Unfinished mating surfaces on new short block...(?)

[BlueDevil]

I am prepping my new stroker 3v short block to go into the car, but i noticed 2 gasket sealing surfaces which seem to be unfinished: the oil pan mating surface and the oil filter/thermostat housing mating surface. Anyone seen this before? Am I crazy, or are these unmachined? If so, what's next? See photos.
Here are reference photos from the old block:

 

[Miker]

Makes you wonder about the more critical machining.

 

[86GT351]

Makes you wonder about the more critical machining.

Exactly. Where did that engine come from?

 

[Midlife Crises]

Did that block get soaked in a hot caustic bath?

 

[BlueDevil]

The builder (to remain unnamed at this point) says they get the prepped blocks from an outside supplier. It looks like it was blasted before hot tanking it, but who knows. Someone didn't mask off the gasket surfaces (oil pan rails, rear main seal plate, oil filter adapter...).

 

[86GT351]

The builder (to remain unnamed at this point) says they get the prepped blocks from an outside supplier. It looks like it was blasted before hot tanking it, but who knows. Someone didn't mask off the gasket surfaces (oil pan rails, rear main seal plate, oil filter adapter...).

Bottom line is how can a builder send that to a customer?

 

[lwarrior1016]

Dumb question but, is that paint? It looks like there is a spot on the pan rail where the textured surface was scraped off.

 

[1ohiostang]

Looks like it was sandblasted

 

[crjackson]

The builder (to remain unnamed at this point) says they get the prepped blocks from an outside supplier. It looks like it was blasted before hot tanking it, but who knows. Someone didn't mask off the gasket surfaces (oil pan rails, rear main seal plate, oil filter adapter...).

Are you going to move forward with this block, or make them replace it?

 

[BlueDevil]

Bottom line is how can a builder send that to a customer?

Exactly. How many points of quality control did this go through unnoticed. Especially during bottom end assembly, where the employee would have been staring right at the oil pan rails for a couple hours.

Dumb question but, is that paint? It looks like there is a spot on the pan rail where the textured surface was scraped off.

They suggested it might be paint, which I will check today. Seems unlikely, but I hope it is. Either way it shouldn't arrive at my door like that.

Looks like it was sandblasted

I agree. Or glass/shot blasted.

Are you going to move forward with this block, or make them replace it?

I have no choice but to move forward. Either it's an easy fix (re: paint theory), or I tear it down to a bare block and machine it myself, or I ship it to them to have them tear down and machine the block and then reassemble andnnship back to me. I don't want to spend that kind of money on something that was already quite expensive. Their stance is that I bought the short block a couple years ago, so they can't say what it's been through since it was purchased (which is nothing...it was stored on a stand in a sealed bag). My answer to that is that it's obviously never been run, or even had the accessories bolted on, so it doesn't change the fact that this engine has multiple quality issues that made it past their inspection points.

 

[86GT351]

Exactly. How many points of quality control did this go through unnoticed. Especially during bottom end assembly, where the employee would have been staring right at the oil pan rails for a couple hours.

They suggested it might be paint, which I will check today. Seems unlikely, but I hope it is. Either way it shouldn't arrive at my door like that.

I agree. Or glass/shot blasted.


I have no choice but to move forward. Either it's an easy fix (re: paint theory), or I tear it down to a bare block and machine it myself, or I ship it to them to have them tear down and machine the block and then reassemble andnnship back to me. I don't want to spend that kind of money on something that was already quite expensive. Their stance is that I bought the short block a couple years ago, so they can't say what it's been through since it was purchased (which is nothing...it was stored on a stand in a sealed bag). My answer to that is that it's obviously never been run, or even had the accessories bolted on, so it doesn't change the fact that this engine has multiple quality issues that made it past their inspection points.

The condition is that they did a garbage job. Personally if they sent you something like that and it sounds like they are not accepting responsibility for it, how can you trust the rest of the workmanship?

 

[crjackson]

Fingers crossed for you, but as much as you hate the thought. If it were mine, I’d tear it down. Inspect and measure every part, fix or replace the block. Shit happens.

 

[BlueDevil]

New question...the new stroker crank has 2 small woodruf keys, while the stock crank had one long woodruf key. The gap in the woodruf keys is exactly where the reluctor wheel goes, so it is not securely located by the key. What now?

 

[BlueDevil]

Just found this thread outlining the same issue I'm having (see previous post #13). I'm extremely frustrated with this. https://www.modularfords.com/threads/4-6-2v-romeo-reluctor-issues.260210/

 

[86GT351]

Again. Have you discussed with your machine shop? Was the Crankshaft changed by them?

 

[BlueDevil]

Again. Have you discussed with your machine shop? Was the Crankshaft changed by them?

I spoke with the crankshaft manufacturer (not the engine builder) this morning. They have a special woodruff key they are going to overnight me (if they have it in stock). Fingers crossed.

 

[eighty6gt]

Is it a longer key with the center milled out so it's cantilevered to hold the tone wheel?

I'd take the crank out and have that repaired properly.

Did you try removing the paint from the pan rail/etc? How is there not a bunch of paint in the oil ports/crankcase area..

 

[BlueDevil]

Is it a longer key with the center milled out so it's cantilevered to hold the tone wheel?

I'd take the crank out and have that repaired properly.

Did you try removing the paint from the pan rail/etc? How is there not a bunch of paint in the oil ports/crankcase area..

Not sure on the new key yet. Haven't seen any photos.
It wasn't paint on the oil pan rails. Those areas hadn't been masked before blasting. The only area I had serious doubts on was the oil filter adapter, so i used some 800 grit wrapped around a machinist block and got it back to an acceptable RA for the gasket. I also chased every threaded hole on the block.

 

[BlueDevil]

Here is the new key that Callies sent to me. I haven't test fit it yet, but I have to say that the customer service at Callies was impeccable. They were fast to locate this in their inventory, heat treat them, and then overnight not one, but two of these to me. It's worth repeating that I did not originally purchase anything directly from Callies...but they treated me like I was their biggest customer. Meanwhile, my engine builder (a well known company in the modular ford community) has become unresponsive and basically unhelpful. I may eventually do a separate "buyer beware" thread about my experience...I haven't decided yet. However, anyone interested can PM me about it.