Thread: Chevy 350, zero compression. engine not starting

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Interesting turn on this thread – happens all the time. Sounds like JbRat has the compression problem solved and hope he is gleaning what he needs to address his rocker issues. It’s all in the thread and I sometimes read through these a couple times before I get everything in the correct order as we have a tendency to all be thinking about solutions and may approach things a bit differently but usually end up with the same conclusion.

I’ve met very few people on this site face-to-face but I feel like a lot here are my friends. I could sit and have coffee with most here and believe that what we sometimes lack in “personality points” we more than make up in good ol’ fashion honesty and knowledge of all things pertaining to hot rods. An online forum by nature is a simplex conversation and it’s real easy to read something into a computer conversation that if it were happening live and in person (over burger and beers or pie and coffee) wouldn’t be there. For instance, Tech would see me laughing my head off at his one-liners (“Pinched his head off at birth…”) – I’m still chuckling and will for sure use that one.

Anyone who lives to be sixty plus typically has pretty tough skin and for the most part, I just let things people say roll off my back if I find I don’t like or agree with it. I just try to remember that, “…the only thing that’s the end-of-the-world is the end-of-the-world” and I can work most other things out.

Now if you steal my stuff or mess with the family – that’s a whole different ballgame.

Regards All,
Glenn

Well here's my update. I found a set of stock stamped, vortec, self aligning rockers... yeaaa. Put them on last night, what a difference they look. Went through each one, examined the rod for bends (rolled on a granite flat) and all looks ok. Wnt one by one and did the ehaust / intake engine turn over another bit of a turn and adjusted each to 1/2 turn preload. Oh I also prelubed each rod and filled with oil after installing and lubed each rocker. Set the valve covers, timed it using the static timing and viola.... it's aliveee... well kinda... so I have a bunch of oil coming out my timing cover. Upon examination of that it's all bent up at each of the bolt locations, surprised it would seal at all so ordered a new one and will install it tomorrow. Meanwhile dumped the radiator, pulled everything up front (getting pretty good pulling harmonic balancers) and I'll drain the oil, drop the pan and she's ready to replace the timing cover. meanwhile she didn't sound to bad running. Ran her at about 2200 rpm for a minute. The more I learn, the less I know My other saying is "I listen to understand, not to respond" and there is a lot to listen to out here

Cheers... getting there...

You're going to fit in just fine around here JbRat!! Glad the engine is running and that you've got a handle on the oil leak.

Tear my hair out.....

I can't seem to fix the leak at the bottom of my timing cover.

use original cover, little bit of sealant... leaked like a sieve... so

bought new timing cover and gasket.

cleaned everything pristine.... no grease...nada... paper gasket with timing cover so used aviation sealant on face of that. Oil pan down and totally cleaned. installed new timing cover, new bolts...torqued to spec.

bought new oil pan gasket felpro 34509 T, single piece. Applied the "right stuff " gasket maker in the corners where told to apply. torqued oil pan as spec'd.... and its leaking around the front oil pan seal once again. arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

thoughts? suggestions? fly someone in to do this for me ??

ok, found some other posts... yes i have a chrome cover... i will try sanding it down and maybe use the "real stuff" gasket maker across the whole surface...

by the way this wasn't a cheap timing cover, it was bought from NAPA.

That didn't work... cleaned every surface ....use the "right stuff" on the front lower seal...top and bottom... well covered... and it leaks... not a drip but steady large drips... I give up... anyone want an engine come get it...

I feel your pain! Did you let the sealant completely dry?

no, it said usable right away ??? oh mother... did I miss something? going to go read.

ok, it said assemble with 5 minutes and put into service right way... should I redo it once more and let it set over night? use different gasket stuff?

Originally Posted by JbRat

Tear my hair out.....

I can't seem to fix the leak at the bottom of my timing cover.

use original cover, little bit of sealant... leaked like a sieve... so

bought new timing cover and gasket.

cleaned everything pristine.... no grease...nada... paper gasket with timing cover so used aviation sealant on face of that. Oil pan down and totally cleaned. installed new timing cover, new bolts...torqued to spec.

bought new oil pan gasket felpro 34509 T, single piece. Applied the "right stuff " gasket maker in the corners where told to apply. torqued oil pan as spec'd.... and its leaking around the front oil pan seal once again. arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

thoughts? suggestions? fly someone in to do this for me ??

JB, Check front right side of block for a bolt right ahead of the fuel pump, The hole is open to the crankcase. Could be where the oil is coming from. It'll fool ya into thinking the timing cover is leaking.

Heres a link to a photo of what I mean;
Block Plug Basics - Tech Article - Chevy High Performance Magazine

omg..... that's it... or at least it wasn't plugged and would leak right down and look like a timing cover leak.... I cleaned everything, resealed, plugged the hole.... and will let it sit over night and burn 1001 candles... well maybe not 1001.... i have only 997 but who's counting.. I owe JOATMAN a few beers.... well I owe everyone a few beers so next time y'all come through boulder, CO email me even if he is a "3" fan...being a # "18" fan myself

by the way, confirming...it looks like only one hole... and appears to be to hold up the fuel pump rod during installation....

If push comes to shove, sling that cheezy cover over the fence, go down to your local Chevrolet dealer and buy one across the parts counter. NAPA sells chinesium crap just like everybody else.

.

oh yes, if it leaks today I'll do more then sling that Chineezy cover a few miles... patiently waiting for my neighbors to wake up before I roar open headers for 20 minutes....lol....

I'm probably getting ahead of myself but reading up on adjust valves while running. The thought appeals to me and looks fairly simple.. I have a set of those oil defector clips... I have gone through the engine one by one and adjusted each cylinder 1/2 turn per the specs but it still sounds noisy, at least for the minute I have had it running...