... to help me play with my new Jr. Proctologist's kit. Purpose of the exercise was to try (without pulling the head) to determine once and for all why cylinder # 5 is not contributing to the effort of moving my '52 228" GMC down the road. #5 only has about 70psi during a compression test and I thought I could hear it leaking back thru the carb when I pressurized that cylinder with the valves closed, but doing this by myself gave questionable results. Pulling the spark plug wire off of # 5 while it was idling resulted in no change to idle quality. Ken and I started by playing with my new $16 endoscope. Comes with a 16' cable and is waterproof. The business end is about 3/8" diameter. I can think of all kinds of things to use it for. Pulled the spark plugs from cylinders 1 (for comparison) and 5. Slipped the scope into #5 with its exhaust valve open. After putzing around to get the best view, we snapped this picture. The pictures of #1 exhaust were way more out of focus, but the seating surface of the valve was much shinier. #5 intake also was a lot shinier. Then we rolled #5 to top dead center with both valves closed. Ken applied compressed air into the cylinder while I used a piece of rubber heater hose to listen for air leaks in the carb (with the throttle blocked open) and the muffler. Did the same with #1. I could actually feel the air flow from the tailpipe when compressed air was applied to #5. So it looks like it is time to find someone in the Houston area that I can trust to do a valve job. I don't mind pulling the head and putting it back on. I wouldn't even mind tearing the head down and re-assembling it. I'll need to get it magnafluxed (sp?) while it is off. Thanks Ken. Come by again and I'll give you a colonoscophy at a much lower price than your proctologist will.
' Endoscope ' With a name like that , no wonder you lead off with Proctology jokes . Where did you get one for $16 ?? . The valve is visably bad . Remember to have ALL the valve guides replaced with bronze ones ! . New umbrella typ valve guide oil seals too . Don't let them re surface the sealing surface . Consider replacing the piston rings while the head is off , Total Seal Gapless rings are the best , you'll be amazed at the extra power reduced fuel use and oil burning . Pictures when the head comes off are mandatory . Expect to find some tiny cracks all around the exhaust valve seats ~ I don't know why / how this is acceptable in GMC l o n g motor cylinder heads but it is ~ your Machinist might freak out , ask the Stovebolt guys about this if the Machine Shop doesn't want to continue after finding seat area cracks .
Caffey Automotive in Beaumont bill There is an old school auto machine shop in Beaumont the still rebuilds old inline engines (even Babbitt pounders). Mr. Caffey built my 235 about 12 years ago. I will see if I can find their contact info for you. Not to far to ride for good old school engine work. Good luck. jim
Thanks Jim. Nate: Here is a pointer to the borescope You'll need a computer to use it. I borrowed my wife's laptop. And it is very Chinese. Mailed direct to me from Shenzhen China, just across from Hong Kong. Terrible instructions. Takes stills and movies. Looks like todays price is $20
You guys are awesome! Makes me want to live close to you and just come over and observe and hang out!
<MAGIC> Tools WOWOWOW ! I'm *so* pleased to be living now where I can get uber cool things like this ' On The Cheap ' !! . I bet there's some sort of hand held viewer thing one could buy to use with it too .
Don't know about that Nate. The device is a USB device, designed to be plugged into a host computer (like a mouse or keyboard). Host computer runs the software that makes what the camera is seeing visible and is able to capture both moving and still pictures.
