Hopefully.....

I decided, after 10 years, to tear into my 'Burban, and get it running on all 8 again. 
It's developed a dead cylinder a loooong time ago, so I just parked it....cause I'm too lazy to mess with stuff like that at home. It hasn't been driven since 2005. But, since the new laws in Texas require a vehicle to pass a State inspection before getting it registered, I figured I better get off me lazy a and fix it. Pulled the driver side head off yesterday, and sure enough, dang exhaust valve on #7 was flopping around. Valve guide is so worn out that compression was coming up past the stem, and blowing into the valve cover. Beat the seat right out of the head, and burned the crap outta the valve. Head is not repairable....nor would I want it back. So...now I get to buy another head/gaskets, and slap this turd back together....after I drill/extract 2 broken head bolts out of the block....

A little back story. I put this engine in this truck back in 2003. The truck had just a smidge over 100,000 miles on it. It now has 29,000 on this engine. POS from day one. I knew I shoulda just built the dang thing meself, but at the time, I needed it done quickly, so I bought a long block from a local engine shop, even tho I knew from experience it was a crap shoot.
And crap it was....
I gotta get it back together, to get it inspected, but....I also need it running so I can get the '74 out of the garage, and get IT inspected, too.

|UPDATED|5/17/2015 12:29:00 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Goin some where buddy?

What year burb, Joel?  3/4 ton?  4wd?  I've been making progress on my '91, 3/4 ton 4wd.  Biggest project so far has been swapping out the interior with that from a '90 parts rig I bought last fall.  That's done and the parts rig is gone.  But next is swapping on the parts rig's tailgate in place of the '91's barn doors.  (I know I'm crazy and it is not easy to make such a mod, but WTH.)  After that it's rebuilding the 90's motor to vortec heads, full roller, but keep the TBI.  (yep, crazy again, but I do have a tuner in my town that specializes in that sort of thing)

 '87 1/2 ton, Dave. Full custom from Starcraft Conversions.

Bought it shortly after I bought the '74, to use as a tow rig. Engine got too worn out @100,000, so I bought this longblock to speed up the recovery time. Dint werk out too well, in the end.   Someone has also shot the pass side rear winder last year with a bb gun, or something....it's got a big star crack on the outside, and the inside is pretty much shattered...only the winder tint is keeping it in place.
I just needs to git it running well again, so I can use it if needed. I always liked driving it. It gets good mileage for what it is, and it's comfy!

Good candidate for a Gen III 5.3 or 6.0 Liter small block swap. 

NOT!
I'm too lazy to fix the dern thing now...why would I consider doing even more work?!
New head will be delivered today. Gotta get a gasket set, thermostat & housing....and still gotta get the two broken bolts outta the block. Might have it back together by Christmas....

Joel,

|UPDATED|5/22/2015 8:23:44 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|