Yet another noisy engine
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
Dunno. The 6.2L LS376/525 is horribly tempting. My brother was looking at it for his FFR GTM kit car. I can get that engine with computer and accessories...plug and play, drop it in...for $9k.
There's a lot to be said for 525 fuel injected horsepower of pissed off small block fury.
HOWEVER, that big block could probably be made into an pretty nasty unit for half that price, assuming the heads check out and the crank is salvageable.
Many options.
There's a lot to be said for 525 fuel injected horsepower of pissed off small block fury.
HOWEVER, that big block could probably be made into an pretty nasty unit for half that price, assuming the heads check out and the crank is salvageable.
Many options.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 156
From: Richmond Texas
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
Having each of those three things done before your mechanic friend arrives would probably give him a great deal of useful information to perform a diagnosis.
What I would NOT do is continue to run the car for him or anyone else. There is absolutely no good that can come from it. The engine is hurt, of that I am certain. There is a CHANCE it is something as simple as a bent pushrod (doubtful, but possible), and every time it "clunks" it is releasing more metal into the oil. And every time the crank goes around that's more metal that gets sucked into the main bearings and rod bearings. All bad things.
Just my feelings from hearing what I'm hearing. This is not a little thing. The more you run it, the more money it will cost you in the end. I'd start digging in.
Last edited by keithinspace; May 12, 2016 at 09:18 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,399
Likes: 8,204
From: Napa Valley California
I agree. Something in the motor is broken. By continuing to run it you are creating more damage to the other internal parts and you could destroy the block. Open it up and start hunting for the cause. As far as swapping a big block for an LS or small block motor? Keep the big block. I looked a long time to find a nice big block corvette. Look at the value difference between a C2 running a small block and a C2 running a big block motor. Just sayin...
Last edited by OldCarBum; May 12, 2016 at 11:26 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,777
Likes: 105
Originally Posted by OldCarBum
I agree. Something in the motor is broken. By continuing to run it you are creating more damage to the other internal parts and you could destroy the block. Open it up and start hunting for the cause. As far as swapping a big block for an LS or small block motor? Keep the big block. I looked a long time to find a nice big block corvette. Look at the value difference between a C2 running a small block and a C2 running a big block motor. Just sayin...
Big Blocks 
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 156
From: Richmond Texas
I have not run the car since I recorded the videos. I removed the valve covers today. I'm going to wait until my mechanic comes to do anything else because I really don't know how to do some of these things confidently. I checked the rockers etc. The number 8 exhaust is quite loose. See video....
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 156
From: Richmond Texas
It appears to be the cam. We tried adjusting it and never could get it right. There is another one on #6 too. We are going to tear into it in a few days. I just have to get my garage arranged so I can back the car in so we will have room to work. My garage isn't real large.
Wish me luck.
Wish me luck.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
I called "wiped cam" within 10 minutes of your original post. If I'm right, I'm having a celebration beer.
For me. Not for you. Because what you're going through sucks. Sorry about that.
But DAAYYYUUUMM...that's some diagnosing skills, son!
100% honest, though. I'm very sorry you have to go through this. But I went through it to...different, but the same. And I'm SOOOO happy for it. The end of the rainbow is a wonderful place.
Good luck on the journey. And enjoy it. May be the only time you get to thoroughly tear into a Big Block Chevrolet Engine and make it 'yours'.
So...congrats on your loss...
For me. Not for you. Because what you're going through sucks. Sorry about that.
But DAAYYYUUUMM...that's some diagnosing skills, son!
100% honest, though. I'm very sorry you have to go through this. But I went through it to...different, but the same. And I'm SOOOO happy for it. The end of the rainbow is a wonderful place.
Good luck on the journey. And enjoy it. May be the only time you get to thoroughly tear into a Big Block Chevrolet Engine and make it 'yours'.
So...congrats on your loss...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 156
From: Richmond Texas
If it ends up being the cam, how much do we need to disassemble? I know the intake and the front, timing chain, etc. come off but do we need to remove the heads? Or should it be completely disassembled?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 14
From: A town SC
Its just me and my thinking, but anytime I fire a jew motor I watch oil pressure. As the new motor breaks in the iol pressure will stabilize to a known psi. Anytime something happens noise knock etc I reference back to what the pressure should be. Ive made passes and lost ten psi and all seemed good but I would trailer it out. Get it home and find all hell about to break loose. Oil pressure is a key diagnostic tool. Use it. If pressures are norm and noises present most times its hurt valve train, still a gamble run it and risk a dropped valve or drag her home to fix and live to run another day.... I once had a small block that would spit the dipstick out every pass. The ones it didnt landed me on the trailer. These things talk to you, you just gotta listen. Lol...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,270
Likes: 375
From: Randolph nj
Well I'm sorry to hear the bad news I had a 454 that smoked 4 lobes ... What a mess .. Mine looked like someone took a bench grinder to them ... Further inspection revealed 3 cylinders had hairline cracks and the motor rotted from the inside out ... Dam boats
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
No need to pull the heads
On rebuild, toss up
Have replaced wiped cams and never had issues other times the shavings got to the bearings. If it were me just put a cam in it and run it
If the oil looks ugly, or you look at some bearings and they arent looking good then-
Vortecpro builds a very strong BBC and imo doesnt charge enough something to consider. Dynoed tuned etc at your doorstep
On rebuild, toss up
Have replaced wiped cams and never had issues other times the shavings got to the bearings. If it were me just put a cam in it and run it
If the oil looks ugly, or you look at some bearings and they arent looking good then-
Vortecpro builds a very strong BBC and imo doesnt charge enough something to consider. Dynoed tuned etc at your doorstep
Last edited by cv67; May 14, 2016 at 12:31 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,270
Likes: 375
From: Randolph nj
Anyone in there right mind would tell you to rebuild the whole motor ... Once the metal flake sets in the motor and you fix the cam and the lifters it's just a matter of time before it happens again.. The metal flake is just like sand no matter what you do your not getting it all out ...
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,399
Likes: 8,204
From: Napa Valley California
You've heard of Murphy's Law, right? Do it right once! Invest in the best parts, find the best machine shop, and unless you know what you're doing, hire a professional to assemble the bottom end and heads. If you cut corners, Murphy will visit you late one night on a lonely stretch of highway where there is no cell service, your wife is in the car and she's already annoyed because you wanted to drive the corvette.
