Do you guys think that since i blew my cylinder wall out that could have been caused by my car running too lean? I have a 383 stroker with the stock 305 tbi and have been running it for about 5 months now and was waiting till I could afford the new holley tbi. So do you think with it running so lean that couldve blown my cylinder wall out? I was doing about 50 then I floored it and was doin about 110 then slowed down to about 65 then floored it again and you talk about smoke coming out of the exhaust. The radiator was dry and all the water went inside my crank case. So let me know what you think. Thanks Danny

 

I REALLY REALLY hope that you didn't actually have a completely stock 305 TBI on there. You would have needed to switch to 350 injectors, ESC module, and knock sensor, as well as a 350 chip and possibly VAFPR and 454 throttle body to even get the thing running right. With all that said... Are you sure that it is the cylinder wall and not just a head gasket failure?

 

You most likely blew a head gasket from running too lean. 305 injectors won't even hold up under a 305 with mild mods much less a 383.

 

Yeah I had the guy who built the engine pull the plugs and they were soaked. He said he could almost gurantee that it was a blown wall. He was hoping just the head gasket and so was I. Do you complettely have to pull the engine to know definately? And yes I was running the complete stock setup from the 305, except the jet regulator I put in there, until I had enough money to get the holley tbi. So do you think it running that lean could blown out the wall?

 

Running lean might have burned a piston, but I don't see it blowing the cylinder wall out. Taking out the cylinder wall requires catastrophic failure, dropping a valve, breaking a rod bolt or something similiar. Pull the heads. It should be obvious then whether it was a burned piston, blown head gasket, destroyed cylinder wall, or something else.

 

With that engine I took the block and had it machined out and was told it was in good condition before it was dropped in. I only have about 5000 miles on the engine but every now and then I would hot rod it(floor it for a while) just to feel the power. But thats what that type of motor is built for so it shouldn't have failed, right? I took the heads from a 350 and the crank and had them machined and cleaned up and the same with basically everything else. Do you think since they were used that couldlve caused the problem? What is wierd is there was no indication that something like this was about to happen. It has been running good except for lean with the stock tbi, ecm and chip and then all of the sudden BOOM!!! The car had only been running for about 15 minutes before this happened and was fairly cool. I think I am going to go and cry. And yes grown men do cry when their toys blow up. Please help me. Thanks Danny

 

Dude, chill out. You haven't even pulled the heads yet. Once you determine what the problem is then you can worry or be relieved. If it is just a head gasket then it's only like a $40 fix and all those other parts I mentioned can be had quite easily and cheaply from the junkyard to get you running right. Don't put it to rest just yet. Pull those heads and see what there is to see.

 

So there is really no way to tell what has happened until the heads are pulled? What other parts are you talking about getting at the junkyard cuz I will go and get em really quick. Thanks Danny

 

Yeah the heads have now been pulled and the block is cracked. This sucks. I am really starting to freak. He said the entire cylinder wall had just about been knocked out. Question I now have is that something that couldve been prevented by the machine shop or something they shouldve noticed or something they should warranty? I know with this type of question it is hard to answer but can you guys just generalize a little for me. Thanks Danny

 

I don't think it was anything that the engine builder did. The fact that it was running lean for so long was the worst thing that one could do to an engine next to running it with no oil. Looks like it's time to find a cheap 305 to put back in till you can afford a new 383 with the right size injection system to run it.

It's no fun learning things the hard way, but one things for sure, we won't forget it very easily.

Sorry it had to happen that way.

 

Couldn't he just sleve the cylinder?

 

Doubtful that you could just resleeve the cylinder. That block would have to be cleaned and magnafluxed and who knows what other damage was done to that engine that's just waiting to go. This thread needs to be saved as a warning to everyone that you can't just modify everything and expect the stock fuel system to keep up. Your cheapest fix would be a used TBI 350 with its throttle body and run that until you can afford to do it right.

 

yeah I guess I learned the hard way. Thanks for your help guys. Danny

 

Think the same thing would happen to a 327 with L98 heads, XE268H cam, and a performer intake? I am planning on 350 injectors with a ultimate modded TBI. Would I also need the 350 sensors then? I was thinking I could just use the 305 ones since the engine size is right between the two.

 

I would think more likely (assumeing the engine still turns and such) that its either a head gasket or a cracked head. Running lean is pretty good and killing these (when it comes to colent in the combustion chamber/cylinder). I remember my old bmw the cold start equipment didn't work perfectly for awhile (without my knowledge, damn cheap shady mechanic, overcharging bastards) my head cracked in 3 spots. Granted probably from the massive heat caused by the lean condition which cracked my exhaust manifold in the same location as the 3 cracks. Check your rings too if it really was runnin that lean (305 tbi and injectors on a 383, should have spent the cash).

 

Running lean you could have done a lot of damage anywhere in the motor. Most likely the heads are cracked somewhere or the gasket. The valves could be damaged now etc but I doubt the block has a hole in it. If it did the engine wouldn't have been able to blow smoke out the back, it would have just frozen up.
Running a stock 305 TBI is junk, you NEED to get bigger injectors and make sure you've got the fuel pump to support the higher pressure (you'll need) and the demands. Once that is done you've gotta get into tuning your own eproms. You can't just assume the motor will adjust for everything. MAFs are better at it but speed density isn't. Under WOT the car doesn't know what to do with the fuel, it still thinks it only has to flow enough for an L03 running at like 5000rpm MAX. Look at your spark plugs and make certain that if you do anything, run rich, NOT lean. Running rich you might wash the cylinders with a stock eprom but then it's still better than burning valves, cracking heads, melting pistons, and warmping everything else from the exhaust manifolds/headers up to the valves. Spark plugs are what, $16 to replace if you run slightly rich. Compare that and say you need to replace it 3 times a year, it's still a lot less expensive than replacing a whole motor from lean damage.

 

This is just another reason we recommend so often that you need to invest in WINALDL, if your going to run a modified TBI engine. Other injection systems are just as prone to the same problem they just have different software to scan the computer.

If your going to modify your car this heavily make sure you have the WINALDL running first. We all know that you want the horsepower first but you need to take the appropriate steps to your power increases.