. So if I were to do it again, I would go used. But I still am loving the experience and learning alot... its just not a convenient or cost effective at this point. Still its all good.

 

[C J]

So CJ, yeah, I had originally thought of buying a used motor and just throwing it in. When I first got the truck I wasn't finding much and I wanted to the "fun experience" of building a motor with my kid.

LOL!!!!

Well hindsight is 20/20. These are not LS based motors with TONs of aftermarket support and deep deep deep piles of spares floating around. So if I were to do it again, I would go used. But I still am loving the experience and learning alot... its just not a convenient or cost effective at this point. Still its all good.

The time you spend with your kid is worth all of the money in the world in my opinion. They grow up and move out so quickly!

 

[Roverjosh]

The time you spend with your kid is worth all of the money in the world in my opinion. They grow up and move out so quickly!

Amen to that. He’s a typical 16 yr old but we’re having fun with it.

 

[C J]

Amen to that. He’s a typical 16 yr old but we’re having fun with it.

I bet he is chomping at the bit to have a ride he can drive.

 

[Axel Breaker Earl]

The time you spend with your kid is worth all of the money in the world in my opinion. They grow up and move out so quickly!

You hit the nail on the head CJ! My very first car (1972 VW bug)........I was heading back to high school after driving home to eat lunch, and I was hurrying because I was going to be late, so after floor boarding the gas pedal, I let off of the gas to slow down, but the throttle cable stuck, and in a panic (as a new driver would be!) I mistakenly pushed in the clutch.......and grenaded the engine!!
So, my Dad rebuilt the engine while I looked on.......this was my very first auto mechanic type of experience......and I loved it! So, when you spend quality time like that, with your Dad, it is priceless! I can remember some parts of that experience, from nearly 50 years ago now!

 

[Axel Breaker Earl]

Ok Roverjosh......looks like I have an extra cylinder head, with cam and all. I have several of the G6 cylinder heads, but, they go to my engines that I have also! The head that I pulled out of a JY years ago, to scavenge bolts and such, is missing the cam, as far as I can tell. But if the weather clears up tomorrow (in Florida) I will get this head outside & start cleaning it up to see what it is like......it should all be good, but the head is likely warped......they usually are with the G6.

I will let you know what I find out after cleaning it up some.

 

[Roverjosh]

Ok, Earl, you are my new hero. Honestly, don't worry about the cleanliness, all I care about is that the Cam and the Cam followers are not damaged (scored or grooved.)

I can clean it when it gets here. Again, I can't thank you enough for looking. I'll DM you with my details.

Thanks Boss!!! So cool!

 

[Axel Breaker Earl]

I was able to get the head out and start cleaning it up today.......head is warped of course.....cam looks fair, it does have some light scoring on the journals, but is definitely useable. Only one (#1 exhaust) cam follower has a small pitted area on it......and I believe it was from rusting. This head has been stored inside my attached garage for years, don't know why it had some rust on it......it must have had coolant on it when I stored it I guess.
I have to download some pics of it all, then I will post them here.

 

[Axel Breaker Earl]

Here are the pics of the Cam & Rockers.....

 

[Axel Breaker Earl]

Some of the pics make the small defects/marks on the cam look worse than they are.....

This is the only one that has a spot that you can feel when you use your fingernail.......I believe it was just a rust spot from having moisture or coolant on it when I stored it years ago. Again......the pics make it look way worse than it is, honestly.

 

[Roverjosh]

Earl,
That setup is monumentally better than what I have. I can piece together the two sets to make one complete valve assembly. I have 5 rockers that are severely worn but they are really not all the same part # so I should be good. My can is the worst off. There is one exhaust lobe that has almost a 1 mm deep groove and few others that are close to that so yours looks WAY better.

Thank you again so much for digging this out of storage for me!

DM me the details.

 

[Cussboy]

I can vouch for the integrity of Axel Breaker Earl.

 

[Roverjosh]

I can vouch for the integrity of Axel Breaker Earl.

He is my hero!

 

[Roverjosh]

One thing I will say as a word of warning (although Im sure most people on here already know to be skeptical) is to watch out for people who immediately respond to your WTB ads. I had 3 other people respond with the Part # of my Cam (which is what I searched for but not exactly how I phrased it in my ad) and who had literally just joined the forum the day they messaged me. NO posts, no history and all from Tapatalk. It just throws up huge red flags.... Messages would state thinks like "Hi [random email address guy] and my brother has your part #. You should email him [random other gmail account probably just created]"

I mean it feels so obviously a scam. NONE of the 3 other people that said they had my part were on the forum before they messaged me and they all referenced the Specific Part #. It really felt like a bot response. I did email one of them just to see and I got a few responses with "Ill send pics later." So I wait for pics and when he finally sends them, it is one pic of a Head... Not a camshaft or followers. AND I swear it was a pic of a head I had seen on someone else's build thread, but I can't say for sure...

So, moral of this post is.....watch out for scammers when you need parts.

 

[Axel Breaker Earl]

I can vouch for the integrity of Axel Breaker Earl.

Thank you! Same goes for you Cusser! I occasionally talk to some of the guys from Mazdatrucking.com......That was a great community we lost!!

 

[Cussboy]

So, moral of this post is.....watch out for scammers when you need parts.

Watch out for scammers EVERYWHERE !!!!
In May 2021, I put an ad on Craigslist for or 2005 Yukon XL; within 3 MINUTES got texts to my TracFone wanting me to text certain numbers back, automated scams.

I've gotten "E-Mails" from companies claiming to be American Express wanting information about my account (which I don't have, I don't deal with AmEx). And I've gotten a ton of E-Mails lately telling me that I've won so and so contest.....

 

[Roverjosh]

Watch out for scammers EVERYWHERE !!!!
In May 2021, I put an ad on Craigslist for or 2005 Yukon XL; within 3 MINUTES got texts to my TracFone wanting me to text certain numbers back, automated scams.

I've gotten "E-Mails" from companies claiming to be American Express wanting information about my account (which I don't have, I don't deal with AmEx). And I've gotten a ton of E-Mails lately telling me that I've won so and so contest.....

Preach.... scamming is automatic these days. Its a sad state of affairs.

 

[Roverjosh]

So, haven't made much progress on the engine for multiple reasons... Mostly I'm taking my time and had house projects get in the way.
However, I finally got all the pistons/rings in and then was getting ready to continue. Was following the WSM to the letter and it said next step was rear main seal and cover, so I could install the flywheel and lock in in position.
Guess what. I forgot to buy a rear main seal. I found a few on RockAuto and will just buy one of those. I did get a GOOD quality Front Main seal, as AB Earl suggested but totally spaced the rear main seal. My existing one doesn't look good and there no way Im rebuilding this whole thing and reusing a crappy old rear seal. Guaranteed to leak.

Im can't believe I didn't order one....

 

[Axel Breaker Earl]

I have my own personal supply of FelPro rear main seals! Probably in the double digits also!

 

[Roverjosh]

Well shoot, I knew I should have asked you for one... I already bought 2 from RockAuto. One was on sale for $2! I figure I'll check them both out for fit when they come in. If they aren't up to snuff, I may reach out for Axle Breaker Earl parts department! LOL

Thanks!