I own a 67 black on red small block (300 hp; black soft top) non-air convertible with the original drive train and tank sticker. The car has been sitting in my garage for the past 10 years and it has come time to either sell it or get it back on the road to drive. I would like to get it back on the road and enjoy it, but there is one thing holding me back, the condition of the engine. In 1992 the engine was re-built, but butchered as the block was block was over-bored 80 over and it never ran right, so I put it in my garage and forgot about it. Given that its the original engine, I would lik to get it rebuilt again, and if possible, have each cylinder re-sleeved back to the original 4 inch bore. However, local engine rebuilders have told me that they would not attempt to re-sleeve it. What do I do about the engine? I have no problem with shipping the engine out of state (NY) to have it worked on. Thanks for the advice.
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Re: C2 Engine Rebuild Need Advice
When you state the engine didn't run right, do you mean it oveheated? that is the only thing that 80 over would cause assuming the overbore did't break into a water jacket and 80 over very unlikely to hit h20. might run hot at 80 over. any other poor performance problems are probably secondary to another problem. i don't see why all 8 cylinders couldn't be sleeved but if its not oveheating or mixing antifreeze and oil, i'd look into determining the real problem and let the 80 over pistons do their thing..keep the old girl and get her running right. mike -
Re: C2 Engine Rebuild Need Advice
John, I would try to save the block, unless the engine pad with the engine build date and the VIN sequence was cut/cleared. If it was, you might just consider looking for a 327 block with the correct PN and build date.
My two cents.
Harry
38513Comment
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Re: C2 Engine Rebuild Need Advice
The engine pad was not decked, the pad is in very good condition.Comment
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Re: C2 Engine Rebuild Need Advice
Mike, I should of been more clear, the engine ran hot. Let me ask you this, have you seen/ or heard of small blocks being over bored 80 over, not overheating and operating/running on the road okay? Can you recommend an engine re-builder who has the expertise and ability to re-sleeve the block if I plan to head in this direction? ThanksComment
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Are you SURE it was overheating and not
just a bad (read "new") sending unit?? I'd make it run again, get a competent mechanic to check distirbutor, timing, carb, et al and visit a junk yard for an old sender, install it and give the old girl another chance. In the alternative, send me your address and I'll pick it up.Comment
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Radiator condition?
Does your car have a relatively new aluminum Griffin or DeWitt radiator? Brass or old aluminum radiators just won't cut it in a 327 mid-year despite any "flow test" results.
The others are right about modern temp gauge senders for mid-years. Even the new "exact" reproduction sending units DON'T WORK RIGHT. If you think I'm wrong, please buy the four repro's and Wells aftermarket senders that I'm stuck with. "No guarantee."Comment
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Re: Radiator condition?
You could always save the original engine in your garage. Put a crate motor in the car and enjoy it. My 327 engine was bored 60 over a couple of years ago. It does run hot if I get stuck in a lot of traffic on a hot day. About 210 degrees. I don't loose any antifreeze. I replaced all components in the cooling system. Which did help a little bit. I'm fine as long as I can keep moving.Comment
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install a crate engine
i find it hard to believe the engine is .080 as i never saw listed pistons at .080 over for a 4.000 bore. if you just want to drive the corvette i would pull the engine and install a GM "crate engine" and save the orignal for the next owner. JMHOComment
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Re: Radiator condition?
Bob -
I'm curious about your overheating; please tell me a little more.
What type and brand of new radiator did you install? Whose fan clutch? Rebuilt or new water pump? What sort of ambient temps bring on the problem?
JerryComment
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Re: C2 Engine Rebuild Need Advice
I would be afraid of the cylinder walls being so thin, you would have problems with proper piston ring to cylinder wall sealing. Any sort of long term durability (cracks) would also be a concern.
One thought would be to contact businesses that specialize in the building of some of the more exotic, older engines where you simply cannot get another block. There are multiple ways to sleeve a block and I would find it hard to believe there is not a solid solution to get your numbers matching block back to it's original bore size. Good luck!
Roger
#36316Comment
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Re: C2 Engine Rebuild Need Advice
cresap machine, centre st cumberland md 301 724 8794 ask for john of dean. i'm a customer of theirs, no vested interest. they are experts. mikeComment
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Re: Are you SURE it was overheating and not
agtree with loren. another consideration: how many miles put on the rebuilt 80 iver engine before it was put away? i have a 67 400 hp 427 that ran hot(235 @ 70 mph in 80 deg F interstate situations) UNTIL the old 427 had about 300 miles under its belt. since the "break-in" it'll run 190-200 under similar enviornmental/load conditions> mikeComment
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Re: install a crate engine
Clem, I am with you...I am pretty sure 0.060 over is as big as they make them for 350s, unless some piston manufacturer has come up with bigger sizes.
A crate engine is definitely the way to go; the old engine can be re-sleeved, but it won't be cheap. I believe I heard it cost about $900 a hole...if that's right, you could buy two crate engines for what it will cost to re-sleeve the original engine. I would save the original engine for the next owner; let him solve the "problem".Comment
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Mobile, AL availability
The local stock car racers have used .100" overbores in their 350 blocks with no cracking or overheating problems. The last 327 sleeves I had installed (in 1997?) cost about $80 a hole.
We still have people commuting by mule in this area, so I doubt our machine shops have the latest, greatest, and cheapest. I would check around before giving up on sleeving.Comment
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