As you may recall, I recently rebuilt my 355 after have a thrust bearing failure. Here is the thread (http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum9/HTML/011130.html).

I now have 7 passes and probably 2 hours on the engine. It is not street driven. When I put the engine together, I had .006" crank end play. I check it today with a dial indicator and got [b].007"[\b]. Does this sound normal, a .001" increase in such a short time.

I changed oil about 30 min after the first start up. Then again after the 7 passes with pit/staging lane time. I cut open the filter and it looks fine, no particles. The oil, however, is quite dark and looks to have very, very fine particles in it. I'm hoping this is some remaining assembly lube and maybe some washout from the previous thrust failure. I'm not ready to panic, yet but I'm concerned. The trans and converter were reworked to, hopefully, eliminate any forward push.

What do you think, panic time or run it some more and keep a close eye on it? Thanks,

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Pat Kelley
66 El Camino, daily driver
67 El Camino, STRIP/street (12.08, 113mph, 7.392, 92.70 1/8 mile) 355 powered
Pat's Page (Dynamic Compression Ratio Calculator, car specs, Spark plug reading info) (http://cochise.uia.net/pkelley2/)

[This message has been edited by Pat Kelley (edited 01-26-2003).]

Well, you'll notice that I'm not Bill, but I would contribute this: The 0.001 is probably just normal break-in wear, thing seating in, whatnot. I wouldn't sweat it unless it continues to grow.

If you use Moly-Coat lube on the cam and lifters during assembly, you will see this fine dark stuff in your oil filter the first couple times you cut it. It's normal, takes a while to clear up. Next time you tear it down you will find a layer of black goo on the bottom of the pan too.

Nothing wrong with double-checking again after awhile either. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Tom

Tom,
How dare you reply to a question asked of me ! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif
Pat...what Tom said...should not be a problem.

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Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md

1971 Heavy Chevy - original owner
Team Chevelle #100

Thanks, guys. I'm just real nervous about this thrust thing http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif.

Bill, I'll never do it again, I swear. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Pat,
>>"I'm just real nervous about this thrust thing"

I don't blame you a bit. This failure mode is always sort of mysterious, never really sure what caused it, etc., etc. I've known a couple guys who really went through hell with it. Bummer deal man.

Seems like you've got it together to check it accurately, I would just do that from time to time.

Tom

Tom