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73 nova help

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Old 09-15-2012, 04:15 PM
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73 nova help

so i asked an unrelated question to my own F-body a while back, and the answers where so helpful and well informed i decided to try my luck again and see if you guy could lend me another hand

i took the head off my 73 6cyl nova since the head needed to be machined since it was warped, and blew the head gasket, but what i wanted to know were somethings i noticed on the block itself a few scratches, when i trag my nail on them i didint feel it, the one was made by me letting the head drag a little (since it was fairly heavy) and the other was mad by a razor when i was scraping the gasket off. i also noticed all the pistons were coverd in gunk, i took a razor to one of them to show how thick it was, i wanted to know what it is and what causes it so i can treat what ever it is effectively

[IMG][/IMG]
made with head ^

[IMG][/IMG]
made with razor


[IMG][/IMG]
DIRTY PISTON

thanks for any coments and help guys
Old 09-15-2012, 04:39 PM
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Re: 73 nova help

I wouldn't worry about the scratches.

The gunk is caused by years of oil and fuel mixing in there.

Also, have you checked out http://www.stevesnovasite.com ? That's probably the best resource I've found for Novas out there.
Old 09-15-2012, 07:37 PM
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Re: 73 nova help

Originally Posted by urbanhunter44
I wouldn't worry about the scratches.

The gunk is caused by years of oil and fuel mixing in there.

Also, have you checked out http://www.stevesnovasite.com ? That's probably the best resource I've found for Novas out there.
thanks, i will be sure to check it out, and know that i know that the scratches are harmless i think i can sleep a little better tonight

and thanks for the sight ref i hope to get some good answers here and on there and see if i can fix some random stuff while i'm at

but what you said about the oil and gas in the combustion chamber, how do i clean it, and is it by wear and a part change, or is it normal

sorry to ask for more help

thanks again!
Old 09-16-2012, 01:02 AM
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Re: 73 nova help

just throw it back together and pretend you never saw anything..

if you want to clean the pistons, you trickle some water down thru the carb with it at a fast idle.. you want to dump just enough down there that it almost wants to die, but doesn't.. this will steam clean the chambers and piston tops and blow all the chunks of carbon out the exhaust.
Old 09-16-2012, 01:26 AM
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Re: 73 nova help

Ya honestly that kind of gunk in there is normal for a stock engine from 40 years ago. If any oil drips in there from the valves or rings it'll gunk it up. You can use Seafoam to help clean it out after you rebuild it.

I've been a member on steves for awhile, they're very helpful. Good luck man
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