Sooo... I accidentally dropped a 1/4 inch bolt down the spark plug hole of my 351e Big Block - I had changed the intake manifold gasket. When I started it up the banging sounded like a thrown rod and not knowing what had happened I just shut the door and didn't even look at the truck for six months.
(is the 351e a 1967 issue?)
I bought the truck with all the receipts for an expensive, professional engine rebuild. It had perfect compression when the accident happened. So - Eventually I took the head off the one side and found the bolt embedded in the top of the soft aluminum piston. A score 1/16 inch deep ran from the top of the cylinder to the bottom of the down side of the stroke - in other words - the score stays above the rings when the piston is at the bottom of the stroke -
Now - I was told by an experienced mechanic that because the score doesn't go below the rings that it will fill up with carbon over time and bring the compression back up.
The piston shows no sign of damage but could have hairline cracks and the crank-end bearing will have received some hard hits. so my idea is to replace the piston and the bearing but keep the rod.
Does this sound do-able to you all out there?
The next deal is to replace the carburator. I found the original carburator but it was unsatisfactory. So I'm thinking of getting an Edelbrok adjustable carb. Is this a good idea?
Milage - at four bucks a gallon now - is an issue. Would a Chevy 350 V8 get better gas milage?
I like this engine - it sounds great and has I am told great torque - for the 1967 Custom Camper frame/with the original over-head camper. But is this approach worthwhile in terms of work involved, cost etc. when parts for 350's are so available?
Thanks for any input on this! A.
(is the 351e a 1967 issue?)
I bought the truck with all the receipts for an expensive, professional engine rebuild. It had perfect compression when the accident happened. So - Eventually I took the head off the one side and found the bolt embedded in the top of the soft aluminum piston. A score 1/16 inch deep ran from the top of the cylinder to the bottom of the down side of the stroke - in other words - the score stays above the rings when the piston is at the bottom of the stroke -
Now - I was told by an experienced mechanic that because the score doesn't go below the rings that it will fill up with carbon over time and bring the compression back up.
The piston shows no sign of damage but could have hairline cracks and the crank-end bearing will have received some hard hits. so my idea is to replace the piston and the bearing but keep the rod.
Does this sound do-able to you all out there?
The next deal is to replace the carburator. I found the original carburator but it was unsatisfactory. So I'm thinking of getting an Edelbrok adjustable carb. Is this a good idea?
Milage - at four bucks a gallon now - is an issue. Would a Chevy 350 V8 get better gas milage?
I like this engine - it sounds great and has I am told great torque - for the 1967 Custom Camper frame/with the original over-head camper. But is this approach worthwhile in terms of work involved, cost etc. when parts for 350's are so available?
Thanks for any input on this! A.