Question about shuffle pins., The autopsy results are in... Options

[jhadler]

Well, we pulled the motor and performed the autopsy this weekend. The conclusion was the #1 main bearing spun and realigned the oiling port onto the shuffle pin (based on the marks on the bearing). This was either a condition inherited from the previous builder (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) , or somehow the crank came out of the bearing slightly when the case was split to fish out the steel washer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) . Either way, it obviously caused bad things to happen. Fortunately, all of the big expensive parts seem to have emerged for the most part unscathed. The crank, pistons, and heads all look great. The bearings all have signs of damage, and if I had run the motor any longer it probably would have scattered.

Looking at it, the #1 cam bearing pretty obviously starved, and eroded (no tin at all left on the bearing surface). That is the most glaring damage visible. Other bearing surfaces have signs of scoring, some more than others. The cam and lifters are being replaced as a matter of course, and all the bearings too. There appears to be bearing surface material deposited on other bearings in the motor. I think I got off REALLY LUCKY considering what -could- have happened.

Now the question...

While trying to figure out how the heck this happened, I observed that the shuffle pins were all pretty loosely fitted into the case. I could easily wobble them with my fingers, and could lift them out with just finger pressure holding them. Is this right? Should they be tighter? If they need to be tight, is the case toast at this point? Can I retrofit pins that fit tighter? Should I <cringe and shudder> epoxy them into place? Or should I just pull out a spare case and start over?? If they are supposed to be loose, please tell me that too... I'd like to start measuring everything out for a rebuild as soon as I can...

Thanks!

-Josh2