As most of you know I am working on a step by step engine build. 

Today I started to put the cam in.  Got the engine stripped down to just pulling the lifters out of the bores, and sliding the cam out after removing the crank timing gear.  The other timing gears I had already pulled out.  Less then 2 hours time to this point, not bad for the driveway.  And that included more than 10 minutes cleaning the crap buildup out of the heads.  Oil changes have been neglected before I bought the car.

I had found the balancer was going bad.  It's starting to walk back toward the engine.  That's one thing.

The next one cranked me off.  When pulling the gear, I found about 1/4 inch end play in the crankshaft.  A few thousands okay, BUT 1/4 INCH!!!!  The thrust bearing surface on the main bearing is worn out.  I hope the crank is okay.

So now the oil pan will come off as well.  I'll know how good or bad it is tomorrow.  I guess it's good I found it now.  Otherwise the engine could have blown on it's own when least expected, and at the worst place possible.  And to think two days ago it was at full throttle and 100 MPH on a dyno. 

Oh well, it's just more work, more money, and more time.  Forgive me if I say POOPIE!         

Bright side, better on the driveway than the highway!

I'm just glad you have the time now to work on it. Been a long time, got to get that baby on the road!

Such a foul mouth! One of the recuring problems I've seen on cars with the 400 trans is excessive thrust brng wear. It occurs more often in HP cars & HD trucks, but it is caused by the thrust of the torque converter against the flywheel, which in turn shoves the crank forward. The TC on the 400 is quite large in diameter, and the surface area inside of it, when pressurize by the pump(fluid/line pressure), causes the converter to "balloon" @ higher rpms. It takes a little time to do that much wear, but I wouldn't think it abnormal for it to happen. This is the main reason I NEVER jack the line pressure up when I'm building a 400. I have learned from my mistakes!! You could put a 350 TC in it and pretty much eliminate that particular problem, or an aftermarket TC with a smaller diam., but that usually means increasing the stall speed, also. Bummer!
Good luck with your build-up, Ken. Hope you don't find any more "OOOPS" !

You're absolutely right.  I am going to keep the THM 400, but it will stay stock.  No increase in line pressure.   For the engine I'm building I really don't need the increased pressure.  The cam I'm using from VooDoo should be good with the stock converter.  If I ever do change the trans I will try for a 700R4 or 200R4.  With the new improved stuff out there for the 200R4, I may go that way.  But that's a long time in the future, and a lot of cash later.

And I'll try to watch my mouth   

Hey Ken, When you have a minute inbetween your work, take a couple of pictures for us to see.

Good luck on what you find next.

I am taking pictures as I go.  Most are for the article, but I may be able to post a few.

Good luck Ken!

Well I pulled the crankshaft out today.   Trashed.  The mains and rods are okay, but the thrust surface is completely wiped out.  The engine is still in the car.

I also went ahead and finished installing the VooDoo cam and lifters.  The intake, carb, valve covers, and everything on the top end are back in place, and valves adjusted.   If you don't look under it, you would never suspect a thing.  Well, no timing chain, water pump, or pulleys yet.  Now I need to get a crank.

I bought this car with 53,000 miles.  Looking at the crud in the engine and the thrust surfaces, I beginning to wonder if it's really 153,000.   The bearings are very good for that kind of miles, and so is the timing gears. It has the original plastic tooth gear on the cam.  The chain was shot, but probably from endplay movement in the crank.  The gears are not that bad.  Maybe 53,000 miles, but run hard and rare oil changes.  Add in the diff is worn, too much end play in the output shafts and a noisy posi, and maybe 153,000.   Aww....who the heck knows.  And I guess it really doesn't matter.  I still need to fix it.

Welcome to MY world!!!!! Everytime I turn around, it's sompthin else. (I have been told to stop turnin' around!) And you're doin all this with the eng. still in the car?!! You, my friend, are a masochist!! Have fun puttin the crank back in with all the rods hangin down!!!!! Dedication, thy name art "KEN"!