Thread: SBC problems with the Bluesmobile

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Well I had to leave the Bluesmobile (88 Caprice) up in Bangor last month when it broke down. I went back and towed it home last weekend. It's got a 305 of unknown origin. It's got a bad misfire that makes the whole car shudder. I had to increase the idle screw to keep it from stalling. When it's idling it sounds like one or more cylinders is blowing back through the carburetor. The power brakes don't work at low speed because It pressurizes the intake and eliminates any manifold vacum. I took off the rocker covers and all the pushrods are pushing and the rockers are rocking. There is a slight ticking from the left bank but I can't pinpoint it without a stethoscope.
I'm thinking that I have a bad intake valve that's letting the compression back into the intake but wouldn't that make it backfire through the carb? I should check the compression but my compression tester dissapeared. Maybe I loaned it out and forgot. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

But that's not why I started this thread.

I originally rebuilt a 79 305 to put into this car but the oil poured out the back when I got it running so I took it back out and put in the used engine that only lasted a couple of months. I think it would be easier to fix the oil leak than to repair the mystery 305. I pulled the oil pan and rear main cap off the rebuilt engine and the seal seems ok. I don't want to pull the crank to replace the seal if I don't have to.

So here's the point of this post.

Should I have put permatex on the rear seal where the two halves meet? I'm pretty sure this is where the oil is getting through. Or is there some secret to installing a rear seal that I should know about?

I dont like useing the stuff myself if I dont have to to many people use way too much .but I have never used it on any seal are you sure you didn,t move the intake gasket putting it on unless you are forsure it coming out from the bottom cause Ive don it numerous of times putting the intake on and try hard not move that gasket no matter how hard you try some times shit happens

It's not the intake gasket. I tossed out the front and rear rubbers and permatexed it. It's all freshly painted, clean and dry up top. The oil was coming from the front of the flex plate. I let it idle for about half an hour and lost about a quart of oil before I noticed it.

sounds like ya got a bum seal Dang that a bummer like I said I have never permatex any of my seals

So Streets, you're saying there's a book or some directions somewhere that I shoulda read before I put this thing back together? I'll remember that next time. Maybe putting them at 90* would help and use some superglue on them like they do for custom O-rings. If I remove the top half I should probably buy a new seal instead of using the one with a half hour of use on it.

not saying you did, but its not hard to put those seals in backwards

Originally posted by Streets


PS. Mebbe ya could use the old seal... afterall IT's only a Junky ole 305 engine.. [/B]

No the Junky 305 is the one in the car. I'm workin on the "good" 305.

Napa didn't have the seal in stock. It'll be there first thing in the morning. I can sputter into town and get it.

Lt1s10. I'm really not sure if I put it in the right way. I can't remember how I determined wich way it goes. I hope the new one has a diagram with it.

Is there any chance it could be coming from 1 of the oil galley plugs or the cam plug? Rear main would be most likely but ................ just a thought.

Could be your mystery 305's timing chain might of jumped. That would cause the symtoms you described.

Thanks ProZ I checked the cam plug and it's not in there right. I think this is where it was leaking. The guy who installed it will never work for me again. Oh wait. It was me. I can't stay mad at myself.
I'll get a new plug when I pick up the seal and pan gaskets. New oil too. I'll save the slightly used oil for a beater. It doesn't look new anymore.
I can't wait to see how this engine runs compared to the stock 305 that's in there now. It's got a Edelbrock performer cam and intake manifold and a set of 350 heads with a new 3 angle valve job.

I still don't know if I should glue the 2 halves of the seal together. Whaddaya think?

How do you guys break in a new engine? How many miles should I put on it before I open it up?

Originally posted by The Al Show
Thanks ProZ I checked the cam plug and it's not in there right.

Actually I learned that one the hard way. "bout 30 years ago when I was working @ Universal Mfg. I assembled a 6 cyl. short block that was going in a combine. Once it was installed (and in the field) one of the Oil galley plugs (Drive in plug) was leakin' and the engine had to be pulled and the plug replaced. @ the companies expense. The only thing that saved me was the guy spinnin' the short block to test oil pressure should have caught the leak too so we shared to blame I guess?

@ least chebbies have screw in oil galley plugs.....

I put it back together today. It looked too much like the junky engine so I washed it and repainted over the Chevy orange. I was detailing a T-bird engine in the other garage so I had extra Ford blue engine paint.
I've blown up more Chevy engines than Fords so I thought it might change my luck. Besides, It is the bluesmobile.
Tomorrow I start yanking the old engine.
Here's the Ford blue Chevy:

Al, I'd fire that mother up right where it sits. Shouldn't take too much to put the required stuff on it, and it sure would save some time if it still leaks and you have to pull it out again. But, then again, maybe not. That motor would look nice in the new vacuum cleaner I got for the wife.

Originally posted by pro60chevy
Al, I'd fire that mother up right where it sits. Shouldn't take too much to put the required stuff on it, and it sure would save some time if it still leaks and you have to pull it out again. But, then again, maybe not. That motor would look nice in the new vacuum cleaner I got for the wife.

Iz' dat' the 42" hoover w/ Bagger Attachment for those tuff jobs???? They work great for blowin' pet N' rug rat toys out from under the sofa too.

Originally posted by pro70z28
Iz' dat' the 42" hoover w/ Bagger Attachment for those tuff jobs???? They work great for blowin' pet N' rug rat toys out from under the sofa too.

Yep, it has all the extras! I even sprung for the ceiling cob web getter attachment too! It blows them away.