Thread: Engine problems

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This is the year of learning the hard way. I tore my 1969 c-20 completely apart. Then took off the carb to look in the intake and see water all the way to the top. Drained the oil there was more water in the engine than oil. Don't take your hood off and not cover it... Who would have thought?!? There wasn't much to salvage other than small parts and pieces. So I'm probably going to turn it into a trailer.

Then I check the plugs in my 1970 c-10 some are slightly fouled. Then I checked my radiator it was close to empty. Then checked the oil it was over full and tan like coffee with creamer in it. Blown head gasket.

So now I have to weigh the options to either see if the block is cracked drain it down and rebuild it, or buy a new engine. From what I understand it is pricy to have the engine machined but close to the price for a new one.

Any one have any insight or ideas on what I should do in this situation? I'm still on the fence about a 350 or 427. I have recently found my self looking into 383 as well. I am also trying to figure out if I should buy a new crate and build it my self or buy a turn key crate engine if I do go the route of getting a new engine.

I am pulling apart the 350 out of the c-20 so that I can learn the inner workings of an engine since I'm in the dark on how they go together.

Given your last sentence I'd recommend that you look at a fully assembled crate engine, using one of your problem engines as the core. Then you can disassemble the other one to better understand the way it all fits together, and still sell it for scrap by weight once your done, provided you don't decide to rebuild it for some future project. You can get a bone stock SBC with a good warranty and be on the road quickly, or you can spend more $$$ and spring for one that's built for performance. It's still the same way it was back in the day, the sign posted in the shop "Speed is $Money$, How Fast Do You Want To Go??"

For a 350 you are hard pressed to beat a crate engine, unless you can do the machine work yourself. I would recommend that you consider terms of warranty, especially if you are paying for labor.

What Roger said... If you were closer I'd take that C10 off your hands.

if you are still thinking bbc... i can build you a better then a crate 454 to 510 bbc from stock pre smog 454 with RV cam hard EX seat with dual plane intake engine all new parts all fresh machined or a 496 mark 6 with the marine cam works very nice on the street . to a 489to 510 that can pass just about every thing .but not a gas pump will fry the tries off the rims. i have many nice 454 blocks and can build you something in a resemble budget or move up to a 565 to632 in a big M dart block with dart 355 cnc pro one or the new 380 pro2 heads . i have a very nice low miles 350 vtec that i can rebuild with a mild roller cam with intake for a fair price i will ship any were in the usa

Pace Performance sells both GM and other brands of crate engines that come with warranty, and right now are offering free shipping on a bunch of their engines!!!!!

i use to build engines for one of the biggest Gm dealers in the USA there crate engine are nothing like what i build or sell . i ship free any were in the lower states off my web page. all my heads i sell there is free shipping on them and has been this year

Originally Posted by rspears

Given your last sentence I'd recommend that you look at a fully assembled crate engine, using one of your problem engines as the core. Then you can disassemble the other one to better understand the way it all fits together, and still sell it for scrap by weight once your done, provided you don't decide to rebuild it for some future project. You can get a bone stock SBC with a good warranty and be on the road quickly, or you can spend more $$$ and spring for one that's built for performance. It's still the same way it was back in the day, the sign posted in the shop "Speed is $Money$, How Fast Do You Want To Go??"

Thanks for the input Roger, I do want to go fast, but I want to be street legal. I am unsure if I plan on rebuilding the 350's I do have, but I really am interested on getting to know how they fit together and what part does what. I've learned a bunch from my dad the past two days and need to learn a lot more.

I haven't found an engine I love the sound of more than a 427 the gearing is super low so I wouldn't have tires left if I dropped one of those in. I am so torn on engines I really don't know where to settle.

Originally Posted by cffisher

What Roger said... If you were closer I'd take that C10 off your hands.

I have had people if its for sale, but when I say make an offer they make excuses instead of dropping a number. If the price was right I would sell it in a heartbeat, but I don't see my self letting it go any time soon.

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

i use to build engines for one of the biggest Gm dealers in the USA there crate engine are nothing like what i build or sell . i ship free any were in the lower states off my web page. all my heads i sell there is free shipping on them and has been this year

As good say the deal sounds I live in Alaska and free shipping is something that almost never happens up here. I do want to run a race rig to use at the legal drag strip and have it as my weekend driver to just cruise around in.

You should consider an engine from Pat---he has a good supply of solid cores for the blocks and the machinery and know how to do it right----I am way too busy to even consider another build this year---

Originally Posted by Lefcrak

As good say the deal sounds I live in Alaska and free shipping is something that almost never happens up here. I do want to run a race rig to use at the legal drag strip and have it as my weekend driver to just cruise around in.

well if you want something i am sure i could work something out. i can not do free shipping but could do some thing very fair i shipped to finland so i just need to know what you want and budget i take it from there there many ways to get in touch with me PM here or threw the web page email /facebook mccarthy performance. yep i hear you jerry am busy but have 3 bbc set to go together and they have no place to live

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

well if you want something i am sure i could work something out. i can not do free shipping but could do some thing very fair i shipped to finland so i just need to know what you want and budget i take it from there there many ways to get in touch with me PM here or threw the web page email /facebook mccarthy performance. yep i hear you jerry am busy but have 3 bbc set to go together and they have no place to live

Let me sit on it for a little while. I do want a new engine really bad but my wife just started college so money will be tight for a little bit. I want to say that anything much over $8k will be over my budget, but I know for a good engine you're going to have to fork out some big bones.

Maybe I will get an engine and not road trip next summer.

I know I write a lot but this is what I'm hoping my truck to sound like and perform. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7GLTSg7ieI&sns=em

side pipes on your truck will added to sound but a 2.1/4 to 3 under the truck sound just as good with a X pipe i think better . really it is not hard to get 425hp out of a bbc they were abit under rated . you soon would get tired of a real 427/425 hp engine in your truck i can build a better engine for what your doing