(I should preface by saying this is a second hand account of what happening with a buddy of mine since I wasn't there at the time.)

Okay so we just recently bought a 350 total rebuilt motor (bored, pistons, cam, etc.) from a pretty reputable local motor shop. Put it in an 87 Chevy we built a few years back (with a 77 wiring harness and gauge cluster if that's relevant.)

Did the break-in on the cam as per instructions, started it and let it idle a handful of times and drove it maybe a mile once and the motor was running great other than it was running a bit rich and a little smoke.

Carburetor is not new and the last time it was rebuilt the kit was admittedly cheap so we swapped for another carburetor and it was running even better, no smoke and not rich. Had it sitting idling outside the shop checking the oil pressure and temp regularly and all was great. Suddenly without warning, no knocking, no strange noises and again, what I wouldn't think was long enough for the temp to suddenly spike, it died. No oil pouring anywhere nothing just, died. Tried to start, turns over good but wouldn't start. But (and this part could make this being my buddy's account relevant) he noticed when trying to turn over no oil pressure came up at all. But I don't know how long he turned it over for or how much pressure should really come up for that matter when cranking (Melling high volume oil pump if we got what was ordered.)

Now to me, suddenly dying like that with no previous problem sounds like a gas issue and not something bad internal considering how fine it was before. I've had an oil pickup tube fall off without knowing and the motor still made it home without any noises or heating that badly even just lost some power and oil pressure went down.

But my buddy is convinced the motor is crap either pump went out, stacked a bearing, etc. and he was admittedly too pissed off to calmly look at everything like making sure it's still getting gas from the carburetor and wants to pull it out and take it back to the motor shop before the warranty is up.

Which of course if something went that wrong we definitely will but I just wanted to know anyone's thoughts.

Thanks everyone.