Reply to "Howards Camshafts (Summit)"

...I Suggest, the Con Rod was already 'Slightly' Bent from the Beginning-Day 1. It was missed during Inspection and Assembly.
The Crank Journal and Wrist Pin Axises NOT Being in the Same PLANE cause a 'Twisting Force' upon every stroke. This Force is what Knocked-Out the Rod Bearing. When the Bearing Failed, the Rod was Twisted Even Further.

It's Called 'Hydraulic LOCK'. But what Fluid would have 'Leaked' into the Cylinder...And NOT leave any evidence?? Instead of Hyd-Lock, I can Imagine a Poorly-Timed 'Miss-Fire', or similar (Crossed Plug Wires Maybe) 'could' have bent a Rod. Do You Remember any such event?

Just Guessing Here, as In My Past, I have found a Bent Rod in a 400 Pontiac Engine I was Re-Building. NO Cause was ever found!

P.S. About those ARP HEAD Studs!! AFTER Installing them, I Blew-Out 2 Different sets of Head Gaskets..Believe it. At higher Revs, a Huge BANG and the Results, Water in the Oil and Oil in the Water, Boiling Over-Steam and Transport Home. The Gaskets Also Failed Between Two Adjacent Cylinders. The Cause...From at least 2 sources, I was advised to Torque the Heads to 90 Ft/Lbs (For a Fine-Thread Nut). Yes, In Levels and in Sequence. Before the Third set of Gaskets went in, I called and talked to a ARP Technician, asked Him for advise and received a Short and Simple answer, 1/2" Studs, IRON Block, 130 Ft/Lbs !! Engine has Run Strong ever since.

I Must Add, for those who will ask. YES! You CAN Pull the Heads Off-Over STUDS, While the Engine is STILL In the Pantera!!! There is Just Enough Room, You have to Remove the Obvious parts and the Pressure Tank. AND Be 6' 6" Tall so You can LEAN WAY In Over the Fender (NO Belt Buckles, Zippers or Gene Rivets Please) and with ALL Your Strength, lift and slide that 75 Pound Iron Head Up and Off. You Have Aluminum Heads!? Your Home Free! But It will Still Take all Your Might to Bring Those Fine Threaded Nuts Up To 130 Ft/Lbs!! Believe it or Don't!

Yes, I knew the 'Book' States the Torque to be 125 Ft/Lbs for the Boss 351, But That Setting is for Factory Course Thread BOLTS, and here we're talking Nuts with Fine Threads. Last, be very careful, 130 Pounds is right On the 'Edge' of Stripping the Threads Out of the Nut And The Block.

Apologies for Hi-Jacking the Thread.