May 27, 2001

Well, today I am doing some finishing touches to my 69GP. I cleaned and buffed the last wheel well molding and installed on the driver's rear quater panel. I also installed the seat belt retractor on the driver's side and installed the rear interior coat hooks.

Had a pretty good storm come through, but later took the car out for a spin. Everything was going GREAT!!! Put on some tunes and she drove excellent until.......

A ROD started a KNOCKIN!!!

AT first I thought I felt something weird, like a vibration. When I came to a traffic light and checked my oil pressure gauge, and it was reading 5-10psi at idle. I also heard a STRANGE sound! It was a knock, like someone hitting the block with a hammer. It sounded like it was everytime a cylinder would fire. I proceeded to drive home, and running at about 2000 rpm's my oil pressure was no more than 20psi. Also, this speed produced the heaviest vibration from the motor.

I have been talking with a few guys on the 69 - 72 Grand Prix e-mail list! Could be a rod bearing. At this point I am not sure what to do. All I know is that motor has got to come out!!

May 30, 2001

Bob, from the shop, stopped by tonight, and helped me and my wife take the hood off!! Said it definately was a rod bearing!! After I get the motor out, he will be taking it to the Machine shop for a total rebuild!! Wish me LUCK!!

June 2, 2001

OK! I had a good nights sleep!! I am now emotionally and physically ready to pull this motor!!! I started about 9:30am. I took everything off. Removed the radiator and fan shroud, belts, pulleys, wires, and all the other good stuff!! When I got to the starter, the battery cable was on Tight! Broke the starter solenoid! Oh well, that's $15!! I managed to get everything ready to pull the motor and took a break.

I looked at the car, and debated on pulling the trans out with the motor. So I decided to drop the driveshaft and do just that. I had it all out as one unit, by 1:30pm. I then took all the stuff off the motor. Opened the water drain plugs in the block, and drained the oil. By 5:00pm, the motor was ready to go to the shop.

I called Bob, and he picked it up at 7:30pm. It is now on its way!! Now to clean up my parts for the reinstallation!!

June 9, 2001

Today, I went over to Bob's shop. I got all the pieces from my long block, except the crankshaft. Looks like my main bearings, and rod bearings all went bad. They are all scored. So, I decided to do a complete restoration on the 400 motor. My Motor is now at the machine shop getting prepped. The cylinder walls were also bad. It will be getting rebored from .030 over to .060.

June 11, 2001

While talking with Bob, I decided on using the JE Pistons. These are custom forged pistons. The connecting rods will be Eagle "ESP" H-beam , from Eagle Specialty Products, Inc. in Memphis, TN. The part number is CRS6625P3D.

June 13, 2001

I got an unexpected visit, at home, from Bob. He gave me the New Eagle Connecting Rods until he needs them to do the install. They are very sharp!!!

June 28, 2001

Called JE Pistons and my pistons should be at the machine shop by Monday! Yippeee!! They are a Forged flat top with about 11:1 compression ratio with the #62 Ram Air III, 72-75cc heads. The heads were not ported, but totally redone. Maybe in the future, when I get a spare 400, I can build her up really good, which would include Edelbrock heads. Right now, I just want to get her back on the road, looking stock, ASAP!!! Anybody have a spare 400, 4 bbl close to Allentown, PA? Preferably a 1968,1969 or 1970.

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