Need engine advice
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Warwick Rhode Island
Need engine advice
Well, it's been a long time since I've posted here, but I've recently reached a point with my 79 L82 where I have to make a decision regarding my engine. I have been happily motoring my 79 up until 3 months ago at which point my engine decided it doesn't want to run. I've owned it for 7 years now and it never ran 100%, more like 80% - but it was always reliable for my wife and I to cruise in. Basically what it does is when I go to start it, it chirps/squeals and dies almost immediately. It won't run for even a couple of seconds. Oil level is fine & clean and coolant is fine as well. I know enough mechanically to be dangerous and I have never had a problem wrenching for the most part. However with that said, diagnostics is not my strong suit. I realize it could be a host of things, but what variables can I check? Could it be a seized water pump? I didn't see anything coming out of the weep hole. Any recommendations on what I can check would be extremely appreciated. Also, on a slight tangent, if my engine is toast (it's a numbers matching engine btw), how difficult is an LS swap out or would it be better to simply get a crate engine? Honestly, I'd rather try to fix the current motor, but you never know...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Warwick Rhode Island
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 19
From: Ocean Springs, MS
St. Jude Donor '07
These cars aren't that complicated. You must have a neighbor, relative, co-worker, etc with enough skills to help get it running again. I would first make sure it is getting gas in the carburetor and spark to the plugs. Without those it will never start. Personally, I like those kind of challenges as the sense of accomplishment come quite easy as you make progress.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,155
Likes: 9,284
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Things thatbreak that will cause a problem all of a sudden
1. Timing chain jumps a tooth. Check with tming light
2. Bad cap or rotor, coil. Check for spark
3. Fuel pump is bad. Check for fuel at the carb then at the pump, could also be clogged fueline or filter.
4. Loss of power, diminished power to coil.check voltage.
5. Major vacuum leak. Check all your lines. This wil let your car start then idle badly or die immediately.
Once you figure out what you have and what you dont, it gets easy
Luckily you dont have a computer because parts could be good and the computer controlling everything is bad. Thats a pain to diagnose.
Luckily its not new enough. Let us know how it shapes up?
1. Timing chain jumps a tooth. Check with tming light
2. Bad cap or rotor, coil. Check for spark
3. Fuel pump is bad. Check for fuel at the carb then at the pump, could also be clogged fueline or filter.
4. Loss of power, diminished power to coil.check voltage.
5. Major vacuum leak. Check all your lines. This wil let your car start then idle badly or die immediately.
Once you figure out what you have and what you dont, it gets easy
Luckily you dont have a computer because parts could be good and the computer controlling everything is bad. Thats a pain to diagnose.
Luckily its not new enough. Let us know how it shapes up?
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Nov 14, 2015 at 07:22 AM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 707
Likes: 31
From: Pitman NJ
Since it initially starts, then dies... it sounds like you have spark. However, maybe not enough to keep it going. If it were the control module, it wouldn't try to start at all.
I think you have some kind of fuel problem. Does the carb squirt fuel out of the accelerator pump? If it is, you are getting fuel. If not, check to see if the fuel filter is clogged next...
I agree with the other post, I don't think a stuck accessory will stop the engine from running. The engine has enough power to just spin the belt, which could be the squealing your hearing. But, it is easy to loosen up the belts, to eliminate the possibility.
Please let us know how you make out.
I think you have some kind of fuel problem. Does the carb squirt fuel out of the accelerator pump? If it is, you are getting fuel. If not, check to see if the fuel filter is clogged next...
I agree with the other post, I don't think a stuck accessory will stop the engine from running. The engine has enough power to just spin the belt, which could be the squealing your hearing. But, it is easy to loosen up the belts, to eliminate the possibility.
Please let us know how you make out.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 707
Likes: 31
From: Pitman NJ
Sorry... I didn't see your next question about the engine swap.
It depends on what you use the car for. If you just intend to drive it around with your wife every so often, I think the crate motor is the way to go. They have a warranty, and are cheaper then doing a rebuild. I think you can get one for around $2100 for a 290hp. If you intend to do more with the car, then you would need to $tep it up.
I have a 79 myself, unfortunately numbers matching doesn't carry as much weight on this vintage as for say a 69. This is just my opinion, but I wouldn't worry about the numbers matching.
It depends on what you use the car for. If you just intend to drive it around with your wife every so often, I think the crate motor is the way to go. They have a warranty, and are cheaper then doing a rebuild. I think you can get one for around $2100 for a 290hp. If you intend to do more with the car, then you would need to $tep it up.
I have a 79 myself, unfortunately numbers matching doesn't carry as much weight on this vintage as for say a 69. This is just my opinion, but I wouldn't worry about the numbers matching.
Last edited by blk79nj; Nov 14, 2015 at 09:21 AM.