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Went for a short drive last Friday.
Went to start car on Saturday. Engine ran for 5 sec, then Clank/Bang/Backfire and engine quit.
Pulled all plugs. Plugs on one side of engine are covered in Coolant.
Oil level is way up the stick.
Drained oil and about a gallon of Coolant came out first then oil. Oil is not muddy.
All original motor so next stop is a shop to see what else they can find.
Not a good couple of days so far.
Gotta wonder if I didn’t drop a valve and/or spin a bearing.
Looks like I might be getting an engine rebuild and she just turned 44 in April.
Went for a short drive last Friday.
Went to start car on Saturday. Engine ran for 5 sec, then Clank/Bang/Backfire and engine quit.
Pulled all plugs. Plugs on one side of engine are covered in Coolant.
Oil level is way up the stick.
Drained oil and about a gallon of Coolant came out first then oil. Oil is not muddy.
All original motor so next stop is a shop to see what else they can find.
Not a good couple of days so far.
Gotta wonder if I didn’t drop a valve and/or spin a bearing.
Looks like I might be getting an engine rebuild and she just turned 44 in April.
"Gotta wonder if I didn’t drop a valve and/or spin a bearing."
I think you're over thinking here.
I'd be hoping for a blown head gasket dumping coolant past the pistons on one bank.
See any white smoke before she quit? That'd be a tell.
Last edited by Old Man in a C; Jun 5, 2019 at 07:15 PM.
It's interesting that all the plugs on one side are covered with coolant. Normally only one or two cylinders. Possible head gasket, maybe cracked cylinder which can be sleeved . If the engine hydraulicd it could cause noise. I would make sure the rods were checked for being bent. Liquid doesn't compress and somethings got to give which normally is the rods.
Bad news yes, but think of it as an opportunity to make things better. Time to tear it down and see what broke. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Should know more nexr week.
Plan is to pull valve cover and see if anything obvious. Then head, then...... I suppose it could be minor, but that is not how things usually happen for me.
I think, just guessing now, that the engine will have to come out and have to be completely checked over by a reliable machine shop.
I just don't see any way of getting this done before fall. Schedules are ALL tight.
Pull the valve cover on the coolant wet plug side. Look for dropped valves.
Also get a little borescope and go exploring thru those 4 spark plug holes. You may find what you need to know.
If not, that head needs to come off.
By then you should know for sure.
Good luck!
sounds like a head gasket, or block or head crack. Had similar experience with a '75 convertible. Ended up replacing the engine as the block was damaged. Good luck!
Ken, sorry about the news, Glad you still have the '75 L-82 though, sold mine several yrs ago to a friend. I did happen to replace my tired 147K original mile L-82 engine with that Direct Replacement '73-'87 GM V8 260hp 350 4 bolt main motor. Had a 5yr/50K warranty with it too. Put 19K on it before I had sold the car. Got the motor for $1187, kept the original motor, swapped over starter, alt., water pump, intake, carb, dist., fuel pump, valve covers, pwr str pump. Everything was a direct bolt up too. Enjoyed that motor til I sold the car, then gave the buyer the original engine. Sold car with 169,000mi on it. Ran superb!
Last edited by Paul Borowski; Jun 6, 2019 at 09:53 PM.
Ken, sorry about the news, Glad you still have the '75 L-82 though, sold mine several yrs ago to a friend. I did happen to replace my tired 147K original mile L-82 engine with that Direct Replacement '73-'87 GM V8 260hp 350 4 bolt main motor. Had a 5yr/50K warranty with it too. Put 19K on it before I had sold the car. Got the motor for $1187, kept the original motor, swapped over starter, alt., water pump, intake, carb, dist., fuel pump, valve covers, pwr str pump. Everything was a direct bolt up too. Enjoyed that motor til I sold the car, then gave the buyer the original engine. Sold car with 169,000mi on it. Ran superb!
Thanks Paul. I still enjoy the car, but on a more limited time basis. I messed up my back a few years ago so I only crawl in the Vette when I can take off the T-Top so I don't have to bend as much to get in.
I am keeping a short block replacement in the picture if needed, but I really would like to keep the original motor in the car and not in storage.
Not good news
