Today I pulled the heads of my 1964(one owner-me)which has sat since Fall of 1977(don't ask). At various times during its long hibernation it has had kerosene, automatic and brake fluids in the cylinders. There is some light? surface rust on the 7 of the cylinders that I can see. What might be the best case scenario with regards to the cylinders and a rebuild? I have already purchased the Crower rods. The kerosene that is there now in cylinders 2, 4, & 6 appears to be going down into their respective bores. The engine might have around 100K on it. As always, thanks in advance.
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Re: Bore/Hone? 365HP-327
Jack------
The best case scenario is that you'll be able to get by with a light honing, re-use existing pistons, and replace the rings. Second best is that you'll be able to get by with a light honing, new pistons and new rings.
However, with 100,000 miles on the engine, I'd gues that an overbore will be necessary. Not for sure, but likely. In any event, the only way to tell, for sure, is to get it down to a COMPETENT machine shop and FULLY communicate to them what you want to achieve. Make sure that you tell them ASSERTIVELY that you don't want the block decked in the rebuild process.
Tell them ASSERTIVELY that you do not want the engine ROUTINELY overbored, but you want it checked to see if that's necessary. IF it is necessary, then you want a MINIMUM overbore (i.e. +.020", which is, generally, the smallest overbore for which pistons are available).In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: Bore/Hone? 365HP-327
Jack,
If the block needs an overbore, in addition to Joe's suggestion, be sure that your machinist installs a torque plate on the decks prior to the overbore. This will insure a perfect circle at the top of the bores once the head bolts are properly torqued. Cylinders bored without a torque plate can see as much as .003" assymmetry in the upper cylinder as a result of installing the heads.
JoeComment
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for deckplating to work you need to use
the same type and make of head gaskets and head bolts that will be used for final assy to duplicate the stresses on the cylinder bore. for a street engine deck plating is not necessary as millions of SBC engines left the factory without this process and they ran for years. cylinder wall finish is more important to a good running engine. JMHOComment
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Re: for deckplating to work you need to use
Clem,
Okay, then a good machinist should do it that way, OR tell Jim what he uses so that Jim can duplicate the parts on reassembly. Cyl wall finish is paramount, and I understand that different material rings require different grit hones, too.
I don't have as much experience as you do with engine rebuilds, but if I had it to do over again, I certainly would have ponied up the extry bucks to have had the torque plate boring done.
Don't modern engines use this process? They are so finely "blueprinted" as compared to the sixties vintage engines, and infinitely more reliable. They use virtually NO oil, and have essentially NO blowby. I would think that the extra detail with the boring/honingwould not only provide better sealing, but probably also less friction losses, and thus, more power.
Are you saying that I'm "all wet"? Is the extra expense not worth the improvement?
JoeComment
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the newer engines with free standing cylinders
that is the ones that have no positive connection the the block deck surface use deck plates at the factory.i am not sure about all the rest. if you do do it make sure that it is done correctly as i posted above. some places deck plate hone with just short allen bolts to hold the deck plates but to get the correct stresses you need to use the correct length head bolts with spacers to be used with the long head bolts.Comment
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Re: the newer engines with free standing cylinders
Clem, that is absolutely logical, and I would expect that correlation without having to ask for it! Any machinist that would do otherwise is totally "right-brained" , with no understanding of the reasons for the process, who should be designing home interiors rather than blueprinting engine blocks.
I'm glad that you brought it up, though. It's always better to check the craftsman's skill before paying the bill.
JoeComment
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the problem is if the engine owner has no
idea what is correct he is still at the mercy of the engine buider. unless you are chasing NCRS points i would buy a crate engine for the corvette because you get a 3 year,36,000 mile warranty and no rebuild shop will give that.Comment
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