FIXX

iTrader: (2)

dont be misled on the 345 cylinder head,find out first where the 345 cc flows at what lift,,it may be .700 that the head flows at..and yes looking at the top of the piston looked stock but looking at the side they are after market which i have seen in the past that some j&e were used on 502 mags..

030630 Merlin 345 Iron .100 .200 .300 .400 .500 .600 .700 .800
Methods Used: flowed at 28" with a bowl blend 1" down 1" radiused entry plate on the intake port, No exhaust tube, Using Race Master valves
Intake 2.300" 77 145 213 271 326 366 389 374 Super Flow 600
Exhaust 1.880" 60 102 159 204 239 261 275 284 Super Flow 600

prostock85

Thanks for your help, I ordered a bore gauge and digital caliper today to hopefully see where I end up. My original goal was to rering and rebearing the engine while figuring out what I have. Turns out whomever installed the intake manifold gasket completely destroyed it going in causing a massive intake leak on cyl 5 as well as letting water into block. Either over this current winter or prior to my ownership the cyl sat with water in it causing it to pit badly. So I'm either going to sleeve it or get a new block. On to engine 2.

I broke down #2 tonight and found out its a much newer block and has been rebuilt much more recently. Cross hatch is completely in tack with almost no wear. even the pistons look much better. Maybe it froze and a new block was installed. Casting number shows its an early gen 6 block (doesnt have 6 bolt timing cover)

I was running 87 octane with timing set at a base of 8 degrees. Should I have had much more timing and 91/93?

FIXX

iTrader: (2)

i hope you ordered a sunnen bore gauge lol...all bs aside,your best bet is to take it to a machine shop and have it checked,,i still see cross hatch from the honeing stones at the top of the cylinders..if you dont have a big ridge then you can most likely get away with rings and bearings but if it were me i would do the whole ball of wax which is a full bore hone line bore decking..you dont know what they been through so why not..or just wait for a nice pair in the swap shop..as a fact their are a couple nice pair on their.

prostock85

Haha, I don't have sunnen type money. I believe the honing set that I use is sunnen though. Depending on the condition of the block I may scrap it and find a early gen 6 to match the other. One had water sitting in the cyl causing it to pit. So it's either a sleeve or used block so I don't have to buy new pistons. I'm very apprehensive of bringing anything to a machine shop because of having no control of their work. When I worked in one I took care to make sure everything was perfect, my coworker, not so much. Time will tell what happens. I'm currently writing Bob in help of getting myself a set of cams that may work with my set up. At least one of the two engines is in decent shape. Pic is of engine #2

cp5899

iTrader: (1)

I see what you are saying. I will be the first to say I am new to bbc and I'm here to read and absorb what I can to make my boat better and faster. I was more or less guessing at an interpretation of what bob meant by interesting parts list.