Well I have played poker on occasion, and If sitting in the pub with a couple pals talking about hooking Steelhead or Redfish on a fly, I may enhance the facts just a tad.
But!
I went through what you're going through right now, with my 428, not that many years ago. I tried just lifting the engine off the mounts and dropping the pan enough to change the seal. That didn't work. Then I pulled the engine and the crank to change the seal. That didn't work. Then I took it all apart and rebuilt it having the block machined and sunk a pile of dough into it. That didn't work. Then I pulled it apart again and measured the seal groove. I then built the tool and machined the groove. That stopped the leak.
At that time I thought I was done with it but only a few thousand miles later, one of the POS comp hydraulic roller lifters fell apart and I had to rebuild the whole thing yet again. I do have a bit of time put into the seal area of the 428 and I wouldn't bs about that.
I've since found that almost non of the engine rebuild shops on Vancouver Island will use Comp cams anything. I learned too late.
I think you will find, if you continue to use this forum, there are a lot of members with a lot of information here and they are willing to share. They have helped me more than I can repay.
