Well we ruled out the cam. Steve replaced the single gear with a double. They both lined up perfectly therefor saying to him that the cam was OK in the first place. Now he is gonna check lifters, pushrods and what he can before deciding to pull the engine again. There are two problems here, the first is the diesel sound and slight knocking when the engine is running. That has been there from day 1 when we first fired it. We just figured with a new rebuild, it would work it's way out. Well that wasn't the case. The cam was OK when Steve checked it before buttoning up the engine and running it. The only problem, except for the slight knock or diesel sound, was the engine would die when we would put it in gear. Steve and some of the "guys" thought maybe the torque converter was locking up on the 700 R4 so he pulled the engine and put on a 350. Hooked everything back up and took it for a 15 mile drive, the car shifted great but we noticed that the alternator wasn't charging the battery. So a day or so later I drove it about a mile away from home and sat at a cruise-in. Right after we got there someone asked me to fire up my new stereo system and when I went to start the car, it was dead. We jumped it and ran it for a few and then shut it off. When I left then to go home, it started up OK but my headlights were very dim. Knowing that the damn alternator may be bad, I drove it home and as I put it into reverse to back into the driveway, it died.This time it was an electrical stall. The following morning Steve took the alternator off and put a new one on and immediately it began charging the battery so we let it run for quite awhile. Then when Steve got in it to drive it awhile, upon putting it in gear, it died. He refired and tried again and the same thing. This is what the car was doing when the guys thought the torque converter was locking up with the first tranny. It isn't possible with the 350 so we ruled that out. He tinkered with the timing, idle ,etc. most of the day yesterday with the same results. This morning he started it up again and while it was cold, it would shift into gear with a higher idle but the minute it got warm, the dying problem was back.
So there you have it, I personally don't think the 2 problems are related but Steve does. The dieseling sound has never gone away even after adjusting the valves. This was everyones answer to the knocking diesel sound. It is still there and more prominant when it is cold. I have tried to explain the issues as best as I can but maybe I am not communicating well.
THANKS EVERYONE for your input I still am considering selling it. I was much happier with the 235.
JoAnne