I've searched and read, but I'm not really finding what I'm looking for...

Can a built short block survive daily driver use?

I bought my L Nov. 2003 with 22k on the clock. I blew the motor Friday night (Feb 2005) with almost 38k on the clock.

My normal truck usage put 16k miles on in 15 months.

I know that Don's Bolt has about 20k miles on a built motor, but I don't know his usage pattern. I drive my truck to and from work every day, make deliveries with it on weekends and race whenever I can.

Does this usage pattern spell death to a built short block?

I know the block, crank and inproved rods won't give problems, but my concerns are in the following areas:

1) bearing wear
2) piston life
3) ring/cylinder wall wear
4) any oiling concerns
5) temp extremes

Will my use of my truck make a multi-thousand dollar smokey mequito repellant?

Thanks,
Herb

 

When not racing I use mine for long distance driving, around 450 miles on the weekends. I kind of work in a bad area now, so I don't drive it as much I use to but it was 50 miles a day.

 

Thanks for the info Mike.

I am still HIGHLY impressed with your truck (I kinda like the color too).

I jus want to be sure that after a spend sveral grand on a short clock, I won't have to repeat that process due to 'normal' wear and tear.

Replacing one motor is gonna kill me - replacing two will have others killing me as well!

Herb

 

I wish I knew that answer Herb
I do know my stock motor was wasted at 12K,
it's got to be better than that

I talked to Sal about this for quite a while, a built motor can be built with any clearances "you want", some want it tight, some like it loose. Too loose and it'll be noisy, too tight and it'll show early signs of wear, the trick is to find the happy spot in the middle

The bigger trick is to have some say so over it, that is why we build my motor from scratch, we choice each and every part, we decided on each and every gap "and acceptable clearances"

 

According to Robs pic's........bearing wear and nitrous go hand in hand. And it makes sense, if you think about that sudden extra hp slaming down on the piston.

There are many, many built motors tooling around the highways. So your concern is not worth the concern.....LOL that make sense?
The best thing about a built motor is the peace of mind when hammering it. Knowing if you run extra boost, or like to shot juice to it, it will survive. But know this, theres more to just putting in big rods and aftremarket pistons. Just think of your motor as a big air pump. It moves air in and out. Now putting a blower on the motor, fools the motor, into thinking its bigger than it already is. So think induction and exhaust. Then think of ways to help pull the heat out of the air charge. Everybody has different ideas on what works best, just think it thru

 

Unless you use Racetested nitrous controller to control the initial SHOT of "sudden extra hp slaming down on the piston."

 

i had about 29000 on my 03 when i bew the engine... now i have a built block from JLP... i got the truck back the week before christmas and have put over 6000 miles on it since then... no problems of any kind yet... i guess ill see over the next year how it holds up as being my daily driver.

 

Nice pic at 41........

 

I prob have the most miles of anyone with a built motor

I have made 2 trips to virginia, 2 trips to Ohio, one trip to Atlanta, a bunch of trips to NJ all from Boston, Ma

I then raced and drove home.

I have about 35,000 miles on this motor, and so far it is running perfect, no oil useage, no strange noises.

 

Thanks for the info Don - I was hoping you'd chime in.

I may never be faster, but I may be able to catch up to you on the 'most mile' tag

Herb

 

Like Don I have a ton of Built motor miles on my L. Trips to Florida, Ohio , Virginia , 3 times to Indiana ..all on built motor.

I drive my L as much as possible and enjoy every minute of it.

As much as I want to be the fastest . I want to drive it everyday also.

VINNIE

 

Don, Linda is in Boston Mas. all this week. She just called to let me know you guys have snow on the ground........It was 79 degrees when she left Houston.

 

Mike if Linda needs anything while in town, get ahold of Jim. He has my number

I am only 7 miles out of Boston

 

thanks....

 

Thanks Don I passed the info to her.........Got to love that JDM Team....