Well, I'm bummin'! I've tore the top half of my motor down this past week. She's a #'s matching 327/300 that over the past 3 years I've converted to, visually, look like a 350 horse...correct '461 intake, 2818-1 Holley, had the script valve covers on her when I bought her. I decided to make her into a solid lifter, correct for that 365 horse look. Well, I noticed this past year she started to drink antifreeze so I decided to pull the heads in the cam swap process and discovered the repair in the right head (original '461's) had let go (was done 6 years ago) and antifreeze was seeping out of the #1 exhaust valve (she was all caked over in a white substance).
Dilemna: I may have a cracked block...#5 cylinder and #4 cylinder has sludge evidence on the cylinder walls in the valley side. This will be closely examined by magnufluxing the block. I had already made up my mind to mothball the good head and the repaired head and had just ordered a set of Dart Iron Eagle 180's w/64 cc's. My 2818-1 carb has been in the hands of Jerry Macnish for a rebuild/replate).
A trusted engine builder and family friend was over last night to give his take of some vertical lines on 2 of the cylinder walls. His view was it would make sense to pull the block and disassmble it. That's when he noticed the sludge buildup. He would degrease it and lightly hone it out recognizing the block had been bored out .030 over and new pistons were put in 5 years ago. Well, if it turns out that after magnufluxing the block she's indeed cracked, I've made up my mind that I'm going to mothball this block and turn towards a replacement... WHAT?
Seriously, I'm really liking to keep that "stock look" and considering I've got a good start on components for the "365 horse" look (8" balancer, carb, intake, 5 quart pan, windage tray, LT1 cam and edge orifice lifters, sticking with the factory rams horns and side exhausts...I know the heads aren't right but that is what I'm giving up...going modern.
I'm really concerned about going after another 327 block...no history and you pays your money and takes your chances. The idea of just throwing good money after bad comes to my mind. So what would you do given my original goal to keep that somewhat nostalgic look with a lot more "balls"? Buy a long block, if so what would be compatible with all my components? Shelve this whole idea, money be damned, and spring for a crate motor, which one? I've done some reading tonight on issues of the crankcase vent tube, flywheel changes, rams horn manifolds bolting on. What other issues are there?
Maybe I'm just hung up on the fact that, if she is cracked, I've lost a big chunk of originality. I suppose I shouldn't complain, I've had blast with her so far.
Your opinions/experiences appreciated...let her rip!
Thanks!
Dilemna: I may have a cracked block...#5 cylinder and #4 cylinder has sludge evidence on the cylinder walls in the valley side. This will be closely examined by magnufluxing the block. I had already made up my mind to mothball the good head and the repaired head and had just ordered a set of Dart Iron Eagle 180's w/64 cc's. My 2818-1 carb has been in the hands of Jerry Macnish for a rebuild/replate).
A trusted engine builder and family friend was over last night to give his take of some vertical lines on 2 of the cylinder walls. His view was it would make sense to pull the block and disassmble it. That's when he noticed the sludge buildup. He would degrease it and lightly hone it out recognizing the block had been bored out .030 over and new pistons were put in 5 years ago. Well, if it turns out that after magnufluxing the block she's indeed cracked, I've made up my mind that I'm going to mothball this block and turn towards a replacement... WHAT?
Seriously, I'm really liking to keep that "stock look" and considering I've got a good start on components for the "365 horse" look (8" balancer, carb, intake, 5 quart pan, windage tray, LT1 cam and edge orifice lifters, sticking with the factory rams horns and side exhausts...I know the heads aren't right but that is what I'm giving up...going modern.
I'm really concerned about going after another 327 block...no history and you pays your money and takes your chances. The idea of just throwing good money after bad comes to my mind. So what would you do given my original goal to keep that somewhat nostalgic look with a lot more "balls"? Buy a long block, if so what would be compatible with all my components? Shelve this whole idea, money be damned, and spring for a crate motor, which one? I've done some reading tonight on issues of the crankcase vent tube, flywheel changes, rams horn manifolds bolting on. What other issues are there?
Maybe I'm just hung up on the fact that, if she is cracked, I've lost a big chunk of originality. I suppose I shouldn't complain, I've had blast with her so far.
Your opinions/experiences appreciated...let her rip!
Thanks!