Vette exploded!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Thanks again for all the info guys.
Funding is the only thing slowing me down at the moment (apart from my blown engine) this couldn't have come at a more inopportune time.
I'll pull the engine next week and get an idea of what needs to be done + a lot of photos, so I can borrow your insights as well
Funding is the only thing slowing me down at the moment (apart from my blown engine) this couldn't have come at a more inopportune time.
I'll pull the engine next week and get an idea of what needs to be done + a lot of photos, so I can borrow your insights as well
Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 668
Likes: 21
Funding is the only thing slowing me down at the moment
You got a lot of good advice already from the guys on this forum keep asking them for direction. Best wishes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
I've been watching, first comment....
You might have good heads if pistons did not contact the valves. That's all that's worth saving unless you have a great deal of skill, knowledge, and time to fix stuff. Otherwise, just go with a used motor (SBCs are VERY cheap, you can get 10 for the price of a crate motor) and will get you on the road, or crate motor if you have some extra cash.
Do NOT try to build a performance motor out of old blowed up parts.
You might have good heads if pistons did not contact the valves. That's all that's worth saving unless you have a great deal of skill, knowledge, and time to fix stuff. Otherwise, just go with a used motor (SBCs are VERY cheap, you can get 10 for the price of a crate motor) and will get you on the road, or crate motor if you have some extra cash.
Do NOT try to build a performance motor out of old blowed up parts.
Last edited by Garys 68; Jun 4, 2012 at 05:22 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 27
From: Eastern North Carolina
Thanks Scotty for bringing me back down to earth, sometimes I have to take a step back and remember that the OP sometimes doesn't have the vast knowledge about C3's that I may have and I should make things simpler for them. How about just patching the pan with some bondo, a little sanding and paint and your good to go..
Once again my disclaimer, "I'm just kidding" Good Luck on getting her back on the rode...Tim
Once again my disclaimer, "I'm just kidding" Good Luck on getting her back on the rode...TimDon't listen to Tim81, he overthinks everything. Him and his fancy-pants JB Weld.....we are not all rich like you, Tim!!! All you really need to do is stick some bubble gum in the hole!
Obviously, I'm just joking around with Tim, but seriously, if you want to be a hotrodder, blowing up the occasional engine is sometimes just the cost of doing business, if ya know what I mean. Hopefully, the rest of your engine can be salvaged, and you can get running again for a couple grand, maybe less, if you have some buds who know what they are doing, and will work for beer. An engine swap always attracts people who just want to take part in the adventure. (even if it's just to watch and drink some beer.) Just remember: Lefty loosey, righty tighty! You'll need an engine hoist, an engine stand, some tools, and a place to do it. Harbor Frieght is a good place to find cheap tools, they were just advertizing a small engine hoist for about 100 bucks not too long ago. Here are a few links to help you see what you are getting yourself into. Good luck, and keep us posted!
http://www.carcraft.com/howto/1005/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neB4cgL8J5Q
http://www.wikihow.com/Change-a-Car-Engine
Please don't use this technique!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUuXV5CIwic
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Obviously, I'm just joking around with Tim, but seriously, if you want to be a hotrodder, blowing up the occasional engine is sometimes just the cost of doing business, if ya know what I mean. Hopefully, the rest of your engine can be salvaged, and you can get running again for a couple grand, maybe less, if you have some buds who know what they are doing, and will work for beer. An engine swap always attracts people who just want to take part in the adventure. (even if it's just to watch and drink some beer.) Just remember: Lefty loosey, righty tighty! You'll need an engine hoist, an engine stand, some tools, and a place to do it. Harbor Frieght is a good place to find cheap tools, they were just advertizing a small engine hoist for about 100 bucks not too long ago. Here are a few links to help you see what you are getting yourself into. Good luck, and keep us posted!
http://www.carcraft.com/howto/1005/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neB4cgL8J5Q
http://www.wikihow.com/Change-a-Car-Engine
Please don't use this technique!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUuXV5CIwic
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 12
From: Rockford, IL
Scotty, speak for yourself.
Out of concern and sympathy for my fellow CF member, I've consulted my trusted crystal ball.
After a gentle shake, I let the white stuff settle and can now see something. Yes it's all clear to me now...'75, your car has been through an interesting life. A variaty of colorful characters have been behind the wheel and in the right seat too.... ooo you might want to give that right seat a nice cleaning.
But that's not what we're looking for today. The engine, yes I can see the engine. Many colorful characters have worked on the engine. I can see one of them may have been the cause of your current dilemma. Yes, I see a bit of the future too! Many colorful characters will be involved in the diagnosis and repair of this engine.
To confirm this, I have consulted my ever insightful, always correct Magic Eight Ball. "Is this the answer we are loookinggg forrrr?" After at good shake, the Eight Ball tells us "The outlook is not so good".
Out of concern and sympathy for my fellow CF member, I've consulted my trusted crystal ball.
