23 Hudson: heart attack averted.

Unknown

After about half an hour of running time on a fresh engine, I noticed

that there were oil leaks from around the pan gasket. Investigation

found several loose bolts. I snugged them up and started the engine

to check for leaks. BANG BANG BANG BANG!!! Shut it off quick and go

back to he house feeling pretty discouraged. If one rod bearing

failed so soon how were the rest going to fare?



This morning off with the pan to inspect the damage. My 23 pan had

had a severely damaged trough section so I had removed it entirely and

used a 29 trough section which is, of course, a separate piece and

makes cleaning the pan out much easier.



The earlier connecting rods are a little bigger to accomodate the

bronze backed shell bearings. Turns out that after I snugged the pan

bolts up, the castellated nuts on the rods 3 AND 4 could just catch

the lip of one of the diverter channels, folding it down so it really

hit. Easily fixed by bending the diverter channel up so it would

clear. All's well that ends well.

Karl