81 Vette Blown Heads "HELP"
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2
From: gold coast queensland
sounds like your flying along with the repairs. are you getting any help from someone or are you skilled in changing cams , heads, dizz etc? keep the pictures and updates coming marine .
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
You need to do a lot more than drain the radiator. The whole engine must be flushed out with something that will 'cut' the gunk out of it. Chances are the crank bearings are shot; oil/water emulsion is not a good lubricant, so could be lots of damage in there. I would really recommed that your best option is to pull the engine and have the block boiled out...or just put a new crate 350 engine back in it. If the engine it has now is original to the car, you can always rebuild it [now or later] and have it available, should you wish to resell it...for a profit.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
Ok I got my car running but I have 3 wires I don't know where they go... Any clue? Also my battery light is on.. on my dash and my choke light. Not to mention my battery and rpm gauge are not working.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2
From: gold coast queensland
those 3 pictures remind me of the day 7 or 8 years ago when i got my 81 . in fact its like i am looking at my exact motor because most of those wires were dangling on mine as well just like yours. 6footer and A1 sensei on here are 81-gurus so if u pm them im sure they will know.
my car ran fine when i got it so im not sure if they are critical connections if at all. possibly just pollution control etc. the first one looks like your sloenoid bump for AC and goes on the front right hand side of your carb.
2nd pic was not connected on mine but the 2 prong connector at the top did go to my pollution sensor on the manifold.
3rd pic once again was tucked up on the firewall- possible that it was for the electric fan that some 81,s had but not mine ( when i got it anyway )
i pulled my 81 to bits and learnt what wires needed to be kept and what didnt. i leant 90% of the wires in the engine bay on an 81 are to do with the ccc so i ripped it all out including the ccc , fed it to my dog and started fresh. alot of accessories/wires get changed over the years and i got jack of it so i went from this to this.....
my car ran fine when i got it so im not sure if they are critical connections if at all. possibly just pollution control etc. the first one looks like your sloenoid bump for AC and goes on the front right hand side of your carb.
2nd pic was not connected on mine but the 2 prong connector at the top did go to my pollution sensor on the manifold.
3rd pic once again was tucked up on the firewall- possible that it was for the electric fan that some 81,s had but not mine ( when i got it anyway )
i pulled my 81 to bits and learnt what wires needed to be kept and what didnt. i leant 90% of the wires in the engine bay on an 81 are to do with the ccc so i ripped it all out including the ccc , fed it to my dog and started fresh. alot of accessories/wires get changed over the years and i got jack of it so i went from this to this.....
Last edited by gingerbreadman1977; Feb 22, 2010 at 02:02 AM.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
Man that looks so clean... 81 in Cali = Smog police. Im going to smog her and rip everything out until the next smog. I have doug headers on order as well as a Holly700.
New cam, intake, headers, and carb should put me somewhere decent for HP.
Sigh maybe I should sell her and pick me up late model vette? I wonder how much she is worth?
36k miles on Carfax and interior and exterior are in good driver shape.
hmmmm what to do what to do.
New cam, intake, headers, and carb should put me somewhere decent for HP.
Sigh maybe I should sell her and pick me up late model vette? I wonder how much she is worth?
36k miles on Carfax and interior and exterior are in good driver shape.
hmmmm what to do what to do.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
Im selling some new seat covers on the forum!!!!!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...post1573189480
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...post1573189480
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2
From: gold coast queensland
i dont know man. i have a soft spot for the 81 now but it might not be so soft if i was in cali i guess. i like the way electric mirrors, electric seats, cruise control, good aircon, yada yada were available . they drive nice and i like the longer nose and rear spoiler. dont get me wrong i would like a 63-67 or a 70-72 but 81 still gets alot of looks around these parts....sounds like something you just need to think about.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
I agree... I have been getting thumbs up everywhere I go. The AC works like a champ and I love the other extras the 81 offers. After smog Im just going to remove all the smog junk and throw a carb and headers on her. Ill leave everything intact on my bench until I have to smog her again.
Have to say I love my new Vette!!!!!!!!!!!
Have to say I love my new Vette!!!!!!!!!!!
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
The plug in the top picture (brown plug) goes to the distributor I believe, it is the tach filter, which is why your tach isn't working. I "lost" that wire when I pulled the motor in my 81 the first time.
I hope this helps,
-Chris
I hope this helps,
-Chris
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 5
From: Middleburg Florida
Nice pics!! The brown connector in the first pic is for the tach. The second two pin connector is for the original auxiliary fan, and third, green connector is for the original dwell connection to check the original electronic Q-jet.
Hope that helps!
Hope that helps!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
Very strange.. I already have a brown plug going into my distro that is coming off the back of that brown wire im holding up. You cant see it in the picture but there is another
identical one coming out the backside of the cylinder.
Any thoughts? Is there a fuse that could be causing that choke and bat issue? My alt checked out fine. Maybe a bad ground?
identical one coming out the backside of the cylinder.
Any thoughts? Is there a fuse that could be causing that choke and bat issue? My alt checked out fine. Maybe a bad ground?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 5
From: Middleburg Florida
Very strange.. I already have a brown plug going into my distro that is coming off the back of that brown wire im holding up. You cant see it in the picture but there is another
identical one coming out the backside of the cylinder.
Any thoughts? Is there a fuse that could be causing that choke and bat issue? My alt checked out fine. Maybe a bad ground?
identical one coming out the backside of the cylinder.
Any thoughts? Is there a fuse that could be causing that choke and bat issue? My alt checked out fine. Maybe a bad ground?
As for the batt light and the guage not working, this makes sense. There is a connection that goes to the alternator feeding both of these. There should be a two pin connector that plugs into the alternator and a round connector on a post. In additon, there's a round connector for a ground. Check and make sure these are all connected.
The choke on the 81 is electric. It should have a grey connector on the choke at the carb. With the key on, you should should have 12v at the connector. If not, there's a fuse for this, check it first!
Hope this helps!!
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 581
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach Florida
if you remove the computer you are going to need to buy a kit from bowtie to ground the TCC which locks up the tourqe converter or put a switch on the console to ground the test lead under the console near the ash tray. this drops the rpms about 300rpms on the highway