Chuck:
to try and compile scientific data on non scientific occurences is worthless.
It is close to attempting to solve a algebraic equation of the 5 unknowns
and 2 equations problem.
The levels of maintenace is so varied, engine loadings, final drives, coach
weights, tires, types and qualities of gas etc, as to make one scratch their
heads when attempting to achieve any correlation at all.
One observation is based on my experience however. The oldsmobile 455
engine is one of the strongest and long lived of all of the GM power plants.
it is permaturely destroyed by poor maintenance and inconsiderate driving
habits. Give it the right oil, good filters, properly tuned and maintained,
and 200K miles or more is certainly achievable. Ask Dave Greenberg, now
about 380K on his.
>Greetings all:
>
>As a newbie have been trying to determine the best course of action on my
>Royale, a 78 with a 403, earlier I posted that I was going to replace with a
>455 or Cad engine, now this is not a discussion on the merits of doing that,
>what I was wrestling with is based on the fact that my 403 had 103,000 miles
>I didn't want it to disintergrate at an in appropriate time or place, and
>while lurking about this web site, read stories of valves being eaten,
>bearings spun etc. Got in contact a nd joined the Greater Midwest Classics
>club, and talked to the membership, some of them told stories of their on
>road experiences with veteran engines imploding.
>
>Others on this site are asking the same question? When or if do I replace an
>engine inorder to avoid unwanted emergency repairs etc?
>
>In real life I work at 3M developing batteries for use in Electric vehicles
>and hybrid electric vehicles for GM, Ford and DC. Their specs are for a ten
>year life at 18,000 miles per year.
>
>When our GMCs were assembled not sure what the lifetime specs were, doubt if
>they were as stringent.
>
>All of our coaches are in the life time ending failure mode of the
>reliability bath tub curve, we are not we experiencing any infant mortality
>failures. But what is the slope, location and cause of that curve.
>
>If the group concensus is that what I propose is worthwhile, I can put the
>following together:
>
>If the group would E-Mail me the following information on engine failures of
>the catastrophic kind I would put together a data base, spread sheet and
>Weibell plots of the data so we can determine the alpha, beta etc. It will
>give us a picture of when engines fail, and what risks we assume if we go
>beyond a certain point in their life, and make decisions if we want to accept
>that risk. This will be only as good as the data submitted.
>
>Information might be.
>
>Engine type 455 or 403, mileage, if original or rebuilt engine and confidence
>level in the mileage. (There seem to be way to many "low mileage" coaches
>for sale)
>
>Failure mode, doesn't have to be detailed, just major item, burned valve,
>piston, bearings etc. If the failure was related to poor maintainence (i.e.
>oil change lad did not tighten nut and Mobils best littered the highway
>followed by engine) pls report, will be shown with asterick.
>
>If failure was known to be commonly know failures, oil lines etc, still
>report.
>
>I can tabulate this in many ways, and if I can't my colleagues can.
>
>Is this a worth while effort to get at when to predict catastrophic failures?
>If yes, what other data do we collect?
>
>Your thoughts
>
>Chuck Donnelly
>78 Royale
>cad3M
>cadonnelly
>
>
to try and compile scientific data on non scientific occurences is worthless.
It is close to attempting to solve a algebraic equation of the 5 unknowns
and 2 equations problem.
The levels of maintenace is so varied, engine loadings, final drives, coach
weights, tires, types and qualities of gas etc, as to make one scratch their
heads when attempting to achieve any correlation at all.
One observation is based on my experience however. The oldsmobile 455
engine is one of the strongest and long lived of all of the GM power plants.
it is permaturely destroyed by poor maintenance and inconsiderate driving
habits. Give it the right oil, good filters, properly tuned and maintained,
and 200K miles or more is certainly achievable. Ask Dave Greenberg, now
about 380K on his.
>Greetings all:
>
>As a newbie have been trying to determine the best course of action on my
>Royale, a 78 with a 403, earlier I posted that I was going to replace with a
>455 or Cad engine, now this is not a discussion on the merits of doing that,
>what I was wrestling with is based on the fact that my 403 had 103,000 miles
>I didn't want it to disintergrate at an in appropriate time or place, and
>while lurking about this web site, read stories of valves being eaten,
>bearings spun etc. Got in contact a nd joined the Greater Midwest Classics
>club, and talked to the membership, some of them told stories of their on
>road experiences with veteran engines imploding.
>
>Others on this site are asking the same question? When or if do I replace an
>engine inorder to avoid unwanted emergency repairs etc?
>
>In real life I work at 3M developing batteries for use in Electric vehicles
>and hybrid electric vehicles for GM, Ford and DC. Their specs are for a ten
>year life at 18,000 miles per year.
>
>When our GMCs were assembled not sure what the lifetime specs were, doubt if
>they were as stringent.
>
>All of our coaches are in the life time ending failure mode of the
>reliability bath tub curve, we are not we experiencing any infant mortality
>failures. But what is the slope, location and cause of that curve.
>
>If the group concensus is that what I propose is worthwhile, I can put the
>following together:
>
>If the group would E-Mail me the following information on engine failures of
>the catastrophic kind I would put together a data base, spread sheet and
>Weibell plots of the data so we can determine the alpha, beta etc. It will
>give us a picture of when engines fail, and what risks we assume if we go
>beyond a certain point in their life, and make decisions if we want to accept
>that risk. This will be only as good as the data submitted.
>
>Information might be.
>
>Engine type 455 or 403, mileage, if original or rebuilt engine and confidence
>level in the mileage. (There seem to be way to many "low mileage" coaches
>for sale)
>
>Failure mode, doesn't have to be detailed, just major item, burned valve,
>piston, bearings etc. If the failure was related to poor maintainence (i.e.
>oil change lad did not tighten nut and Mobils best littered the highway
>followed by engine) pls report, will be shown with asterick.
>
>If failure was known to be commonly know failures, oil lines etc, still
>report.
>
>I can tabulate this in many ways, and if I can't my colleagues can.
>
>Is this a worth while effort to get at when to predict catastrophic failures?
>If yes, what other data do we collect?
>
>Your thoughts
>
>Chuck Donnelly
>78 Royale
>cad3M
>cadonnelly
>
>
