Help determine condition of my engine?My observations.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 482
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From: SE Houston TX
Car: 1986 Iroc-Z
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700R4
Help determine condition of my engine?My observations.
Ive had this car for a few weeks now and im not sure what to think as far as the engines condition. Its a carbed 305 engine, ive discovered machine shop stamps and it seems to have a baby cam. Motor is apperently an 84 305 and my car is an 86 iroc so original was swapped at one point, has a v belt set up.
i get little to no smoke at idle, on start up in the morning it usually squirts out water for a few seconds.( which im told is supposed to mean good combustion)
I checked for blowby and on the pcv side i get half a foot of blow by. I removed the oil cap on the other side and no smoke. Car reads a steady 180ish temp wise. Since i have all of this blowby shouldnt i expect it to smoke at idle?
Blowby is supposed to mean worn rings correct? Wouldnt rings smoke at idle? Or do i have all of this wrong? Is blowby normal at any level? My 91 camaro had a 355 with very little blow by about an inch or two on its rebuilt motor so seeing this much blow by on this motor alarms me.
Car seems to be running good not really having any problems but im debating wether swapping engine out or not. If i can keep this engine healthy i wouldnt mind running it a while longer while i work on suspension etc. Im just trying to get a general idea of where it stands.
If someone could answer my questions and give me tips on what to look for that would be great. I can no longer rely or trust the sellers info since he sol me this car as a 355 and it ovbiously isnt.
Any info appreciated.
i get little to no smoke at idle, on start up in the morning it usually squirts out water for a few seconds.( which im told is supposed to mean good combustion)
I checked for blowby and on the pcv side i get half a foot of blow by. I removed the oil cap on the other side and no smoke. Car reads a steady 180ish temp wise. Since i have all of this blowby shouldnt i expect it to smoke at idle?
Blowby is supposed to mean worn rings correct? Wouldnt rings smoke at idle? Or do i have all of this wrong? Is blowby normal at any level? My 91 camaro had a 355 with very little blow by about an inch or two on its rebuilt motor so seeing this much blow by on this motor alarms me.
Car seems to be running good not really having any problems but im debating wether swapping engine out or not. If i can keep this engine healthy i wouldnt mind running it a while longer while i work on suspension etc. Im just trying to get a general idea of where it stands.
If someone could answer my questions and give me tips on what to look for that would be great. I can no longer rely or trust the sellers info since he sol me this car as a 355 and it ovbiously isnt.
Any info appreciated.
Supreme Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 19
From: Cary, North Carolina
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: Carbed 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: Help determine condition of my engine?My observations.
If it cranks and runs, that's all you can ask for. When it stops, you'll be the first to know.
Anything else means tearing it down, and no point in that - might as well swap.
I say run it until it stops running and meantime prep for your later swap - that's really all you can do. Might get 10 miles, or 200,000 miles out of it. Regardless, even a brand new Camaro off the showroom floor comes with no guarantees - just a "warranty" that will replace/repair for an unseen possibility.
Anything else means tearing it down, and no point in that - might as well swap.
I say run it until it stops running and meantime prep for your later swap - that's really all you can do. Might get 10 miles, or 200,000 miles out of it. Regardless, even a brand new Camaro off the showroom floor comes with no guarantees - just a "warranty" that will replace/repair for an unseen possibility.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 611
Likes: 2
From: DE
Car: 1990 Firebird Formula
Engine: LB9 - 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73, LSD
Re: Help determine condition of my engine?My observations.
Every car has some blowby, which is why the have PCV.
At least try a compression test. It's cool to see the condition of each cylinder.
At least try a compression test. It's cool to see the condition of each cylinder.
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