No he wasn't.
I'm not sure if it was just a kid playing with some rocks, and he happened to put a rock in my filter (The dyno was not too carefully guarded when trucks were being strapped/unstrapped), or if somebody really wasn't wishing me well.
Who knows?! As a result, I had to buy a new Lil '55, a New "Big Air", buy a new head, and have the motor rebuilt.
I should have checked in the air filter before re-installing it, but hindsight is 20/20.
First, it was slow spool-up, then low power, and high EGT, then, I couldn't build any boost when on the brakes and on the go pedal. Pulled my air filter, and saw the blades wiped right off the Big Air. Started tearing it down, and the Lil '55 was nearly the same way, but still resembled a turbo. Bought two new turbo's (ouch$!), and put them on. Fired up the beast after pre-oiling, and low and behold,,, KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK,,, seemed like a spun rod bearing, or a valve gone south. it ran smooth, so I put a couple miles on it,, and it got worse quick. Parked it,, saved up some money. Bought some new parts, better parts, and took it to Chris Strickland. The motor was in sad shape. Bent pushrods, bent connecting rods, sloppy loose rod bearings, and scarred, scraped, and cut pistons, piston walls, along with a cracked head.
It's almost done now. Should be running next week!
I don't want to beat the guy to a bloody pulp,, I just want to know why? I don't have alot of things. I have a family, and two fast trucks. I don't have a house, I don't really have anything fancy besides my two trucks. Why take that from me?
What did I learn? Don't trust anybody around your stuff. Keep your hood shut, and your mouth closed.
Merrick