Ok so I thought I'd make a thread here to see how things are progressing. Here is where I started, bought the car in October 2007 in Virginia, originally a Florida car;

 

Transported it across the country and brought it into Canada early 2008. I did a few minor repairs to pass inspection, and hardly drove it around for a couple years. Car was 100% stock when I bought it. First I installed a 240km/h cluster with correct mileage, and better condition leather steering wheel and dash pad. Next I installed a custom magnaflow exhaust with cat deletes, stock manifolds remained. Later I installed a strut tower bar and 18" C5 Z06 rims, the rims I've since sold.

While the car drove well and everything worked, I was disappointed with the performance this car provided (knowing it was high milage, but still);

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-jjC...eature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnbJ2qAvbAA

 

As I continued to drive it, I did regular maintenance and repairs as required, but it developed a strange lopey idle and would mildly buck and surge at all rpms. I finally figured out (with the help of a friend) that the exhaust valves were burnt out creating a vacuum through the exhaust, which created all sorts of problems. We also figure there is a dead cylinder or part of the cam is wiped out.. so this original high mileage motor is done (approx 155,000 Miles). The engine bay was never particularily clean, but I didn't realize is it was such a grease pit;

 

So I pulled the motor out, it was completely black from the valve covers down. After some major degreasing and pressure washing, I mostly got it cleaned up;



I did a bit of disassembly to see what was going on. At first it didn't appear too bad;

 

At the back of both heads the ports were pretty much closed off and full of crap. I found the heads were a '083' casting, from which I've read, is one of the better 'stock' heads. I don't believe they were ever stock heads on these cars but it sounds like they came in some early 80's trucks and vans? Reguardless;







At this point I've seen enough and I'm not going to tear it down further. This engine is destined to be a 'core return'.

 

The first surprise I got during removal was the transmission looks like it was recently replaced with a GM Goodwrench replacement trans. The bellhousing and entire casing is pretty clean (especially compared to the engine block). The torque converter, flywheel, and starter all appear to be recently replaced. Unexpected, but nice score;

 

I had intended, after stripping the grease filled engine bay, I would mask off and repaint the engine bay. After a short bit of scrubbing, lots of degreaser, and some pressure washing, it actually doesn't look half bad.. so I think I'll leave it as is;

 

Next task on the list, wiring. Seeing how this car spent most of its life in Florida, every connector and connection on the wiring harness is brittle. If it wasn't already broken, it fell apart as I tried to unplug it.

This part will take me the longest, and will be my least favorite;



Another part I didn't like is this wiring harness was hacked into so both fans run with the key on, at all times. That part is a bit unnessessary here, but doesn't hurt... however the hack job and roll of black tape and bubble gum they used to put it back together is scary looking

to be continued...

 

maybe i missed it, but what are your plans? and all i can say about the pic with the crap blocking the valve is EWWW! Are you keeping the magnaflow, sounded pretty damn good from the vid, i cant wait to get mine! and if you arent, and planning on selling, i got dibs on it, i might be able to purchase if i have enough money at the time, of course it depends if you are selling it. Good luck man! and the car looks pretty nice btw!

 

083 heads are stock for an F-body L98 engine (350 TPI)

 

Interested in seeing your experience with the Painless harness, is it a simple plug and play or are you gonna have to make it work?

 

the paint in the engine bay does look nice..
What are your plans for the engine? Reman 305 or 350?
I say get some subframe connectors to tighten things up a bit.