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Topic: Pulled the engine and found a few things

in Forum: C3 Engines


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Pulled the engine and found a few things

Posted: 10/26/07 8:28pm Message 1 of 46
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suncountry
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Moses Lake, WA - USA
Joined: 4/16/2005
Posts: 2134
Vette(s): 1976 L48 4-spd, Mahogany Metalic exterior, Buckskin interior 350ci/350hp, 3rd owner, fiberglass spring, 255/50-16's Torq-Thrust II
Pulled the engine today and found a torn left engine mountShocked. Then I found a crack in the firewallCry. So now I need to learn to do some glass repair. Pulled the spark plugs and found #6 & #8 were the ones burning oil. See pictures below.
 
Crack in V under wiper motor



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Pulled the engine and found a few things

Posted: 10/26/07 9:12pm Message 2 of 46
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Adams' Apple
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Duncanville, TX - USA
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
That crack don't look too bad in the pic.

Those two plugs ain't burnin no oil! That looks more like fuel deposits, from bad fuel. If they were oily and black, then they would prolly be suspects for oil fouling.
The one plug on the left(in the pic) looks to have possibly some piston melted on it, or just some different fuel deposits. Those plugs are runnin HOT! Perhaps those two cylinders were way too lean for some reason. You may have a vac. leak in the intake manifold there...


Joel Adams
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Pulled the engine and found a few things

Posted: 10/26/07 9:59pm Message 3 of 46
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suncountry
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Moses Lake, WA - USA
Joined: 4/16/2005
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Vette(s): 1976 L48 4-spd, Mahogany Metalic exterior, Buckskin interior 350ci/350hp, 3rd owner, fiberglass spring, 255/50-16's Torq-Thrust II
Don't think it is bad fuel, run Chevron 95% of the time. I have suspected lean condition for some time. Plugs have all ways been too light in color for my taste. Did spray mist with water then again with WD40 looking for vac leaks in the past but could find none. I assumed the deposits were ash from burning oil. The vette did have a faint bit of smoke and would use a 1 qt every 500 to 600 miles. A small portion might have been from leaks. Oil pressure was down a little when hot and idling. I have a replacement motor now anyway that I need to put together. Will bag and save the original which I might rebuild some day. I plan to pull the heads to see just how worn the barrels are. Hope I don't see melted piston topsShocked
The crack runs on top of the v under the wiper motor and wraps under the tunnel. Goes back down the tunnel about 5". It looks like a easy fix



Pulled the engine and found a few things

Posted: 10/26/07 10:00pm Message 4 of 46
ranger3
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North Charleston, SC - USA
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Vette(s): 1975 L48 AT AC T-top
I agree with Joel on the plugs. That is textbook hot/lean. To me the plug on the right appears deformed with foreign molten metal in the circumferential groove. It definitely isn't oil. Probably a good thing that you caught it when you did. Keep us posted.

Scott
 ranger32007-12-27 18:23:51


Pulled the engine and found a few things

Posted: 10/27/07 12:54am Message 5 of 46
deeboy59
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visalia, CA - USA
Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 641
Vette(s): 1981 red with silver interior,350(L-81), 350TH, glass t-tops, aluminium rims, 1980 Black/ Black int., 350 GM crate engine/350TH, 1976 black/ saddle int., L-82 w/headers, holly carb, Hypertech ignition

A few months back,  I had a problem with my intake man. sucking air in from the EGR port between the head and the man. on the right side.  It was warped just enough (about .009") to cause number 4 and 6 cyl.  to suck air and  run lean.  The porcelain on those plugs were really white  and looked very similar to yours, but not as bad .    From the pics.  it looks like yours are a few levels higher on the heat scale then mine were....  




Pulled the engine and found a few things

Posted: 10/27/07 2:02pm Message 6 of 46
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suncountry
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Moses Lake, WA - USA
Joined: 4/16/2005
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Vette(s): 1976 L48 4-spd, Mahogany Metalic exterior, Buckskin interior 350ci/350hp, 3rd owner, fiberglass spring, 255/50-16's Torq-Thrust II
Pulled the right head to look inside. Combustion chambers with the plugs are #6 & #8. You can see the build up around the spark plug hole. Looking at the block you can see pistons 6 & 8. Barrels look good, no scoring and no ridge at the top. Can still see the cross hatch from honing.
 



Pulled the engine and found a few things

Posted: 10/27/07 4:17pm Message 7 of 46
RADARB8
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Montesano, WA - USA
Joined: 9/27/2003
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Vette(s): had a really nice one. sold it to a good friend. Purchased 2004 custom coupe in Feb. 2009 did not tell anyone here until August 2009. BAD I KNOW.
wow that is really interesting, only wish I had a clue as to what you are talking about.  Man glen your vettes gonna be like brand new man...
I have been giving a littlr thought to approaching Dee-Dee about pulling the LT-1 out and saving it, think it would be worth more to do it now instead later when it might break, nothing serious still driving went for drive today with top down, still grinning, looking forward to seeing you guys after t day.
Larry


Pulled the engine and found a few things

Posted: 10/27/07 5:24pm Message 8 of 46
spielman5
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ANCHORAGE, AK - USA
Joined: 10/12/2004
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Vette(s): 1965-327 coupe, 1968-small block coupe, 1969-427, 1971-454 coupe and currently a 1976-ZZ4 coupe reborn again,and hotter than ever.. Add a 1996 CE LT-4 for backup
Glen, good show on the engine replacement, sorry about the thumbThumbs%20Up, must of really hurtLOL.. Take your time and do it right, will break it in on the trip to Hot Springs next summer..Terry




   "I Love all Corvettes! LifeTime Member #60..Terry"

Pulled the engine and found a few things

Posted: 10/27/07 6:07pm Message 9 of 46
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suncountry
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Moses Lake, WA - USA
Joined: 4/16/2005
Posts: 2134
Vette(s): 1976 L48 4-spd, Mahogany Metalic exterior, Buckskin interior 350ci/350hp, 3rd owner, fiberglass spring, 255/50-16's Torq-Thrust II
The motor is about broken in all ready. I bought the 350 HO from Paul's brother. It has about 300 miles on it. Ordered my Hooker headers competition from Jet-Hot and a new radiator with dual fans from DeWitts. Just creating my list of all the other stuff I need to get. It sure is long.
 
The thumb got hit a few months ago while building the decks. Seems as though the hammer mistook my thumb nail for a steel nailConfused. Full power strike OuchCry.  Started the tear down and rebuilding of my decks when I got back from Carson City. Finished them up in September.
 
Looking forward to the next C3VR gathering. 



Pulled the engine and found a few things

Posted: 10/27/07 6:50pm Message 10 of 46
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Adams' Apple
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Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Daaang! That thing is definitely running hot/lean!!! I don't think I've ever seen exhaust valves that white!
Maybe your timing was too far retarded?
It's good you got a new heart in it now, tho.


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"

in Forum: C3 Engines


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