Have you seen my missing cylinder? SBC compression all over the map!

[FishNinJay]

WAKEUP! you will give up, run out of $$ or both before that ever happens. It's a 40 year old vehicle that has been customized. You better be handy, have money and a desire to keep it going or there will be another one given away on craigslist.

not yet..

 

[cmiller114]

Hi Jay, I'm glad you're hanging in there....as well as your 327. A good, experienced "local guy" is invaluable....treat him well.

"IMHO you bought yourself a tired old motor. It may run another 100k as is and it may grenade tommorrow. Keep your RPMs low and don't tow anything....blue smoke will be the final note.
No way to judge on a rebuild without pulling the motor apart. If it's a pristine 327 (I doubt it) then by all means rebuild! If it's been bored on honed to the limits, it's an anchor. Anything in between is a judgement call."

If you have worn piston rings (you do) oil in the cylinder will show better numbers on a comp test. It acts as a temporary seal of sorts. I'm betting on a busted compression ring on #4.....but only a tear down will tell you for sure. I would drop the oil pan and a main cap or two, check out the bearings and the stampings on the pistons.....they will usually indicate +.030 etc. if the block has already been bored. If it's rebuildable...I'd do it.

 

[Shawn Russell]

Sell the 327 and the heads, and get a crate motor. This is the BEST thing I have done to my 40. You will save a lot of $$ in the long run. I will NEVER buy another rebuilt SBC again...

Shawn

 

[FishNinJay]

and the debate goes on...

Right now, it's running fine, and I'm tempted to just run it as is , until the engine falls out or starts smoking bad .. then get a new crate. We'll see... will keep you posted.

Thanks for all the tips and encouragement!

 

[Toyrod]

Have you considered valve adjustment, flat cam lobe, or lifter issues?

 

[UNO_RACING]

and the debate goes on...

Right now, it's running fine, and I'm tempted to just run it as is , until the engine falls out or starts smoking bad .. then get a new crate. We'll see... will keep you posted.

Thanks for all the tips and encouragement!

There's a lot of debate about crate motors and rebuilt motors. I have a 350 SBC in my cruiser that was rebuilt and modified. I also installed TBI from Howell Engine Peformance. So long that you can find a compentent engine builder you can't go wrong. You can get a lot of peformance for the $$ out of a rebuilt over a crate, IMHO.

I'm compeletly satisified with my set up. Haven't had a problem with the motor in 3000 miles. However, stupid valve cover and Toyota 3speed transfer case leaks are another story..

You have a nice Rig.

Over-n-out,

UNO

 

[FishNinJay]

Wow.. how time flies!?

Here are current compression numbers, done about 9 months after the test I did above..

95 (1) (2) 125
80 (3) (4) 15
85 (5) (6) 110
135 (7) (8) 130

wet test and threw some oil down.. with improvement in compression numbers from 10-20 across the board:

115 (1) (2) 135
95 (3) (4) 45
95 (5) (6) 125
150 (7) (8) 150

So, cylinder 4 is still puzzling. Why so low, yet improves +30 with oil. So, if do a valve job, it might still fail? Valve and Ring? Still probably need to eventually make decision on rebuild vs new crate.

BTW, my guy checked out the engine, and it's not the double-camel humps
BUT, it IS a 327 block from a corvette..

Decision time...

I went with a new 350. Arrived today!!
Plan is to do some radiator work, new water pump, fuel pump, sandblast manifold&paint, new Taylor spark wires, detail engine, rebuild the transfer case, replace front drive shaft, etc.. Anything else I should do now, while the bay is empty?
(maybe I'll post pics of the swap, if anyone interested.."

Anyone want to buy a tired SBC 327cid from a 1967 Corvette?

I'll take some pics of the 327 and post an ad in Classifieds and on Craigslist. Maybe a Corvette enthusiast will want to rebuild this engine and send it back to it's home!