C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Engine Buildup

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 10:32 AM
  #1  
Bogdon's Avatar
Bogdon
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Default Engine Buildup

I purchased this 1980 Corvette about 6 weeks ago for 2 reasons, the frame is perfect and almost completely rust free and the previous owner told me he had about $7000 into the motor. Long story short the motor is bad. The bottom end is solid but the heads have a couple of bad valves and there is oil leaking out from everywhere. Instead of putting more money into old heads I decided to upgrade a little.

Today I should be receiving a set of Dart Iron Eagle heads, new cam, a set of roller rockers, Dart intake, timing gears, and a full set of gaskets. I also plan on adding a new carb and ignition system later this summer but that will have to wait for my wallet to fill up again. Also the intake will not be able to be installed untill the winter when my new high rise hood arrives (looking for a good used one), the Weiand intake will have to do for now.

Yesterday I tore it down to the heads, tonight the heads come off and the clean up begins.



Before the work began



Everything all set to TDC



At this point the wife said enough, time to come inside.
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 12:01 PM
  #2  
BLOCKMAN's Avatar
BLOCKMAN
Drifting
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 3
From: NORTHEAST
Default

If the heads are still on you should do a leak down test @ TDC to see if everything is fine.
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 01:04 PM
  #3  
JGreen's Avatar
JGreen
Pro
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Liked
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 523
Likes: 141
From: Palmyra NY
Default

I can't tell from the picture, but if the dots on the sprockets are aligned, I believe that is TDC for firing on number 6, not number 1. Correct me if I am wrong...
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 01:20 PM
  #4  
Bogdon's Avatar
Bogdon
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by BLOCKMAN
If the heads are still on you should do a leak down test @ TDC to see if everything is fine.
It was a leakdown test that told me everything was not fine. There are a few leaking valves. New heads will fix that.
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 01:42 PM
  #5  
Bogdon's Avatar
Bogdon
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by JGreen
I can't tell from the picture, but if the dots on the sprockets are aligned, I believe that is TDC for firing on number 6, not number 1. Correct me if I am wrong...
Could be, I guess I really meant that the timing marks were lined up and distributor and rotor position were marked to I can easily start this engine back up.
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 02:17 PM
  #6  
jackson's Avatar
jackson
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Default

$7K bogus build ... valley & heads are coked-fouled ... in addition to $500 of intake, VCs & headers ... it even has OE retainer-shroud ... but somebody did stick a timing set in it ... $7K you sure rings & bearings OK? ... come on, is that an "absolutely" or a "hope so"?
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 03:03 PM
  #7  
Bogdon's Avatar
Bogdon
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by jackson
$7K bogus build ... valley & heads are coked-fouled ... in addition to $500 of intake, VCs & headers ... it even has OE retainer-shroud ... but somebody did stick a timing set in it ... $7K you sure rings & bearings OK? ... come on, is that an "absolutely" or a "hope so"?
I pulled the bearing caps off one by one and all bearings look perfect and check out ok using plastigauge. I recorded everything and took the results to the local engine builder I am purchasing the top end parts from and he said everything looks good. I can't say that the bottom is 100% but I am going to take a chance on it based on what I can see and test for. Oh and oil pressure is very good as well. I can always pull the motor over the winter before I strip the car apart for painting and have the bottom end gone over properly if needed.
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 03:09 PM
  #8  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
Default

Sounds like a decent plan. You might want to assess the condition of the oil channels in the block. With the 'caked-up' condition on the top side, you want to be sure that the oil galleries/passages are not plugged up or full of crud that will damage the engine when you start it back up.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 03:13 PM
  #9  
Bogdon's Avatar
Bogdon
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by 7T1vette
Sounds like a decent plan. You might want to assess the condition of the oil channels in the block. With the 'caked-up' condition on the top side, you want to be sure that the oil galleries/passages are not plugged up or full of crud that will damage the engine when you start it back up.
That sounds like a good idea. I think the pictures may be making this look a little worse than it really is. I thought the inside of this engine looked pretty clean. But thank you for the suggestion I will look into that.

Can anyone tell me if this 1980's original engine (this is not the original block) was a 2bolt main or a 4bolt main?
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2010 | 08:19 AM
  #10  
Bogdon's Avatar
Bogdon
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Default

Pulled the heads and the cam last night. I have no idea what the cam is from, one of the numbers on the distributor end of the cam looks like an incomplete Comp cams number for a 60's SBC truck. The heads are listed as castin number 3991492, a service edition of the LTI camel hump heads. These should be worth something to somebody....right?
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2010 | 02:42 PM
  #11  
BLOCKMAN's Avatar
BLOCKMAN
Drifting
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 3
From: NORTHEAST
Default

Originally Posted by Bogdon
Pulled the heads and the cam last night. I have no idea what the cam is from, one of the numbers on the distributor end of the cam looks like an incomplete Comp cams number for a 60's SBC truck. The heads are listed as castin number 3991492, a service edition of the LTI camel hump heads. These should be worth something to somebody....right?
What version 492 the 1.94 or 2.02 intake valves??
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2010 | 07:41 PM
  #12  
Goody's Avatar
Goody
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Default

Originally Posted by Bogdon
Can anyone tell me if this 1980's original engine (this is not the original block) was a 2bolt main or a 4bolt main?
L82 had 4bolt bottom but L48 had 2bolt. If a CA car then it was a 305 with 2bolt but you should refer to the Black Book on that because I am wrong most of the time
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2010 | 08:31 PM
  #13  
Bogdon's Avatar
Bogdon
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by BLOCKMAN
What version 492 the 1.94 or 2.02 intake valves??
They are slightly smaller than the 2.02 valve in my new dart heads so I would assume they are the smaller 1.94 version.
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2010 | 04:56 PM
  #14  
Bogdon's Avatar
Bogdon
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Default

All finished, way over budget but very happy with end results.









The some buddys came over to witness the first start up



We ended up scrapping the Edelcrap Carb in favor of a Holley Street Avanger 670, major improvement.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Engine Buildup





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:42 PM.

story-0
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-1
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-20 17:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)

Slideshow: 10 things C8 Corvette owners hate, but won't tell you.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-01 18:36:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!

Slideshow: Should you add one of these incredible Corvettes to your garage?

By Brett Foote | 2026-04-01 18:14:05


VIEW MORE
story-7
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

Slideshow: Every Corvette Grand Sport explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-26 07:13:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

Slideshow: Breaking down the 2027 Grand Sport, Grand Sport X, Stingray, and LS6 V8.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-03-26 13:48:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

Slideshow: 5 reasons bad drivers crash sports cars & 5 ways to avoid a costly shame!

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-25 16:32:55


VIEW MORE