What do I do? Build a new motor?
- Thread starter JSM
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JSM
Active member
Re: What do I do? Build a new motor?
Mental note: Dobrick got up on wrong side of the bed today.
Really part of the fun of the project for me is figuring out what to do, design, what parts, etc. Now that the truck is running not much left to figure out, a few things left to do though.
After homecoming and seeing the truck idling as we pulled it into the garage I could see slight blue smoke. Guess I didn't want to go through all this time/effort to have it smoke while idling. It isn't much just enough that I don't like it. Isn't effecting how it runs, aside from the spark plugs lasting about 500 miles or so until they look real nasty.
Of course 500 more miles might last me the rest of the summer at this rate.
I plan to pull motor this winter anyways to find the damn oil leak, and repaint the fenders, core support and just clean things up. probably put some rings on it and see how it goes at that time, start collecting parts for a different shortblock for later.
Mental note: Dobrick got up on wrong side of the bed today.
Really part of the fun of the project for me is figuring out what to do, design, what parts, etc. Now that the truck is running not much left to figure out, a few things left to do though.
After homecoming and seeing the truck idling as we pulled it into the garage I could see slight blue smoke. Guess I didn't want to go through all this time/effort to have it smoke while idling. It isn't much just enough that I don't like it. Isn't effecting how it runs, aside from the spark plugs lasting about 500 miles or so until they look real nasty.
Of course 500 more miles might last me the rest of the summer at this rate.
I plan to pull motor this winter anyways to find the damn oil leak, and repaint the fenders, core support and just clean things up. probably put some rings on it and see how it goes at that time, start collecting parts for a different shortblock for later.
Re: What do I do? Build a new motor?
Sounds like the best deal for now and it also has an end goal.
In all the engine I have built and have been involved with, it has been common that once a piston is removed and reinstalled, the rings never lasted. Always had to put a fresh hone and new rings. Sounds like that is what you will end up doing this winter so I would bet that this engine would be fine after that. I still suggest the oversize rings and file fit them. With the rpm range you are in with this block, I wouldn't have worries about it lasting even if you were at 10 lbs. If any of my local racers decide to dump their Dart or Bowtie blocks, I'll check out the deal and keep you in mind.
Not a bad idea to contact someone like Scott Schaffirof (there are many others) to see if he takes in a block that may be of interest to you. It's amazing what some guys are "trading" in just to make a change in their setup.
TwinTurboV8Ty said:
Sounds like the best deal for now and it also has an end goal.
In all the engine I have built and have been involved with, it has been common that once a piston is removed and reinstalled, the rings never lasted. Always had to put a fresh hone and new rings. Sounds like that is what you will end up doing this winter so I would bet that this engine would be fine after that. I still suggest the oversize rings and file fit them. With the rpm range you are in with this block, I wouldn't have worries about it lasting even if you were at 10 lbs. If any of my local racers decide to dump their Dart or Bowtie blocks, I'll check out the deal and keep you in mind.
Not a bad idea to contact someone like Scott Schaffirof (there are many others) to see if he takes in a block that may be of interest to you. It's amazing what some guys are "trading" in just to make a change in their setup.
turbodig
Active member
Re: What do I do? Build a new motor?
I realize the world is LS-crazy right now, but you can make *lots* of power on the old chevy block. Not to mention the cheapness of the parts, since they're almost everywhere.
The economy and fuel costs will kill more than a few low-buck circle track operations this year and next... there will be Dart or Bowtie v8 blocks for sale.
I would fix the oil consumption sooner rather than later. It doesn't have to be a big ta-do to yank the motor and run a hone through, and do a new set of rings. You'll want more end gap than a stock build, anyway, with the turbo heat.
A good re-ring will last you years in that thing at 10 psi or less.
I realize the world is LS-crazy right now, but you can make *lots* of power on the old chevy block. Not to mention the cheapness of the parts, since they're almost everywhere.
The economy and fuel costs will kill more than a few low-buck circle track operations this year and next... there will be Dart or Bowtie v8 blocks for sale.
I would fix the oil consumption sooner rather than later. It doesn't have to be a big ta-do to yank the motor and run a hone through, and do a new set of rings. You'll want more end gap than a stock build, anyway, with the turbo heat.
A good re-ring will last you years in that thing at 10 psi or less.
JSM
Active member
Re: What do I do? Build a new motor?
If I hone it myself I can probably have it done in a weekend. If I decide to get block honed by a shop, out 1 weekend, in the next.
Next question is if it is worth the $$ to have it prof. honed.
That will probably be the route I go for now anyways, and just collect parts as I have time/money for a bigger build.
If I hone it myself I can probably have it done in a weekend. If I decide to get block honed by a shop, out 1 weekend, in the next.
Next question is if it is worth the $$ to have it prof. honed.
That will probably be the route I go for now anyways, and just collect parts as I have time/money for a bigger build.
JSM
Active member
Re: What do I do? Build a new motor?
Dino oil still.
I agree with you on piston ring groove condition, but like others didn't give it any thought.
Rings are total seal in there now. Motor has ~15k miles total on it or so. It has always left oil on plugs from the start though. I was hoping it was more gas from the carb it was run on before I guess and tryed to ignore it. Looking back I should have paid more attention when it was apart.
I did drive it to work yesterday, still runs good and at idle it isn't making a James Bond type cloud but just a slight haze. Driving is fine.
Dino oil still.
I agree with you on piston ring groove condition, but like others didn't give it any thought.
Rings are total seal in there now. Motor has ~15k miles total on it or so. It has always left oil on plugs from the start though. I was hoping it was more gas from the carb it was run on before I guess and tryed to ignore it. Looking back I should have paid more attention when it was apart.
I did drive it to work yesterday, still runs good and at idle it isn't making a James Bond type cloud but just a slight haze. Driving is fine.
warmpancakes
New member
Re: What do I do? Build a new motor?
get a dart little M block destroke it to spin the snot out of it , sb2 heads (cheap from the cup teams) and make 1000 on pump gas
get a dart little M block destroke it to spin the snot out of it , sb2 heads (cheap from the cup teams) and make 1000 on pump gas