Engine Rebuild or SAVE your money?? Simple ways to check the health of your Engine!

[@Hillbillygarage1215]

Great information as always AG. Thank you for taking the time to share with us. Always enjoy all your content.

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks for watching Ronnie.AG

[@lparsons6977]

Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.

[@goldsgarage8236]

And thank you for watching and commenting. AG

[@billfioretti3013]

Thank you for the review of leak-down and compression checks, Alan. Yes, these diagnostic checks and other associated checks can help save money that may otherwise unnecessarily be spent. Rules are rules and builders and competitors USUALLY obey them for fear of being banned. B.T.W. Hope they allow swedged-tip pushrods rather than ball, ball ends. They can also save money by helping to avoid destruction...

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks Bill. For sure, a small part like a pushrod could have destroyed the engine. Thanks for commenting. AG

[@ericuncapher9922]

Great job!!

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks Eric. Glad you liked it.! AG

[@mrho4speed]

Thanks for another good video = always learning from you!!!

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks as always 4Speed. AG

[@VintageCruiser-i6u]

Yes ----- the Machinist Handbook is like a Bible ------ I had to turn to it quite a few times during my twenty-four and half years as a machinist ------ So ----- my book is over fifty-three years old ----- I maybe retired now --- I still find myself turning to it to look something up ----- Thanks for another good video ---- Rodney

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks for the great comment Rodney. For sure, I won't lose this one, you would be surprised to see how much yours is worth now. AG

[@davestarr7112]

Educational as always, Allan. It is a wonderment to me that so many in the automotive world aren't familiar with differential (leak-down) compression testing. I was just a young boy (in the late 1950s/early 1960's) hanging out and pestering the mechanics at our local airport where I first learned about leak-down testing. It is far superior in many ways to common compression testing. One never tries to list a used aircraft for sale without listing the results of the latest test (usually written out as 72/80/,77/80, 78/80, 76/80 for a four-cylinder engine). Anyway, I am glad you are using and advocating the technique. And as we seem to be weering into Red Green territory in the comments. "Keep your stick on the ice" LoL.

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks for the great comment Dave, actually I am playing hockey this morning.AG

[@StuartBlake-iz6rf]

nice job. I liked your very straightforward approach. I would have liked a closeup of your leak-down apparatus. or a diagram so I could build one myself. The war story was good, I bet you were concerned that there was more damage below. Safer is always better. Long shots rarely pay off. just good old grassroots schooling. thank you.

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks Stuart, sure, I will show the Moroso leak down tester at the next opportunity. AG

[@donmann8400]

Same test that we do on aircraft engines

[@goldsgarage8236]

Makes sense Don. It's like giving your engine a medial check up.AG

[@MarcusSandoval-kx2th]

I want a fast Chevy 😭

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks Marcus, always good to hear from you.AG

[@brianb5779]

I got a question for you. On engine break-in, due to rings,etc., breaking in, the engine is going to run hotter than normal. At what temp would you shut the engine down because you would consider it too hot? And would aluminum vs iron heads change your first answer at all? Thanks in advance

[@goldsgarage8236]

Great questions Brian. For sure, the engine will run hotter when the rings are fresh. I usually shut down at 200F, let it cool down, check the valves, then start it again for another cycle. For a flat tappet cam break in, 20-30 minutes are required, but it does not have to be continuous. If there are issues, or the engine reaches 200F, shut it down. Hope this helps.AG

[@goldsgarage8236]

No, aluminum heads do not make a difference regarding break in. AG

[@brianb5779]

@ Appreciate this very much so thank you

[@davidreed6070]

Sir,percentage wise,how much stronger is the powered metal rod compared to the steel sbc rod?

[@goldsgarage8236]

What a great question David. Powder Metallurgy rods are not stronger than a 4340 forged connecting rods. From what i could find, the tensile strength of a 4340 forged rod is 569 MPA, or 81,000 PSI. A Powder rod is 550 MPA or 77,000 PSI. So they are pretty close. The forged rod is about 5% stronger. They are better than a 4140 Rod at 481MPA or 69,000 PSI. I think they are fine for a street engine. Forging and then heat treating is an expensive process, Powder Metallurgy is much more cost effective. Powder rods are also more accurate dimensionally. Another issue to consider is that the PM rods cannot be reconditioned. Keep in mind that the weakest part of the rod is the bolt or fastener, and that is where most failures occur. Welcome anyone out there who would like to weigh in. Hope this helps. AG

[@davidreed6070]

@goldsgarage8236 thank you, I have seen the ls rods under a lot of power and hold up.

[@michaelheaney9604]

Looking good Al

[@goldsgarage8236]

Good to hear from you Michael. AG

[@CULT539]

One of my neighbours has been racing for25 years now.. those engines are $10-12,000 in Canada. They might be even more than that now…..

[@goldsgarage8236]

Very good point CULT. We do have the option to use a built motor, and we did look at it. The rules are so restrictive that I couldn't see how we would have an advantage. There are some FORD built engines competing and they run pretty well. AG

[@alvarsdzenis4739]

Delaware Super Stock/APC rules limit the RPM to 6000. But that's ok because the "602" with a Holley 4412 quits pulling after 5800 RPM. I've seen dozens of them on a few different dyno's. Not a fan of the Crate Engine Rule Program. Stifles creativity and ingenuity. In the beginning a 602 was $3800, now it's almost $9000. It's common for dirt guys to change 602 valve springs every 2 weeks! As soon as you over rev them or overheat the engine, the valve springs go weak. Misnomer, Ford does not build or sell a sealed "crate" engine. They are built by approved builders like John Saunders, New Generation Engines, Harrington, Boyd and McGunnegill. Cheers🇨🇦.

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks for the comment Alvars, and for the information about the FORD version. AG

[@joe-hp4nk]

With all the seals I guess there's no such thing as claimer engines. Having said that I don't like the idea of sealed engines. It should be that all teams have to use the same engine parts but be able to assemble their own engines. That way the better mechanics can benefit from their ability to wrench more power.

[@goldsgarage8236]

Good point Joe, crate engines have definitely hurt the engine builder business.AG

[@4speed3pedals]

If your wife can't find you handsome she should find you interesting.

[@goldsgarage8236]

Thanks 4Speed, I showed your comment to her. AG

[@kevink8481]

​@@goldsgarage8236and your paycheck as well! 😊

[@davestarr7112]

Or, as "Red Green" (real name Steve Smith) would say ... “If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.”