Thanks guys for the competent advice. Yes the
oil pressure hasn't been quite what I am used to - the variance between hot and cold running pressures is greater than they should have been. But not sure if this is the rather crap grade running in
oil doing this.
Later last night after clearing my head I had another look at the filter, and whole situation. It's sure got crud in it, but probably not as much as I initially thought.
Certainly doesn't look like an entire rod or journal bearing. Having a good daylight analysis I see that some of the fragments actually came from the filter casing from the cut I put in it! So that was a bit silly..
Feel much better about it all today, but will show the engine builder see what he says. He's a very competent guy and this is the 3rd motor he's done for me over the years. The other two got driven hard most of their lives and they never used a drop of
oil. So I trust him.
Fingers crossed it's not as much a problem as some of you guys had.
By the way, for your information, and despite the above issue, I'm pretty impressed with the 351 offset ground Cleveland stroker way of doing it. Stroke is now 3.7 inches (=377.5 cubes with 0.030 bore), using Chev rods, custom pistons (10.8:1), ported iron 2V heads (4V exhaust) - alot of work on the inlets to open up but done cleverly to keep the port velocity up, Weiand manifold, Holley 750DP, Ford Motorsport SVO M-6250-A342 cam (.580"/.606", 248deg/258 deg @ .050").
Though the motor is only very new it's almost got a big block feel to it, loads of torque but still pulls hard at higher revs. Might yet crack that 11s quarter I'm after..
All the best, and a great forum.