Do yourselfself a favor and have the block pressure tested. Cracks usually only show when the head is torqued down. Hate to see you rebuild it again and find water weeping into the engine.

And as im sure you learned get all the parts to your machine shop before he starts to machine. Also ask him for a spec sheet with all the engine clearances on it so when you assemble you can check them as well.

Hopefully you and your "shop" can get it right this time. As I said before you would be boating already if they were at a good shop because he would have measured all that for you and called you while they were machining the blocks... Quality machine shops are very thorough when they do work for customers that build there own engines because your putting their name on the engine.

After the call if your not fixing the problems like Tight lifter bores or allowing them to check the heads. You would get told to take your engines elsewhere because they would have seen this thread coming a mile away...

You can say im bashing you and your shop all you want. Im trying to tell you what a good machine shop does for his customers. Customers either build it right or take it elsewhere. Look up my build thread, i build my own engines as well. This is something that I am very knowledgable about.

Thx my shop was working on my stuff on Sunday yesterday and I was there for measuring, this is not sterling engines ship but he is a good shop and does me right. That's all I am gonna say as people can go back and forth all day about that stuff.

Bob M, AFR, Johnson lifter and Scorpion are all working with me and making things right so I am a happy customer.

Tim, I found you a new boat over the weekend, it's really good on gas too.

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That is soooo perfect!!!

Heinz History Museum in Pittsburgh, cool stuff.
we can run this one down the Rocky River!
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And our tow vehicle.
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Dik go to work!!

What is the desired clearance on the lifter bores? I'd like to double check my clearances before I put this motor together.

Up north the builders do .0018-.0022 my last blocks were .0024-.0026 so I went .0020-.0023 range after final honing that was my preferance as I have 82lb oil pressure I can run a tad more. I am not taking any chances!

Thanks for the info..your pics have made me nervous about my build. Mine is just a forged 460 with some merlin heads but I don't want to mess it up.

I can say this Bob M and AFR are taking care if my situation and in the engine world and as a small guy that means a ton to me. I will admit I wanted to hate but I can't all parties involved are making me a happy customer.