Hey guys,

I recently pulled a bad engine out of my TA (The 350). Here is what happened. I downshifted instead of upshifting and the engine overredved the redline by about 1K RPMs. It drove ok for another 10 seconds and then just died. I tried starting it and it would only idle when I took it up to about 2000-2500RPMs and even then it was VERY rough idle.

Well I took it out and took it apart. The pistons are all good, and so are the valve-springs and pushrods. The lifters are a little scarred (solid lifters) but I think ok. Anyways after taking a closer look the #4 piston is coverd in oil. I figured that the only way that could happen is that piston rings being blown through. So before I replaced them and put the engine back together can anybody else give me any other possible causes for the problem?

Thanks for reading,
-Max

 

Check the valve guides and seals.

Were the head gaskets OK?
Did you check the rings for breakage?
Did you check the cylinder bore? Is it scored at all?
Is the ring gap OK if you put it in the cylinder bore and slide a feeler gauge in there?

Is the dist. OK? What did the plugs look like? What kind of condition are the rod and main bearings in?
Did you check valve lash before you pulled it apart?
Did you check to see if any rocker studs got pulled a little or were loose?

There is a lot that could have happened to make it run rough. The oil in number 4 could be from any of the first 4 questions.

I had a '94 Z28 that I did that to once (don't tell anyone ). A HUGE puff of blue smoke flew out the tail pipes. I thought I roasted that sucker. Then about 2 minutes after the lights I could smell burnt clutch. Luckily the engine ran fine for the next 6 mos I had the car.

Check all the above and get back to us.

AJ

 

what did the main and rod bearings look like, were they gouged out?