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

No Fun Here...

Old Mar 31, 2015 | 10:47 PM
  #1  
CanadaGrant's Avatar
CanadaGrant
Thread Starter
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Default No Fun Here...

My old 69 finally gave it up. Original motor, never out of the car. All numbers matching 69 427. Driving down the highway home and on shift, one cylinder quits. No noise. Puff of blue smoke out the right side. Idle home and it is missing on #2. Pull the plug and its oil. Compression check is zero on 2... Big blow by through the crankcase every time number two hits. Pulled the covers and both valves on 2 are working so am figuring it's a piston? No oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil. No knock. Quiet as a dead hog. I pulled in into the garage and this is as far as I got today.

Reply
Old Mar 31, 2015 | 11:02 PM
  #2  
mr303's Avatar
mr303
Racer
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Default

Piston my have cracked, the rings could be holding the parts together? Might explain why there is no compression but nothing is rattling or banging around. A bit of bad luck, but it could have been worse. Car looks pretty nice from what I can see.
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2015 | 11:22 PM
  #3  
Patro46's Avatar
Patro46
Pro
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 730
Likes: 37
From: Catoosa Okla
Default

That's a real bummer. Maybe it only broke a ring, or at worst, a ring land. Great looking ride BTW. Be sure and chime in with your findings. Good luck!
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2015 | 11:50 PM
  #4  
CanadaGrant's Avatar
CanadaGrant
Thread Starter
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Default

Originally Posted by mr303
Piston my have cracked, the rings could be holding the parts together? Might explain why there is no compression but nothing is rattling or banging around. A bit of bad luck, but it could have been worse. Car looks pretty nice from what I can see.
Not sure. Going to pull the head tomorrow and hope on the block. I had removed the pan to replace the gasket.

Reply
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 01:05 AM
  #5  
63mako's Avatar
63mako
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Default

Hole in the piston. Hope the block is good.
Now you have an excuse to build it bigger and better. Totally stock, numbers matching exterior. 4.280 Bore and 4" stroke, internal balance, Pocket port heads, Roller cam. 460 CI, an extra 100 hp and no one will ever know. It is a beautiful car.
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 05:50 AM
  #6  
SB64's Avatar
SB64
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,399
Likes: 793
Default

Originally Posted by CanadaGrant
Not sure. Going to pull the head tomorrow and hope on the block. I had removed the pan to replace the gasket.

Hi CanadaGrant , I know the post is about your motor and I hope you get to the bottom of things but I just had to say your 69 is beautiful and well done. Just had to say!!.............................
r
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 09:47 AM
  #7  
71scgc's Avatar
71scgc
Melting Slicks
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 59
From: Emerald Isle NC
Default

I'm with Mako...piston hole.
Likely lined up with spark plug.

Carter
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 11:46 AM
  #8  
doorgunner's Avatar
doorgunner
2026 Loser of the Year
Supporting Member
10 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,607
Likes: 7,053
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Default

It's good to hear there was no banging/crunching on the way home.

Pulling an engine sucks, but hopefully the engine only needs a "minor" rebuild!
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 12:42 PM
  #9  
Les's Avatar
Les
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,096
Likes: 990
From: Sierra Foothills CA
Default

Sorry to hear that. As 63mako said, hopefully the block is good. I also like his vision for the future of your engine. Good luck.
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 02:04 PM
  #10  
gungatim's Avatar
gungatim
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 93
From: shelbyville West Michigan
Default

I'd say 46 years isn't too bad for the original engine that's never been touched. you made it through years of un-leaded gas, low octane, ethanol, unhardened valve seats, low ZDDP oil, and who knows what else...
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 02:56 PM
  #11  
1Hotrodz's Avatar
1Hotrodz
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,257
Likes: 501
From: NJ
Default

Pulling the head is inevitable but you can look thru the spark plug to see any damage. And that is one sweet ride!! Good Luck
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 03:47 PM
  #12  
dochorsepower's Avatar
dochorsepower
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 50
From: Laguna Niguel California
Default

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. That's a beautiful car. The 1969 427 is the holy grail of Corvettes. Well, you may as well get busy with the rebuild, and while you're at it . . .
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 06:19 PM
  #13  
CanadaGrant's Avatar
CanadaGrant
Thread Starter
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Default

Thanks guys! I haven't got the head off yet. I had done a compression check last fall and it was 150 plus or minus 3 on all. On doing intake manifold gaskets I peeked through the front and saw that the original nylon timing gear was still there from the factory.... See below. So, I replaced the cam, lifters, springs, retainers and pushrods while I was in there. When I did the pan gasket I looked up and the stock factory numbers are stamped inside the pistons. It probably would have taken me about 20 mins more to just pull the motor. Hope I didn't screw the block as the matching numbers are on the pad and with #2 it would be hard to even sleeve without decking. 45 years is pretty good on the stock stuff! Head off with pics tomorrow but my bet is a cracked piston and hopefully no damage to the block that can't be cleaned up.
Thanks again guys! This old thing means the world to me.

Reply
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 06:32 PM
  #14  
mr303's Avatar
mr303
Racer
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 330
Likes: 3
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Default

If it is cracked, you may get away with no major damage depending on how it let go(fingers crossed).
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2015 | 11:49 PM
  #15  
CanadaGrant's Avatar
CanadaGrant
Thread Starter
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Default

Originally Posted by rvzio
Hi CanadaGrant , I know the post is about your motor and I hope you get to the bottom of things but I just had to say your 69 is beautiful and well done. Just had to say!!.............................
r
Thank you. My first Corvette was a 69 427 and that was early 70's. My wife actually found this one sitting on the curb in Vancouver with a "for sale" sign on it right out on the road and bought it for me so it's kind of special. Below is the cell pic she sent me and asked if it was ok to buy it.... The guy who owned it had died. I looked under the rubber gas flange and the tank sticker is still there and I have no plans to remove it as that is where it's supposed to be. Not in a binder.... Pretty cool old car and I would like to keep it that way. Even the carpet had the original factory stickers but I had to replace them due to the skunk like smell...
Check the bottom pic. Forlorn or what? Who takes a real 1969 427 Corvette and sticks it on the curb and who has a wife smart enough to pass by and go wohaaa, oh my...? Lucky and then some. She said: Can I buy this car. There is no question mark because she really wasn't asking.






Last edited by CanadaGrant; Apr 2, 2015 at 12:21 AM.
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2015 | 12:23 PM
  #16  
69Vett's Avatar
69Vett
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

actually, if your in good finical position the FUN is just starting !
visions of new Engine.. hmm,, more HP ! Pistons, ..Rods, ..Cam, Heads ?
save that block at all cost.
Good Luck
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2015 | 05:17 PM
  #17  
LeMans Pete's Avatar
LeMans Pete
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
Default

Very interested in your outcome Grant. Goodluck.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To No Fun Here...

Old Apr 2, 2015 | 06:04 PM
  #18  
CanadaGrant's Avatar
CanadaGrant
Thread Starter
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Default

Originally Posted by LeMans Pete
Very interested in your outcome Grant. Goodluck.
Thanks Pete. I was in the middle or removing the intake manifold so I could get the head off and my wife forced me to sit down and have a cold Miller. It's her fault.... I'm not sure I want to see this but I guess sooner is better than later.
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2015 | 06:17 PM
  #19  
ddawson's Avatar
ddawson
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,739
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
Default

LOL, wife's and creating side tracks.
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2015 | 06:26 PM
  #20  
jimvette999's Avatar
jimvette999
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,431
Likes: 52
From: Florida
Default

I see the problem, the car is yeller.

[/QUOTE]
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:42 PM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE