My neighbours 98 silverado lost compression in cylinders 3 and 5. From what the mechanic told her and what she could relay onto me it had something to do with the heads and valves. Cause the mechanic had the heads resurfaced (warped head?) and was suggesting a complete valve train job as well. But I could figure from what she told me what the real problem was.
Anyways long story short, the cost or rebuilding the engine was going to run allmost 2k, most of that labour. Her husband convinced her that the best option was to buy a new motor and drop it in (a 350 lol). The cost wasnt much more than the rebuild so thats the plan.

My question is, can I use/get anything from the motor? I talked to them and they said once the motor is pulled I can have it for free if i want it. I mean worst case its a big hunk of metal to tinker with right? Learn how this and that works etc.

Also does anyone know anything bout that motor? What it puts out etc?

Thanks

 

Don't be surprized if when you pull the head on that "305" it has a 4" bore.

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Later,
Vader
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"Click - Click - BOOM!"
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You should be able to use a lot of stuff off that engine. If it was a 350 then you lucked out, that block will be a one peice rear main block with a roller cam. It should have vortec heads too.

If it is the 305 well you're still in luck cause it would have a roller block with vortec heads so that'd be good too.

Are you getting it free?
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1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula LO3/700R4
-180 degree stat, Hooker Cat-Back, Wonder Bar

http://www.geocities.com/krt80/

[This message has been edited by Keith5 (edited September 09, 2001).]

 

Vader, as opposed to something different for my 305? I dont know a whole lot bout engines which is why im posting here:-)

Keith, not exactly free, Ive got to build them a pole barn and a few hundred feet of fence by the end of the month. Shouldnt be too hard. Its my choice to take the $12 an hour rate or the engine.

Ill go see if i can get hold of the mechanic and find out whats really wrong with the engine.

 

BTW, where could I go look for info etc on the engine??

 

Ok, i'll be the first one to actually say something....are you sure this truck has a 305? My guess (maybe i'm wrong?) is that a 98 Silverado has either a Vortec TBI 350, an LS1 based 5.3L (327?), or an LS1 based 4.8L (292?). Find out what motor is actually in the truck and maybe we can help you out.

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-Dan
-1990 3.1L RS
-Mods? no
-Slow? yes
-Currently collecting parts for T5 swap

 

As far as the lost compression goes, There could be a few reasons the engine has lost juice on a few holes.
1. Burnt valves. This is common with trucks that tow heavy loads and the owners use wizz for fuel.
2. Cracked head. this is also a by product of Wizz for and that old faithfull knock sensor that cant keep up with everthing; or they got the engine hot.
3. Wallered out valves. Hey it could happen, the valves/guides could be worn out causing low compression.
4. The rings on a few cylinders could be shot.

One real good way to find out if this a 305 is to check the area behind the P/S pump, GM got smart and marked the blocks on the drivers side in about the location were a fuel pump would be on a carbed engine if only it was on the reverse side.

Build thy barn and there fourth shall come a V8
SSC


EDIT: Doh, it should also clearly say 305 5.0 on one of the stickers in the engine compartment.

[This message has been edited by SSC (edited September 09, 2001).]

 

Yea I was thinking that also. It would be sweet to have that roller block 327! But who knows.
SSC

 

the 5.3 is not a 327 nor is the 4.8 a 292. 4.8 is 293 and 5.3 is 325. 98 truck came with neither. the 5.0 liter truck engine is uncommon, but out there non the less and was 220hp. there was also never a 5.7 vortec tbi engine produced for that vehicle. basicly the short block for that will work in a third gen f body and them heads work great on 5.0 liter third gens alone since they kept the small combustion chamber. with a lack of compression in them two cylinders i'd guess head gasket, but find out what their mechanic told them.

 

Yeah, i wasn't sure on the CID or when they started putting the LS1 based motors in the trucks......but i honestly have never seen a 305 in a Chevy truck made at least in the last 11 years. Ah well....

 

Couldn't get the site to work last night.

What did you say? Why wouldn't it have a 305? '95 Was the last year for the TBI engine. '99 was the first year for the Gen III engines in trucks. The 5.3 isn't a 327. If the truck is a '98 it should have either the 4.3, 305(L30), or 350(L31), the v8's I know have roller cams and vortec heads. The vortec heads will bolt to your engine(if it's a v8), but not to your intake manifold. You would have to get another manifold or have machine work done on the heads to accept your manifold or the manifold to accept those heads.

What is the total monetary amount of money that you would end up paying for this engine anyway?

 

With no compression in the 2 center cylinders of a Chevy V8, I'd say the odds approach the perfect mathematical 1.0000000 that it has a blown head gasket, and that it is a direct result of over-torquing the last one, or the use of a steel-shim gasket, or both. So, I'd bet money it could be restored to perfection by simply popping that head off and swapping the gsaket to a high-quality composition one like a Fel-Pro. If it turns out to be a steel-shim gasket, I'd do the other one too; at that point it would take very little extra time, and might prevent a warranty issue later on when the right bank develops the same problem (as it certainly will).

I doubt it needs a "valve train job" (whatever that is), although it wouldn't be such a bad idea to get a valve job done to the heads while they're off.

I'd take that route a long time before I'd swap in a mew motor in a vehicle that new, unless it has lived a very hard life somehow. It sounds to me like it has merely experienced mechanical failure though; you know, where the mechanic failed to do something right. These people might want to consider finding a new mechanic.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

I got to chat with my neighbour briefly and I told her that you guys have all kinds of different engine sizes etc so shes gonna stop by the mechanic tonight and double check for me. She still says its a 305.

I havent spoke to the mechanic myself, maybe I should. But he started doing all kinds of things like resurfacing the heads and stuff. She didnt say he replaced gaskets etc. Argh, ill just talk to the mechanic, its easier.

And no the truck hasnt been a hauler, they have another truck for that. The truck has only been abused by a female nascar fenatic lol.

Oh Keith, I pay 0, zip, nadda for the engine if I take it.

 

Did you ever find out what it was?

 

She still says it was a 305. I dunno if ill get it anymore or not tho.. The dealer shes getting the new one from, Jenson I think, will give her a discount on the new engine if she hands in the old one so knowing her shes gonna do that.

Oh well.