maxjivi05

I have a 1978 - 1985 350 Engine with Double Hump Heads and a Holly Carburetor.

I had the heads checked, cleaned and shaved, purchased a brand new Holly Carb and brand new distributor, along with new plugs, the wires were new a year ago but they've sat for a year. This car has been sitting for a full year where it wasn't running right because heads were warped.

I had to replace a Piston and put it all back together according to torque specs. I have water in the oil "not sure if it is because the gas is from a year ago where it has sat, I bought some water out stp fuel treatment stuff but I don't know if water is in it because it sat for so long or if gas can cause water to go in the oil... I am just at a loss of words, my car is parked 1.5 Hours away from my home and I spent 3 days over the weekend there trying to fix it so I could have my car back driving.

I tried to set timing but runs like crap, sputters, spits gas through carb sometimes and just don't want to run right. when I put the #1 Piston TDC and adjust timing accordingly it still don't show right according to vacuum or a timing gun. I don't know if it's a Cam issue, or if it's the timing chain and everything is out of whack or what...

Just looking for some advice, I went broke trying to get this thing running this weekend and won't be able to get down there for another week or two and attempt to put money back into it. I know I'll end up having to change the oil all over but I just want this car running, I'm almost at the point where I just want to sell it all but I know it'll be a good running car if I could just get it right.

pancherj

Water in the oil could be from removing the heads. Did you change the oil after that? If you did, then it may just be a leaking intake gasket (which could also be causing the car to run rough). If it is spitting and sputtering and spitting back through the carb, I would suspect the timing is retarded. Advance it and see if that helps. Also, you may want to make sure the valves are adjusted properly.

Start with the basics and methodically work your way through. Don't assume anything is correct...verify that it is correct. You may not have to put a single dollar more into it. It could be something simple as I described above.

maxjivi05

I am going to remove the intake and check the gaskets probably go ahead and replace them and use a sealant next time just to be sure nothing is left unsealed. I did change the oil, I had to replace a Piston so I had the oil pan off and had everything already drained when I was replacing it all.

What are the odds that the intake manifold gasket is leaking? I do have a coolant leak and couldn't find it but was working on 1 thing at a time, the water was going down somewhere around the intake level because that's were the water would drop down to in the radiator, not much further then that though. It would have a little stream of coolant running down the backside of the engine block and by the starter which I couldn't see to find out where it was coming from, I was thinking maybe a gasket maybe a hose not 100% sure but at the point I packed up and headed home till I have more time and money to deal with it. If I had it home I'd go ahead and pull it apart and check everything more.

Valves are possibly not 100% adjust properly I had issues trying to get some of the rockers to rock like the others but I think I need a new cam to fix that issue because I would tighten them down and some would barely move to open valves but I've already went all out on this engine buying parts so I'm trying to take my time and get it right.

Any other tips or suggestions so I can do some more research and I'll go step by step till I figure it out next time I'm down there.

pancherj

Here is what I would do:

1) Put the engine at TDC on the COMPRESSION stroke
2) Borrow (maybe autozone or similar) a leak tester for the cooling system. It is basically a small hand pump that pressurizes the system without needing the engine running. This may help you find the leak.
3) If that doesn't work, pull the top apart and see if the intake gaskets are leaking
4) If there is no evidence of the intake gaskets leaking, then you may need to pull the heads and check them to make sure they were seated correctly. I have seen heads get hung up on the locating dowel and not seat fully even with the heads torqued to spec.
5) By now, you should have the leak located. Time to put it all back together. Use "the good stuff" on the China walls and good intake gaskets (Fel Pro). You can put a little gasket sealer on the intake gaskets around the water ports.
6) Make sure the piston is still at TDC compression stroke. Drop in the distributor so it is close. Now, set the valves. I use the "Intake opening/exhaust closing method" (internet search will walk you through it) and do one cylinder at a time.
7) Put the carb on and finish up.

Take your time and be methodical. This will save you money in the long run.

JEFF

maxjivi05

Found the leak and got it stopped, found the timing chain was stretched and replaced it. By that time it got dark and we called it quits for the day, still need to get the harmonic balancer in all of the way, the bolt won't reach so I think I'll pick up a longer one tomorrow just to help push it in far enough to get the other back in. Hopefully it'll be running right tomorrow wish me luck... If you have any suggestions on the Harmonic Balancer going in easier let me know, it's most of the way in just needs to go another inch or so before it'll bolt up fine.

maxjivi05

Got it started, had issues with a slight leak at the front of the oil pan but I'm trying to get it running right before I go all out and fix the smaller stuff.

