yep, the alignment thing was quite the debacle. We played with it for a day and couldn't get the tool we borrowed to go in, so we finally said hell with it and towed it to a friends shop to align. He walked out of the shop with his alignment tool, slid it right in, and said "looks like you have it aligned just fine". So we tightened everything up and towed it home.

We'll continue diagnosis in the spring, or when the weather at least warms up a bit. Too cold and windy this time of year to do anything about it.

Another experienced person we consulted suggested that it was likely either a main bearing or a cam bearing. Sounds like we're going to be building a motor here shortly.

It sound as if it could be a lean pop. Caused by bad gas or intake leak. Had a friend have this problem before. Only under load and low rpm. Sounded like the engine was coming apart, but not too much like a backfire.

I will let you know your problem soon I think I know have a simlar problem I think I have a small crack in one of my heads. When you lost power and rpm's did you r motor ever lock up or turn over real hard?