'Black Bird'

Hello Blog!

Well, everything has been wonderful since finishing the restoration of my 'Black Bird', until - 

driving home late at night after an event, 3 doors from my house (fortunately) - 

BAM - Clatter, clatter!

Coasting into my driveway I stop, shut down the engine, get out and begin

looking for the parts it sounded like I was leaving on the street!

Flashlight in hand, I found nothing, being dark out I decide to wait till morning and assess

what happened.

Next day, I open the hood, everything seems fine, now what could it have been?

Thinking I may have dropped a valve or something I proceed to tear down the engine,

Intake manifold off, pull the heads, all looks good - oops - 

pushing on number 4 piston - it slides easily down the cylinder - appears to be a connecting rod!

We remove the engine and disassemble it all the way down 

while pulling the Cam shaft - it comes out in Two Pieces!

It's a good thing I wasn't far from home!

So

Black Bird is in the hospital for a few days,

We will be replacing the Rods with heavier units from a 302,

new 'lopey' Clay Smith Cam,

back together and better than new - again!

 Small hole in block sidewall will be repaired with a plate.

 Hammered Rod in the engine

 Broken, distorted Rod

Broken Cam