Black 02
New member
Sorry I haven't kept up to date on here with my engine build. I want you all to know I've appreciated your help and advice along the way. I'm sure some remember some of the issues I've had over the past 18 months with my engine builder.
I got the engine running ok finally and thought maybe my issues were behind me.
Driving to the coast last weekend to go salmon fishing and driving along on the flats and all of a sudden it starts sounding like a lifter ticking. Starts getting louder and louder. Oil pressure ok. Water temp ok. Pull over and it's missing and sounds like a rod knocking. Shut it down and check the oil. Oil looks ok. Did some research online and it sounds like a cracked injector. Well it sounds like the truck in this video. It was 5 AM and dark so I couldn't see the smoke. When it started to get light, I could see it was smoking a huge cloud of white fuel smoke. So, I pay to have it hauled home and work on it Sunday night.
Pull valve covers off and look for broken rockers, bent push rods... etc etc. Nothing that I can see. Start the truck and start unplugging one injector at a time. One injector makes the major smoking stop when unplugged, but the knocking sound remains. Pull the injector and I see nothing wrong with it visually.
Drain the oil and find the magnetic drain plug with about a dime size ball of metal flakes stuck to it. Oil has about 750 miles on it. Obviously iron or something because it's metallic.
So now I'm wondering if it's a broken piston, bad cam bearing wearing on the cam. I'm not sure.
All I know is the oil system is highly contaminated with metal flakes and the engine has a knock. Don't know if it is from the injector or what.
So, now I guess I get to pull this engine that I've spent over $15k on out after only 4000 miles of driving. Not what I had in mind when I spent that money.
Right now I think I need to find a used forged rod engine and put it in it and just drive it. Keep this motor and put it on a stand and rebuild it over the next year or so and then put it back in the truck.
Or I need to find a reputable engine builder in the Oregon/Washington area to rebuild this thing after I figure out what's wrong with it.
That being said.... I should have used my first instincts and bought an engine from David Lott or Swamps. I would never have had these issues. Let that be a word of advice from me to anyone wanting to build a high horsepower 7.3L. Be careful for what you wish for and good luck!
I got the engine running ok finally and thought maybe my issues were behind me.
Driving to the coast last weekend to go salmon fishing and driving along on the flats and all of a sudden it starts sounding like a lifter ticking. Starts getting louder and louder. Oil pressure ok. Water temp ok. Pull over and it's missing and sounds like a rod knocking. Shut it down and check the oil. Oil looks ok. Did some research online and it sounds like a cracked injector. Well it sounds like the truck in this video. It was 5 AM and dark so I couldn't see the smoke. When it started to get light, I could see it was smoking a huge cloud of white fuel smoke. So, I pay to have it hauled home and work on it Sunday night.
Pull valve covers off and look for broken rockers, bent push rods... etc etc. Nothing that I can see. Start the truck and start unplugging one injector at a time. One injector makes the major smoking stop when unplugged, but the knocking sound remains. Pull the injector and I see nothing wrong with it visually.
Drain the oil and find the magnetic drain plug with about a dime size ball of metal flakes stuck to it. Oil has about 750 miles on it. Obviously iron or something because it's metallic.
So now I'm wondering if it's a broken piston, bad cam bearing wearing on the cam. I'm not sure.
All I know is the oil system is highly contaminated with metal flakes and the engine has a knock. Don't know if it is from the injector or what.
So, now I guess I get to pull this engine that I've spent over $15k on out after only 4000 miles of driving. Not what I had in mind when I spent that money.
Right now I think I need to find a used forged rod engine and put it in it and just drive it. Keep this motor and put it on a stand and rebuild it over the next year or so and then put it back in the truck.
Or I need to find a reputable engine builder in the Oregon/Washington area to rebuild this thing after I figure out what's wrong with it.
That being said.... I should have used my first instincts and bought an engine from David Lott or Swamps. I would never have had these issues. Let that be a word of advice from me to anyone wanting to build a high horsepower 7.3L. Be careful for what you wish for and good luck!
