successful engine rebuild
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 2
From: York UK
successful engine rebuild
Nine years ago I completely overhauled the engine of my '69 350 and fitted a new Holley, intake manifold and Performer cam. It never really ran properly, took twenty minutes to idle, sounded rough, and only managed 10 mpg.
A mechanic friend put the stock cam back in, and also reset the tappets after forcing the oil out of the lifters. After further ignition tuning, the car was ready for the road, and on Sunday I gave it a good road test on a 170 mile trip through the Scottish highlands.
The result? Now it goes like a rocket! It starts first time, has a deep purring sound, sensational acceleration, and gives 18 mpg. It's like driving a different car. It's the first time I've really enjoyed the car since buying it twelve years ago.
I think I'd set the tappets too tight in the first place, but what really made the difference was removing the performer cam and putting the old one back it. Thanks to those who offered me advice on the project. I'm really pleased with the performance now.
A mechanic friend put the stock cam back in, and also reset the tappets after forcing the oil out of the lifters. After further ignition tuning, the car was ready for the road, and on Sunday I gave it a good road test on a 170 mile trip through the Scottish highlands.
The result? Now it goes like a rocket! It starts first time, has a deep purring sound, sensational acceleration, and gives 18 mpg. It's like driving a different car. It's the first time I've really enjoyed the car since buying it twelve years ago.
I think I'd set the tappets too tight in the first place, but what really made the difference was removing the performer cam and putting the old one back it. Thanks to those who offered me advice on the project. I'm really pleased with the performance now.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 21
From: Abingdon MD
Chevy,
Great story. It can be totally frustrating when your baby ain't runnin' right. Can't believe you waited 9 YEARS (!!) to straighten this out. In any case:
1. Buy your friend dinner and a couple of pints
2. You know we need pics-- of car AND the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
Rickman
Great story. It can be totally frustrating when your baby ain't runnin' right. Can't believe you waited 9 YEARS (!!) to straighten this out. In any case:
1. Buy your friend dinner and a couple of pints
2. You know we need pics-- of car AND the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
Rickman
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 2
From: York UK
Performer cam
Thanks for your reply. I don't suppose I'll ever know why it ran rough. The performance wasn't too bad once running, but with the stock cam everything seems just right - starting, acceleration, fuel economy, sound etc. Some other factors may have had an effect, such as tappet adjustment, throttle linkage. The mechanic reckoned it was an unsuitable cam, and as soon as the old one was in it ran like a dream.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 2
From: York UK
Hi Rickman,
Thanks for your reply. After my first rebuild the car took 20 minutes to idle properly, but once running it still had great acceleration and behaved reliably, but as I have never driven another Vette I didn't have anything to compare it with, and didn't know about the Forum then. Also, because of the rainy weather in the West of Scotland, some summers, like last year were so wet, I hardly took it out.
It was only when I got to know a retired mechanic that he thought it wasn't running right and suggested putting in the old cam. There were some other factors such as throttle linkage and tappet adjustment that would have also had some bearing. I'll never know what the real problem was, I just know that now that every thing about the engine is fantastic - acceleration, sound, fuel, starting. Now it's a joy to drive and before it was hard work.
I tried posting a photo of my car - which looks just like yours, but couldn't find a way to compress it enough for it to be accepted. Any ideas?
Regards,
Chevyfiftynine.
Thanks for your reply. After my first rebuild the car took 20 minutes to idle properly, but once running it still had great acceleration and behaved reliably, but as I have never driven another Vette I didn't have anything to compare it with, and didn't know about the Forum then. Also, because of the rainy weather in the West of Scotland, some summers, like last year were so wet, I hardly took it out.
It was only when I got to know a retired mechanic that he thought it wasn't running right and suggested putting in the old cam. There were some other factors such as throttle linkage and tappet adjustment that would have also had some bearing. I'll never know what the real problem was, I just know that now that every thing about the engine is fantastic - acceleration, sound, fuel, starting. Now it's a joy to drive and before it was hard work.
I tried posting a photo of my car - which looks just like yours, but couldn't find a way to compress it enough for it to be accepted. Any ideas?
Regards,
Chevyfiftynine.
Chevy,
Great story. It can be totally frustrating when your baby ain't runnin' right. Can't believe you waited 9 YEARS (!!) to straighten this out. In any case:
1. Buy your friend dinner and a couple of pints
2. You know we need pics-- of car AND the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
Rickman
Great story. It can be totally frustrating when your baby ain't runnin' right. Can't believe you waited 9 YEARS (!!) to straighten this out. In any case:
1. Buy your friend dinner and a couple of pints
2. You know we need pics-- of car AND the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
Rickman
