Wow, what a set back but also good timing I guess. Went for a short 50 mile jaunt in the 76’ the other day, before stripping down the interior again and putting my rebuilt radio from Greg at Turnswitch in along with a few other finishing touches for the interior. (Getting ready for drive to Bend) I am just about home and hear a slight rocker rattle in my engine, it goes away. (Completely rebuilt with a few goodies added last year, 2000 miles ago by a great shop) Called the shop next day and said I would bring it down and see if it does it again, about 10 miles to the shop. Checked it out Friday, fired it up idled good, sounded good, so off I went, got just about there and the rattling started and no power under load, idled it into the shop. Engine got real hot quickly. What had happened we figured was the intake manifold gasket failed slightly when I first heard it and then driving it down to the shop it heated up quickly and got sucked in and about 6 quarts of anti freeze along with some oil after a head gasket went, got burnt through the engine. Lots of damage happened quickly, rings look ok but will be replaced no damage to pistons, will re-bearing crank, new harmonic balancer etc. I never noticed the temp gauge go up but assume it did. Why am I telling this? At first it seemed like a timing issue and very minor. I have never heard of an intake gasket doing this before so it was something totally new to me and maybe to you as well. Like I said the engine was done by a great shop and they already have the engine out, totally stripped, washed and on the bench being rebuilt. They are covering the cost and told me it is the second engine they have seen do this, they have spoke to the gasket company about it as well but it is hard to identify quality of workmanship vs. materials so keep you posted. Hard not to be impressed by the quality and response of the shop. So I guess next weekend is now set for the remaining interior work, after a little test drive
Brian - NCM Lifetime Member
73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"