sellmanb

Ok, I've got a problem with this used motor. It's a 010 casting 350, with 84k on it before I got it. Apparently it was a goodwrench crate short block.

I just swapped it into my car and got it running again today. It doesnt stay on for very long, and I have to keep it gassed to get it alive, but I'm assuming that'll be a vacuum leak from my intake swap.

I also have coolant puddling around the bolts on the intake.



Anyways, when I start the car it's fine, but about 5 seconds after it's on, I can see (no hood or air cleaner) all the blowby just POURING out of the breather tube.

After I shut it down, it is still smoking from the oil filler cap just a little bit. (I didnt dare leave it running much more than a few seconds afterwards).

Can the intake be re-torqued? Or do I need to put on another set of gaskets? (I have one bought already just incase, but this'll be my 3rd swap and I dread doing it again).

Can the blow-by just be the valve seal guides? And it'll clear up after a minute of running or so?

When I do a compression test, I'll know what cylinders have low compression, but how can I tell if it's due to a head gasket, or rings, or valves not closing all the way, etc?



Thanks for listening to me blubber... I hate seeing this car sit around all summer

Token

First make sure that your head gaskets are sealed and the heads are torqued to spec. Check your radiator for oil, and your oil for coolant. Then compression test it. You'll want to pull the valve cover off and make sure that both valves are closed. if you're not certain, pull the rocker arms off (a little extra work that's not that necessary). If you're losing compression after checking all of this, it's through the rings.

Good luck man, keep it up

Token

also, you know that breathers WILL smoke, correct? Mine scared me the first time, so I just put a PCV on the other side of the valley and it hasnt smoked since.

sellmanb

oh yeah I know it will, but I didnt expect it to be THAT much lol.


I just bought two sets of intake valve stem guide seals and the spring compressor that can be used w/o taking the heads off... might as well, I've replaced and maintained every other part of the powertrain.


BTW, how is your beast doing? Good still?

chevymetal

where does the coolant around your intake bolts come from?

I've got the same thing going on...
It's not really bad, but it's there.

sellmanb

It was the intake manifold gasket. I ended up getting a new gasket for it, and some RTV. I then put RTV aroun each coolant port on either side of the gasket, as well as RTV around the intake ports on either side.

Then I put some RTV on each bolt thread before I put it in to torque it down. So far so good, and no new coolant drippings

Hope this helps.

Token

it's not too bad