I have a Holley 600 Carb that is not ADJUSTABLE externally, can anyone help me? My carb is spitting gas while giving it gas as if the floats were letting too much fuel dump. I have had a extremely rough time with this car the past couple days and every day working on it before that.

Any tips, I've been googling trying to find how to set float levels all I seen was stuff about bending something in the bowls but no clue what it is and how to tell how much to bend.

maxjivi05

Got it running the cam was shot, now I have a charging issue and had to park it at walmart halfway home uhhh.... Will hit it again today but no $ for 2 weeks to put into it now...

pancherj

Is the battery not charging, holding a charge or is it just losing voltage as you go? I feel bad for you. It is frustrating when you go from one problem right to the next!

maxjivi05

It would slowly drain until lights go out and I had to pull over and hook jumpers up... Also think ATF us leaking a little coolant is good oil is good just a little white smoke around the firewall but sounds pretty good starts easy as long as I charge the battery I'm headed down to try and figure it out...

maxjivi05

It wasn't ATF... It's engine oil everywhere :'( I'm about to just burn the whole car... AHHHH!!!!!!!

1.) Heads Shaved
2.) New Camshaft
3.) New Lifters
4.) New Pushrods
5.) New Carb
6.) New Dizzy
7.) New Timing Chain & Gears
8.) New Piston & Bearings on 1 Cylinder
9.) New Gaskets from Heads Up
10.) 8 or 9 Days of 18 Hours of Labor Straight.

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I went beyond broke fixing this thing and now it wants to leak oil from somewhere I don't know... I'm guessing Oil Pan Gasket but I mean it is everywhere.... :'( Any help suggestions? Also Alternator doesn't want to charge all the time.... It kicks on and off I lost lights last night driving home at night.... had to stop and charge the bat and go and park it till today which started the whole oil thing.... I also found I have a short somewhere in the wiring harness that is killing me...

Oh and dropped big car ramps on my foot which I thought I broke it... I put way too much effort into this car and everyone is telling me to get rid of it... :/ oh and I broke a side plastic under my passenger door some how...

maxjivi05

Had to buy a new oil pan and oil pan gasket after that the car had a weird hollow knock so I left it... when doing the oil pan I did have a plug wire cut so I got a new one for it but it didn't fix the sound as much as I liked.... I need to check the other wires but UHHHHH...

I feel like I'm never going to get this running right... Oh and there is a short somewhere which drains my battery and won't let the car start without shaking wires for about 15 minutes.... I think it's a wire going to the starter or the starter??

maxjivi05

Found out the alternator went out and when I hit the starter button it sticks trying to start and drains because it don't have enough power to start...

Also while changing my Oil Pan.... I messed up either the Harmonic Balancer or the Main Bearings.... My harmonic balancer shakes now... Any clue on which one it is??? or how to tell?

maxjivi05

Replaced Harmonic Balancer and it helped a little but still wobbles and now makes a weird knock noise in the engine I'm guessing it's not balanced properly or a bearing went out??? Any tips on what to look for?

bygddy

I'm saying it, everyone else is thinking it, walk away man. Everything you have written indicates your over your head, and will continue to spend good money over bad.
You change oil if you had a head off
You never just "tighten" a rocker looking for movement
You don't just "install" a balancer, you need the right tools do this, not a "longer bolt"
"Got it running, the cam was shot" what cam did you install? How was it broken in? Was the motor torn down, hot tanked, and all bearings replaced to remove the remenents of the cam you wasted by "tightening down" the rockers.
I'm aware I sound like a dck, but you sound tired, frustrated, and broke. Until you have the skills, the tools, and money to do this right, park it, and save yourself a headache.

maxjivi05

Well I didn't walk away I pulled the engine replaced the bottom end new crank roller cam roller lifters and torqued it all down to specs and it runs perfect, the previous bottom end had bad mains... All I need is new tires new alternator and wheel pulley to make it driveable. Never walk away.... Everyone learns some how...

bygddy

Ok

HotRodFiend

First of all you can't put the harmonic balancer on with the bolt. You have to get it on all the way with a worm gear gear style bolt pusher or puller. Second if your carb is pulling up gas... do you have the stock air cleaner assembly on? Sometimes if its cold out the stock emissions peice for the heat riser won't open up. There is a little piece of thermostatic metal in the air cleaner assembly that has a vacuum line at thatched to it. Try and disconnect that and plug the vacuum line in the carb. At least that was why my carb was spitting and pulling gas. Carb repair shoo didn't even figure that out. They just removed my air cleaner and said it was fixed. Wtf right? Anyways. Just my thoughts.