El Camino project car

[FoMoJo]

I'll have to turn the engine and see what the cylinder wall looks like and if the block is decent enough for a rebuild or scrap.

If the valve seats aren't too badly damaged, it looks doable...valve, piston. Didn't you say coolant was dripping though?

[CaminoRacer]

The intake valve seat has a hole in it. In fact, there was bits of aluminum in the #2 cylinder (all the way on the other side) that must have gotten there through the intake manifold. So the piston and head are toast. The head is still under warranty for a couple of weeks so I'll contact them about it and see what they'll do.

I noticed oil dripping, not coolant. I'm going to pull the engine and check the block for damage at that point.

[FoMoJo]

The intake valve seat has a hole in it. In fact, there was bits of aluminum in the #2 cylinder (all the way on the other side) that must have gotten there through the intake manifold. So the piston and head are toast. The head is still under warranty for a couple of weeks so I'll contact them about it and see what they'll do.

I noticed oil dripping, not coolant. I'm going to pull the engine and check the block for damage at that point.

Aluminum? What's it from? Piston?

Hard to imagine where the oil is dripping from unless you've got a crack in the block.

[CaminoRacer]

The head is all aluminum and had chunks ripped off of it, so it could have been from that. Or it was from the piston. I haven't done a metal analysis on it to know for sure.

[280Z Turbo]

Where is the block at with overbore? If you are at .040 already I think you should scrap it.

[CaminoRacer]

Where is the block at with overbore? If you are at .040 already I think you should scrap it.

.000 since it's a fresh 350

[280Z Turbo]

Dart block?

[CaminoRacer]

Goodwrench

[CaminoRacer]

I should convert it to a 2 stroke and then I won't have to worry about valves anymore.

[Rupert]

Make it a diesel too. Then you don't have to worry about spark plugs, either.

[Madman]

Too bad that Chrysler turbine engine that was for sale recently has already been snapped up.

Now THAT would have been an interesting project! 

[AutobahnSHO]

ouch.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Make it a diesel too. Then you don't have to worry about spark plugs, either.

[CaminoRacer]

A month later, the engine is out. The whole car needs a deep cleaning and I want to tidy up the wiring in the engine bay. I'll probably try to ditch as many electrical things as I can. It's gotten a bit too complicated for my taste.

[280Z Turbo]

A month later, the engine is out. The whole car needs a deep cleaning and I want to tidy up the wiring in the engine bay. I'll probably try to ditch as many electrical things as I can. It's gotten a bit too complicated for my taste.

What? Like an electric starter?

[CaminoRacer]

Yeah I'll just steal the kickstarter off my bike

[CaminoRacer]

Okay, here's a good question.

The current plan is to swap the Camaro engine into the El Camino. It's a 350, bored .030 over, iron Dart heads, 10:1 compression, roller cam. Right around 400 hp. Obviously it has headers. The headers will be staying with the car, so I can either use my headers or get a new set. My headers are not ceramic coated and I don't think the flange is 100% straight because I can never get them to seal perfectly. Plus, they are a PITA to deal with since they're long tubes. So, do I ditch them and go with shorties? I tried to swap to shorties last fall, but the company lied to me about fitment. I could find a new pair and try again. I'd have to re-do my exhaust a bit to make up for the length difference. They'd be much easier to install, but still be difficult to work around when changing spark plugs.

Or, the other option is to find some manifolds. They would be easy to install, shouldn't leak, and leave clearance for spark plugs. BUT, how much HP am I going to lose, and will they kill all the fun? I don't want to choke the motor and miss out on 20 HP.

[280Z Turbo]

We have full length headers and they're not an issue, but Corvettes have huge engine bays. They're really mid engined.

Just get some shorty headers. I'm sure they'll be fine. Cast iron manifolds were made for 200 hp stock engines. I wouldn't use them in a performance application.

[CaminoRacer]

Yeah, I think the HP loss from manifolds could be in the 30-40 hp range. Shorties would be a small loss, but this engine has more HP than I had before so it shouldn't matter much.

[Rupert]

Plus, you'll just blow the manifold if you go that route.

[280Z Turbo]

Plus, you'll just blow the manifold if you go that route.

That could take a month to rebuild.

[CaminoRacer]

These could be a possibility

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hed-68600/overview/year/1969/make/chevrolet/model/el-camino

[280Z Turbo]

You may have to repaint, but they'll be fine. We've had the same painted ones on for 13 years and I just repainted them.

[CaminoRacer]

Says the paint is only meant to prevent rust while shipping. But Eastwood has a nifty spray can for coating the insides.

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-hi-temp-internal-exhaust-coating-w-extension-tu.html

Supposed to be good for 1800 degrees, which is much better than the 1200 degree stuff you usually see at the store. It works on the outside as well, obviously.

[CaminoRacer]

I pulled the bellhousing off today and the block doesn't appear to have any holes or other issues. I might end up rebuilding after all. Might call a shop tomorrow to have them check it out.

It'll need new rods and pistons, and probably bored .030. The other head should still be perfectly usable, so if Flotek sends me one to replace the FUBAR'd one, I'd just want to replace all of the valves with ones of my own choosing. New pushrods and full gasket kit and it'd be ready to go. With new pistons I'd raise the compression ratio some more - getting to 10:1 would be nice. Then there's the question of getting a new cam - current one is alright but not thumpy enough at idle. First thought was to convert to a roller cam, but that's prohibitively expensive - talking like $800 instead of $145 for a Comp hydraulic roller.

[CaminoRacer]

Something like this Comp would be nice, if it's not too big.

http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=86&sb=2

However, there's one slight problem - a new cam means having to break it in, means I can't put ceramic coated headers on it right away.

[CaminoRacer]

I think that XE268 is a bit too large. I want power from idle to ~5500 rpm to give me the best corner exiting power in autocross and give me decent longevity by not revving the engine super high.

I've currently got an Edelbrock 2102, but they also have a larger version that is good for the same rpm range - the 2117.

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/mc/camshafts/chevy-sb.shtml

Comp has an XE262H, which is just a slightly smaller version of the one I posted before. Basically the same specs as the Edelbrock 2117 except for the lobe separation and intake centerline. I'll be honest, I'm not totally sure what the difference would be wrt performance and streetability.

http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=85&sb=2

[280Z Turbo]

I got a Lunati Voodoo. Haven't had the opportunity to try it out yet, but I think it will be nice.

http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=1982&gid=287

[CaminoRacer]

I think that Edelbrock 2117 might be geared toward EFI applications, which is why the lobe sep and centerline is higher. If you click on the cam cards for the 2102 and 2117, they both say they're good for 320 hp and 382 ft lbs. No use upgrading for no power gain.

The Comp XE262 is right around 350 hp with a very similar engine build to mine. The XE268 installed in the same engine actually performed at bit worse at peak, so obviously it's too much cam for the intake and heads.

http://www.compcams.com/Technical/DynoSheets/XE262H-10_001.asp

I got a Lunati Voodoo. Haven't had the opportunity to try it out yet, but I think it will be nice.

http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=1982&gid=287

Going in a 327, right? That should be great.

Lunati claims the Voodoos perform better than the XE's. I'll have to look into them some more.

[68_427]

I think that XE268 is a bit too large. I want power from idle to ~5500 rpm to give me the best corner exiting power in autocross and give me decent longevity by not revving the engine super high.

Just go to a 5.11 rear