Got a problem... Hadn't drove my truck for awhile so I started my 56 the other day and let her run ~15 - 20 minutes to just loosen her up. Meanwhile I was in the shop working on a recently purchased 71 I am rebuilding. My wife came in and hollered that smoke was pouring out of the truck. I hollered back "Shut it off!!!. Went to inspect it and when I looked underneath I spotted a "chunk" of metal and thought "This aint good". Pushed the 56 into the shop and noticed a hole in the block. Dropped the oil pan and found the main bearing on #4 cylinder was completly destroyed.Connecting rod was bent and piston was in pieces. I had oil in and had 35 psi on the gauge when I started it. Not sure what happened? I suspect I "spun" a bearing and as it continued to run everything got beat to he--. My plans were to relace the 6 cyl (223) cu in with a 302, but I would like to get the 6 cyl back running where I can move it around (eg in and out of the shop) because I don't have the $$ to purchase another moter at this time.... I welded a patch on the block. but I need to find a piston,connecting rod. I bought new main bearings (Had to get a whole damn set $126..can't buy just one) I will run into the same problem with the rod bearing and oil rings. So if anyone could provide me with a "ready to install" piston from a 223. I would be eternally grateful, and willing to show my gratitude monetarly$$$.Sorry for the long post but it feels good to complain a little bit and get it out of my system. Thanks!!!

Hump

 

dude that really sucks. not sure what the heck could have caused that. i got a bunch of 300 six parts but no 223 stuff. did the cylinder look ok or did it get marred up too?

 

Years ago we had an old service truck with a straight six that threw a rod. Being even cheaper than I am my boss pulled the pan and cut as much of the rod off as possible and pushed the piston up as far as he could in the cylinder. We drove that danged truck on 5 cylinders for another year. Yes, it ran rough, but it ran. You had the clutch the heck out of it to get it going but it did the job for awhile.

Bobby

 

I knew a guy that did the same thing with a Buick V8, but he at least pulled the head and took out the rod/piston, cut off the rod and reattached it to the crank, pulled the pushrods to valves. He drove it that way I think till he got rid of the car. Of course he had less loss in power going from 8 to 7.