If you're going through hell, keep going

I talked with the engine builder today.  He apologized for the issues and is offering to replace all of the damaged parts at no cost to me.  While this thing is apart, a few improvements are going to be made...namely upgrading the heads to breathe better (from AA basic 043 heads to Panchito 44s), swapping out lash caps for swivel foot adjusters on the rockers and H beam CB Performance rods.  The barb fittings for the oil filter are being swapped out for AN fittings.  The rest of the engine will, largely, remain the same.  No machining is required so that'll speed up the process as well.

I'm very pleasantly surprised at the response by the builder - I wish I wasn't but...I expected way more push back than I got.  Shit happens...it's how people react when it does that defines them.

I'm cautiously optimistic that this will all work out 'okay' and I'll have it back in about a month.  The IRS conversion is off the table as a result of these costs so the swing axle rear end will go back in the car.  I may have to drop the rear end another spline in the back in an attempt to deal with the camber issue.  I may as well open up the axle tubes on the side covers of the transmission and add a gasket to loosen it up a tad bit while it's out of the car.

The cabinets are being rearranged and parts are being listed as they're found - the 'slim down' continues.

Fortune knocks but once - misfortune has much more patience

The case came apart today and I went over to watch it come apart and take pictures.

It's about as bad as I expected - nearly everything inside will have to be replaced for one reason or another.

26 mm oil pump for full flow: Scratched inside from metal filings.  Unable to re-use.

CB 74 mm forged crank:  Scratched main journals.  Cannot use as is.  These are supposedly super hard and are very difficult to polish/machine.

Build sheet indicates that a Gene Berg racing Chromoly gland nut is used:  Not Gene Berg, actually EMPI.

The entire case was covered with a sealant - there were several 'strings' of the stuff inside the case.

The case, so far, seems to have escaped damage, fortunately.

Sealant was used INSIDE the case to seal o-rings (WTF?)

Bearings are scored heavily for an engine with 200 miles on it and total run time of about six hours.

Sealant everywhere...

CB 5.4 I beams:  Not CB (see pictures)  All CB rods are marked CB from the factory. Unable to determine the actual brand.

Bearings are scored from metal filings and all require replacement.

Here's the rest of the diagnosis:

Cam:  Unusual wear, cannot re-use.

Scat racing lifters:  Cannot determine brand.  Flat instead of a slight dome.  Cannot re-use.

Aluminum cam gear:  Polished where metal filings were flying around.  Cannot re-use.

New stock 8 dowel (assuming this  refers to flywheel):  Not stock.  13 lbs instead of 17 lbs

The heads, pistons/cylinders, push rods and all of the external parts were fine.