What can I say ... as an engineer in the powertrain business for a dozen years (9 in engine development), I was amazed at Mark's work.

I actually considered a reman purchase, but after diagnosing the slipped liner, decided to send my long block to Mark. The guy is the most meticulous engine builder I have ever met. Not to mention all the "racing ****" he did, e.g. recessed valve spring pockets to prevent spring binding, modified valve retainers so they don't hit the valve seals (for the crower cam), piston to deck heights within a thousandth, each cylinder bored/honed to match the piston ... heck even my rods and rod caps are now stamped with their cylinder number.

I could go on, but hopefully this helps someone else down the line make the right choice. Even with all the things Mark did to fix the molestation that occurred to this engine prior to me and the performance work, I paid nearly the same as reman engine from AB, and I know exactly what I have in it. The engine had 160k on it, but now it's even better than when it rolled off the line.

I travelled from central IL to pick it up in person and get the grand tour. This photo is my engine in the clean room.

 

Post some more pix of your tour and the re-assembly. Sweet.

 

Yes Mark at D&D is very very knowledgeable on these engines and is great to work with. I wanted to go with Top Hat Liners and he didn't do this work as the reason I didn't end up using him and went with a Turner Block.

 

I'm confused. How do you fix a block with a slipped liner if you don't install a top-hat?

 

Mark uses flanged (top Hat) liners.

 

I never had a slipped liner just wanted to go top hat. I was told my cylinders were out of round which later I find out is the norm with these engines. So I have a block that will be a spare or a coffee table depending on needs. He had directed me to a local machine shop but the cost to go with a turner block was less $$$$.

 

Got it. My 04 had the short block replaced under warranty by LR by a previous owner because a cylinder was out of round. He was chasing a persitent misfire on one cylinder with about 65k on the engine. He exhausted every other possibilty so he pulled the heads and found that one piston would rock in the bore. It was a factory certified used car, so he pushed until he got a new short block. It's wild how much a lump of aluminum can distort once you tighten the head bolts.

 

The sure do look sweet all cleaned up. Did you use stock cams or make any power changes? Have fun with it!!!

 

Thanks, Crower 230 cam.

 

DrWisley,
It is about 9 months following your build, how would you compare the D&D worked engine with the stock configuration? I am considering changing out the original cam in my '04 Discovery with either a Crower 229 or 230, unfortunately the posts that I have read are a bit vague on the actual details of real-world performance. I would appreciate any information that you can provide having built an engine around the Crower 230. Thanks!

Madsenjr