After a gentle shake, I let the white stuff settle and can now see something. Yes it's all clear to me now...'75, your car has been through an interesting life. A variaty of colorful characters have been behind the wheel and in the right seat too.... ooo you might want to give that right seat a nice cleaning.
But that's not what we're looking for today. The engine, yes I can see the engine. Many colorful characters have worked on the engine. I can see one of them may have been the cause of your current dilemma. Yes, I see a bit of the future too! Many colorful characters will be involved in the diagnosis and repair of this engine.
To confirm this, I have consulted my ever insightful, always correct Magic Eight Ball. "Is this the answer we are loookinggg forrrr?" After at good shake, the Eight Ball tells us "The outlook is not so good".
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
I've been watching, first comment....
You might have good heads if pistons did not contact the valves. That's all that's worth saving unless you have a great deal of skill, knowledge, and time to fix stuff. Otherwise, just go with a used motor (SBCs are VERY cheap, you can get 10 for the price of a crate motor) and will get you on the road, or crate motor if you have some extra cash.
Do NOT try to build a performance motor out of old blowed up parts.
You might have good heads if pistons did not contact the valves. That's all that's worth saving unless you have a great deal of skill, knowledge, and time to fix stuff. Otherwise, just go with a used motor (SBCs are VERY cheap, you can get 10 for the price of a crate motor) and will get you on the road, or crate motor if you have some extra cash.
Do NOT try to build a performance motor out of old blowed up parts.
If you can find a good used engine that is in decent shape, it would definitely be an option. Drive it around with the used engine for awhile, while you save up for a new one. If you can find an engine in good enough shape, you might not even bother with a new engine, who knows? here's an old Car Craft article with a few tips on buying a used engine.
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...e/viewall.html
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Ya, I'd search around and see what you can find. Dad picked up a 350 for his '78 that looked like it had just been rebuilt complete except carb, distributor and accessories for $800.
Otherwise, I'm kind of partial to factory roller cam engines for lower to midrange HP builds.
http://www.jegs.com/i/GM+Performance...30282/10002/-1
I might be dreaming, but it seems to me that the roller cams get you a wider torque curve and make a much nicer street cruising engine. Unless I'm missing something, you could throw a bit more cam into it and have a very nice street engine. Should be easy to hit 350hp with a cam change since versions of this engine came in the trucks rated around 350hp.
Change the p/n from 2 to a 3 on the end and you get a 4-bolt version for $100 more.
Otherwise, I'm kind of partial to factory roller cam engines for lower to midrange HP builds.
http://www.jegs.com/i/GM+Performance...30282/10002/-1
I might be dreaming, but it seems to me that the roller cams get you a wider torque curve and make a much nicer street cruising engine. Unless I'm missing something, you could throw a bit more cam into it and have a very nice street engine. Should be easy to hit 350hp with a cam change since versions of this engine came in the trucks rated around 350hp.
Change the p/n from 2 to a 3 on the end and you get a 4-bolt version for $100 more.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 261
Likes: 1
From: Montgomery TX
If your not concerned about matching No's then just scrap it and get a crate motor.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 121
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Ya, I'd search around and see what you can find. Dad picked up a 350 for his '78 that looked like it had just been rebuilt complete except carb, distributor and accessories for $800.
Otherwise, I'm kind of partial to factory roller cam engines for lower to midrange HP builds.
http://www.jegs.com/i/GM+Performance...30282/10002/-1
I might be dreaming, but it seems to me that the roller cams get you a wider torque curve and make a much nicer street cruising engine. Unless I'm missing something, you could throw a bit more cam into it and have a very nice street engine. Should be easy to hit 350hp with a cam change since versions of this engine came in the trucks rated around 350hp.
Change the p/n from 2 to a 3 on the end and you get a 4-bolt version for $100 more.
Otherwise, I'm kind of partial to factory roller cam engines for lower to midrange HP builds.
http://www.jegs.com/i/GM+Performance...30282/10002/-1
I might be dreaming, but it seems to me that the roller cams get you a wider torque curve and make a much nicer street cruising engine. Unless I'm missing something, you could throw a bit more cam into it and have a very nice street engine. Should be easy to hit 350hp with a cam change since versions of this engine came in the trucks rated around 350hp.
Change the p/n from 2 to a 3 on the end and you get a 4-bolt version for $100 more.
Last edited by 63mako; Jun 5, 2012 at 11:46 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Actually, I should have posted that it'd work good as is for now with nice upgrade possibilities in the future. I'd think that engine is capable of around 250hp as is. The typical maximum number for Vortec heads is 0.475" so those retainers would get to 0.525" lift and possibly more if checked or if the guides are cut down. A roller cam with around 0.5" lift would be a nice upgrade.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 121
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Actually, I should have posted that it'd work good as is for now with nice upgrade possibilities in the future. I'd think that engine is capable of around 250hp as is. The typical maximum number for Vortec heads is 0.475" so those retainers would get to 0.525" lift and possibly more if checked or if the guides are cut down. A roller cam with around 0.5" lift would be a nice upgrade.
Last edited by 63mako; Jun 6, 2012 at 10:48 AM.