350 spark plug removal
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 485
Likes: 1
From: Oakville ON
I agree. The old style seals were known for leaking quite a bit (if that is what the rebuilder used). If is a valve stem seal(s) that are leaking you should see a few seconds of blue exhaust on cold startup. GM came out with a much better Viton seal in the '80s I think. Or one may have failed. Changing out the seals is not a big or expensive job. With that much crud on the bad plug the rings may be crudded-up by now. An old school trick is to add water (slowly, but as much as you can w/o stalling it out) while holding it at 2500 rpm. A plastic squeeze bottle works great for this. Steam cleans the top end andmaybe would de-gunk the rings.
Worked great for me many, many moons ago.
Worked great for me many, many moons ago.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I agree. The old style seals were known for leaking quite a bit (if that is what the rebuilder used). If is a valve stem seal(s) that are leaking you should see a few seconds of blue exhaust on cold startup. GM came out with a much better Viton seal in the '80s I think. Or one may have failed. Changing out the seals is not a big or expensive job. With that much crud on the bad plug the rings may be crudded-up by now. An old school trick is to add water (slowly, but as much as you can w/o stalling it out) while holding it at 2500 rpm. A plastic squeeze bottle works great for this. Steam cleans the top end andmaybe would de-gunk the rings.
Worked great for me many, many moons ago.
Worked great for me many, many moons ago.
The water trick sounds good, how much water should I use?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 485
Likes: 1
From: Oakville ON
how much?
I had a 500 mL squeeze bottle. Mayhave done it more than once, can't remember. GM used to sell a top end cleaner that you applied by the same principle but you were supposed to let it sit for 20 minutes after applicatiion (final stall out). Sharpened up the 'perf' quite well. Never pulled a plug, just used the stuff ..... and both methods worked. Lots of sheet blew out the exhaust .........
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 4
From: Regina Saskatchewan
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/...tches/1405410/.
Go to Princess Auto. Cheap. I also had an electrical drain. I put one of these on and the drain disappeared !. Coincidence only I'm sure. I only disconnect it now when I'm doiing work on the car. Love it.
That much oil on the plugs I'd recommend 1) Sea Foam 1st (cheap) and 2) valve seals (probably needed) If it puffs blue with first start-up , yup you need to change 'em.
Last edited by couperdecar; Jun 20, 2013 at 01:31 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 79
Likes: 1
From: Callahan FL
The pic of the second plug just looks like old plugs to me. You can get plug wires from rockauto for a good price. Like your husband said, change the plugs and wires and run the car.
Some of these guys in my opinion go way overboard. I've made my living as a mechanic for over 35 years and the first rule of thumb is to keep it simple......
Change the plugs and wires, run it and if it's running good, run it for 500 miles or so and check the plug that was worst last time and go from there.
Some of these guys in my opinion go way overboard. I've made my living as a mechanic for over 35 years and the first rule of thumb is to keep it simple......
Change the plugs and wires, run it and if it's running good, run it for 500 miles or so and check the plug that was worst last time and go from there.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
For the draining battery....
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/...tches/1405410/.
Go to Princess Auto. Cheap. I also had an electrical drain. I put one of these on and the drain disappeared !.
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/...tches/1405410/.
Go to Princess Auto. Cheap. I also had an electrical drain. I put one of these on and the drain disappeared !.
Thanks for the advice. I don't think the husband feels the same way I do, he's more of a "Pull it out if its a problem" type of guy rather than spending a lot more money to fix it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Thanks Pete. Hubby thinks it might be the horn relay because when we first put the battery into it the horn wouldn't stop honking and we had to disconnect the horn to stop it.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Just an update on the battery drain problem. It turned out that my aftermarket alarm system had failed and was holding the horn relay on. Hubby removed the faulty alarm system and the battery drain is gone.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Well done!
A battery disconnect is good but removing the short is always best.