motor issues
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 160
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motor issues
Hey guys... got off work a little early today so i thought i'd work on the Vette a little...(figuring out the light problem) so i started it up after driving it this weekend and i heard a lifter rattling .. Also drove it up the road some and it felt like it was missing. So i brought it back home and called a buddy of mine and sure enough, he said the lifters needing adjusting and that I had two cylinders not hitting I need help! remember this is the 77 that had not ran for 18yrs and had been sitting, I've drove it about 100 miles since i got it and up until now it's ran pretty good until now, she's got 83k miles on my L48... What's the cheapest/best/most power i can do? Car is all matching numbers so i don't want to pull the motor if I don't have too.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
There is only so much you can do without componant change of some type. Headers, intake and carb. Bolt on stuff. If you can't get the lifter issue to work and end up pulling the intake you could have some head work done.
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Instructor
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,426
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From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Check to make sure that the "Bad" cylinders plugs, wires cap and rotor are good.
Heres a how to about valve lash adjustment:
http://www.centuryperformance.com/ad...h-spg-149.html
Heres a how to about valve lash adjustment:
http://www.centuryperformance.com/ad...h-spg-149.html
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 160
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replaced the plus,wires/cap/button, pulling the wire off for those cylinders and there's no fire, he said that i've got a lifter sticking on those cylinders or they're not firing because i've got bad rings... I know nothing about old motors... LOL if it don't have a computer on it i'm lost...
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
It sounds like first you need to get a compression check on those cylinders. It the engine backfiring out of the carburator or the exhaust? Are the two cylinders next to each other? Pull the valve cover off and see if there is any damage to the rocker arms or push rods. These small block engines are pretty tough.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Not so much adjusting the lifters, but you can adjust the rocker arms. Are the rockers clacking? adjusting the rockers is as easy as pulling the valve cover, put an oil catch on the ground, run the engine, and loosen the valves till they start clacking and then tighten until they stop plus a 1/4 turn. Now you could go and set lash with a feeler gauge and the engine not running if it is solid roller.
If you are not hitting on two cylinders i would check the plugs first and the ignition system. There is the possibility you have wiped some lobes on the cam. pulling the valve cover and inspecting the engine while turning it over should show you if the valves are opening properly.
If you are not hitting on two cylinders i would check the plugs first and the ignition system. There is the possibility you have wiped some lobes on the cam. pulling the valve cover and inspecting the engine while turning it over should show you if the valves are opening properly.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 7
From: l In
Not so much adjusting the lifters, but you can adjust the rocker arms. Are the rockers clacking? adjusting the rockers is as easy as pulling the valve cover, put an oil catch on the ground, run the engine, and loosen the valves till they start clacking and then tighten until they stop plus a 1/4 turn. Now you could go and set lash with a feeler gauge and the engine not running if it is solid roller.
If you are not hitting on two cylinders i would check the plugs first and the ignition system. There is the possibility you have wiped some lobes on the cam. pulling the valve cover and inspecting the engine while turning it over should show you if the valves are opening properly.
If you are not hitting on two cylinders i would check the plugs first and the ignition system. There is the possibility you have wiped some lobes on the cam. pulling the valve cover and inspecting the engine while turning it over should show you if the valves are opening properly.
Check the camshaft, sounds like it is gone
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
replaced the plus,wires/cap/button, pulling the wire off for those cylinders and there's no fire, he said that i've got a lifter sticking on those cylinders or they're not firing because i've got bad rings... I know nothing about old motors... LOL if it don't have a computer on it i'm lost...
Is the lifter or rocker arms making any noise? Are you sure you don't have those 2 plug wires crossed?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
From: Easton PA
would of done a compression test before spending all the $. siiting that long maybe an oil waffer clot got caught in a oil orfice blocking flow? its winter time, pull it and freshen it up
Last edited by straub18045; Dec 16, 2010 at 11:19 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,096
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From: Sierra Foothills CA
As long as the motor sat without being run, as already stated by others, the lifters and/or rings could be sticking. For only a few bucks per can I'd try Sea Foam. Although I've never used it myself I've heard good things about it. At this point you really don't have much to lose. Here's a link with more info on it-
http://www.seafoamsales.com/motor-treatment.html
http://www.seafoamsales.com/motor-treatment.html
