Push Rod Rust
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
There is nothing in the photos that indicates you need a new engine. It does however, need lots of TLC.
The pitted cyl walls is cosmetic. That rust will not damage the pistons or rings. It will likely make this an oil burner though.
I would get this thing up on ramps. Drain the oil. I would then pull all the sparkplugs and introduce some 10W into each cyl. Use a funnel with a piece of rubber hose attached that will fit in the plug hole.
Put about four Qts of cheap oil in the pan and spin it over if it will. That would be a good start.
Worry about better oil and new plugs later.
The pitted cyl walls is cosmetic. That rust will not damage the pistons or rings. It will likely make this an oil burner though.
I would get this thing up on ramps. Drain the oil. I would then pull all the sparkplugs and introduce some 10W into each cyl. Use a funnel with a piece of rubber hose attached that will fit in the plug hole.
Put about four Qts of cheap oil in the pan and spin it over if it will. That would be a good start.
Worry about better oil and new plugs later.
Also, I will be taking at least the number7 push rods out before trying it. The #7s are the only ones with rust and I don't want them to get jammed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,809
From: Cool Northern Michigan
At this point, you have nothing to lose except the cost of some oil.
You have a ton to gain by listening / looking at the shortblock for anything abnormal.
Cracked block, holes in pistons, broken rings, spun bearings, broken valves are all reasons for a new engine. You have none.
Yet.
You have a ton to gain by listening / looking at the shortblock for anything abnormal.
Cracked block, holes in pistons, broken rings, spun bearings, broken valves are all reasons for a new engine. You have none.
Yet.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Sep 20, 2019 at 08:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
At this point, you have nothing to lose except the cost of some oil.
You have a ton to gain by listening / looking at the shortblock for anything abnormal.
Cracked block, holes in pistons, broken rings, spun bearings, broken valves are all reasons for a new engine. You have none.
Yet.
You have a ton to gain by listening / looking at the shortblock for anything abnormal.
Cracked block, holes in pistons, broken rings, spun bearings, broken valves are all reasons for a new engine. You have none.
Yet.
https://imgur.com/a/DIMjjPi
This is going from the middle of the car looking forward. The back of the cross member has rusted out. SOO my bird cage is fine based on what I can see from under the windshield. The side metal foot guard is fine. the frame under the car is fine. The rear end of the frame is FINE. But the stupid cross member rusted out... So at this stage whats my best bet? Take the engine out, weld in a new cross member (if I can find one) then throw the engine back in, hopefully after freeing it up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,809
From: Cool Northern Michigan
O-O-O-O- That's Bad! I mean real bad. All plans are off now. You would be way over your head trying to salvage the cross-member.
That's not normal. I believe that is from sitting in direct ground contact, flat tires, for decades just like you said.
Sorry. Parts car. Save your money.
Well, wait a minute.
What if the engine does spin over effortlessly?
What if you did pull the engine?
What if money was no object?
What if someone could weld on that . . . . . . . . . . . . .
That's not normal. I believe that is from sitting in direct ground contact, flat tires, for decades just like you said.
Sorry. Parts car. Save your money.
Well, wait a minute.
What if the engine does spin over effortlessly?
What if you did pull the engine?
What if money was no object?
What if someone could weld on that . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Sep 21, 2019 at 05:07 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
If it can be made, it can be fixed. You want to save this car, first get the rain off the roof and get it on concrete or asphalt. Next THROW YOUR TIME BUDGET OUT THE WINDOW!! By the time this is roadworthy, you will be over 25 and much more insurable. Oil up and run the engine. See how bad it smokes. Buy 2 or 3 pushrods from parts store or a whole set on Ebay. They are cheap. If no spark buy a whole 50 buck distributor on Ebay. Any job you pay for will cost more than the tools. Get a good floor Jack and stands. When it is time to pull the engine 200 bucks for cherry picker or less used on craigslist. Assuming you have space for tools. If you fix it and give it to your sister, you are fixing it for free forever. You never fix cars for free for a woman you are not sleeping with.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 140
From: Western New York
If it can be made, it can be fixed. You want to save this car, first get the rain off the roof and get it on concrete or asphalt. Next THROW YOUR TIME BUDGET OUT THE WINDOW!! By the time this is roadworthy, you will be over 25 and much more insurable. Oil up and run the engine. See how bad it smokes. Buy 2 or 3 pushrods from parts store or a whole set on Ebay. They are cheap. If no spark buy a whole 50 buck distributor on Ebay. Any job you pay for will cost more than the tools. Get a good floor Jack and stands. When it is time to pull the engine 200 bucks for cherry picker or less used on craigslist. Assuming you have space for tools. If you fix it and give it to your sister, you are fixing it for free forever. You never fix cars for free for a woman you are not sleeping with.
Duane
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
If it can be made, it can be fixed. You want to save this car, first get the rain off the roof and get it on concrete or asphalt. Next THROW YOUR TIME BUDGET OUT THE WINDOW!! By the time this is roadworthy, you will be over 25 and much more insurable. Oil up and run the engine. See how bad it smokes. Buy 2 or 3 pushrods from parts store or a whole set on Ebay. They are cheap. If no spark buy a whole 50 buck distributor on Ebay. Any job you pay for will cost more than the tools. Get a good floor Jack and stands. When it is time to pull the engine 200 bucks for cherry picker or less used on craigslist. Assuming you have space for tools. If you fix it and give it to your sister, you are fixing it for free forever. You never fix cars for free for a woman you are not sleeping with.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
You should read through this thread before you spend a dime on that bucket of rust.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
You should read through this thread before you spend a dime on that bucket of rust.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Really? ... you have only $2K for this project ... motor's sick if not very sick ... frame's very sick ... Xmember repair/replacement requires welding skill & equipment ...
... should be done at a frame shop that has a frame table... from your description of situation, these waters are too deep for you/sister.
Perhaps each of you take a tail light lens as mementos; then sell car to a good home.
Get yourselves good educations and jobs ... and then you may buy a much better one or maybe even this one ... or new ones you can enjoy and pass to heirs.
I can imagine each of you'll will look right sporty in a brand new C9
... should be done at a frame shop that has a frame table... from your description of situation, these waters are too deep for you/sister.
Perhaps each of you take a tail light lens as mementos; then sell car to a good home.
Get yourselves good educations and jobs ... and then you may buy a much better one or maybe even this one ... or new ones you can enjoy and pass to heirs.
I can imagine each of you'll will look right sporty in a brand new C9
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
No experience, no training, under estimate the cost, under estimate the damage. Take the $2k and toss it down the drain, get it over with now.
You think you can do it. BUT your comments and questions prove you don't have the knowledge to undertake this at all.
Sorry, it this sounds harsh. But someone here should say it instead of giving you false hope.
Good luck and move on from this disaster.
You think you can do it. BUT your comments and questions prove you don't have the knowledge to undertake this at all.
Sorry, it this sounds harsh. But someone here should say it instead of giving you false hope.
Good luck and move on from this disaster.
Last edited by KenSny; Sep 22, 2019 at 06:20 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
To everyone following this post and interested in this issue. Tonight I got the engine to spin over with no issue. I threw some oil in the cylinders and put a new battery in it. It turned over with no hesitation. Best part is that it didn't bend any of the valve train doing so! Now sadly we are probably going to end up selling it but we are still figuring all that out.
What will most likely happen is that it will get sold to someone who wants it as a project or it will get sold as a parts car. Ether way its one hell of a project car.
What will most likely happen is that it will get sold to someone who wants it as a project or it will get sold as a parts car. Ether way its one hell of a project car.