Please help with info...

[BOSSJIM]

3rd times a charm ...i hope. Have had my motor re-built twice, and each time the cam and lifters failed. I have just found out about a FORD builder in the Portland area...ALDRIDGE MOTORSPORTS. Has any one had any experiences or possibly give any feedback on this shop?...i want this motor to be built and broke in first before i drop it in.

Thanks.......

 

[stangman393]

3rd times a charm ...i hope. Have had my motor re-built twice, and each time the cam and lifters failed. I have just found out about a FORD builder in the Portland area...ALDRIDGE MOTORSPORTS. Has any one had any experiences or possibly give any feedback on this shop?...i want this motor to be built and broke in first before i drop it in.

Thanks.......

I wouldnt recomend Aldridge. Are you trying to break in a solid flat tappet cam?

 

[pcinpdx]

Do a search for 'Aldridge' here in the NW forums and you'll see just how bad people think they are. They are THE most expensive in the area (they'll tell you that's because they're the best) and they have the WORST customer service I have ever experienced. I would highly recommend finding another builder for your needs.

 

[BOSSJIM]

thanks guys...doesn't sound good to me. I'm coming from Everett, so that takes care of that. If they were a better shop i wouldn't mind the drive.

Yes, solid lifters. BOSS 302.

 

[84Gt350]

I have been building and racing Fords for 32 years and have never seen a lifter or cam failure when it was broken in correctly, tell us how you did the break in.

Dan

 

[MCABOSS]

Jim, did you try Stan Johnson at Ford Power Train in Puyalup? Ed

 

[gospeedgo]

I have just found out about a FORD builder in the Portland area...ALDRIDGE MOTORSPORTS. Has any one had any experiences or possibly give any feedback on this shop?

I heard their only tech left for greener grass so they probably couldnt do it for you anyway. We have a lot of engine builders in the Portland/Vancouver area...A couple to research would be Archie Somers (who we use mainly) and TMac. If your loosing cams it probably has more to do with break in but could be a lot of other things as well. Both of the ones I named are old schoolers...they know what they are doing.

 

[Jon]

I heard their only tech left for greener grass so they probably couldnt do it for you anyway. We have a lot of engine builders in the Portland/Vancouver area...A couple to research would be Archie Somers (who we use mainly) and TMac. If your loosing cams it probably has more to do with break in but could be a lot of other things as well. Both of the ones I named are old schoolers...they know what they are doing.

I agree. Jeff has had very good luck with Somers and our shop has had really good luck with TMac. Both of them are good machinists.

 

[Merc331]

Bliss Enterprises in Spanaway. He no longer has an engine dyno but his work is proven. Brad's Custom Auto in Seattle could handle the install and put you in touch with Bliss.

 

[BOSSJIM]

break in procedure as follows.

Prime oil pump. Visual proof oil into rockers...check.

next day, prime pump again, oil up...check.

install dist, timing close enough to fire. car starts...

manual actuation of carb. set idle at 2700 rpm. No leaks. Car runs for 25 minutes. smooth idle. no smoke. oil pressure at 45-50 when warmed up. stays steady. Pressure jumps up when throttle bumped up.

No misses. car sounds sweet. visions of ricers changing their diapers.

Next day. Prepare car for road test, cruise Granite fall area and motor down highway south, keep rev's up and down, and vary speed. So far so good. Been 30 minutes plus when there is a small burp up the carb. Take it home to check valve adjustment. Find #8 exhaust has chewed the lifter....grab sledge hammer. My son stops me....

 

[Dyno]

Contact Ron Larson or Ted King over at Portland Engine Rebuilders
They are big time Ford people and have excellent customer service.

Portland Engine Rebuilders/Larson & King's
(503) 230-1276
1001 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR 97214

 

[N20Jnky]

Boss:

I second Dave Bliss... He is down in Spanaway... You can find his number under Bliss Performance... I don't think that I have ever heard anyone say anything bad about the motors that Dave builds... He is kinda a quirky guy, but does good work... I have my 351 roller block down at his shop right now being stroked to a 408... Should pick it up in a few weeks to begin the long-block build...

Good luck with your search...

 

[TheRedBlur]

talk to bliss, he's up in north seattle, he's really good at windsors. bliss performance I think. you could also talk to brads custom auto 206-367-1471

 

[MTMMAN]

Bliss Performance is the best Ford engine builder in WA state.
He is a Ford guy. I just started my motor Dave did last night for the first time.

Idles so smooth. I haven't set a quarter on the intake yet, but I bet it won't move. This is with a Comp Cams XE274HR-12 Xtreme Energy cam.
Dave does a killer balance job. I almost bought a Ford Racing crate motor.
I've driven cars with Bliss motors and FRP motors. Thats is all it took to make me have Dave build my motor. I can't wait to finish breaking it in so I can beat on it.

 

[ddonaca351]

Boss:

He is kinda a quirky guy, but does good work...

.

...aren't they all. Every engine builder I know, who knows their **** is quirky.. Larry, AC, Gale... must come from about 50-60,000 hours porting heads, curving distributors, running the dyno, breathing solvent and gasoline fumes, etc.... gives ya "character".


Hell, I'd be suspicious of an engine builder, if he seem'd normal.


DD

 

[gmsux]

Ya know, there can be a lot of things to be concerned about when breaking in a solid flat cam. Typical solids (under .570"/250*@.050) aren't too bad to deal with but the bigger ones are touchier. No matter what your combo is it really isn't difficult you just have to have someone that knows what parts they are working with and how to handle the break in process. I would research your area to find a shop. No sense driving down to the border everytime you need help. My .02....

 

[BOSSJIM]

Again, thankyou all so far for the great responses. My plan is to have the motor built and then bring it back to my garage where i have all the necessary tools and hoist to accomplish this. My hope is that when i break in the motor...again...by myself, that all will go well.

Would be nice if the builders up north where i live had dyno's to break the motor in for me, but so far, no one i have talked to has this set-up for Fords except Larson and King, and Aldridge.

Thats my dilema...have someone near me build motor and i break it in...or have motor built AND broke in for me so all have to do is drop in and drive.