SBC 350 for the 58 Willys
So I am working on bringing a 78 SBC350 back to functional life. It is the classic 'was running when pulled' and supposedly only has 12k miles on it after a rebuild - how much of a rebuild, I don't know. I would generally consider any engine I couldn't hear and see running as a rebuild core, and that may be what this one is. But I know the seller as they have helped me out with my cj5 quite a bit, and so I paid a bit more than core with the idea that this should not need a full, machine shop rebuild, but rather, a minimal disassembly with cleaning, near seals and gaskets, and get it back running mostly as is....I also got a rotating engine stand, floor engine stand/cradle, alternator mount, shorty block hugging headers, and probably a useless late generation Q-jet carb saddled with emissions and EGR stuff....so, maybe I basically paid core price....
[IMG]https://www.beamingpix.com/images/2020/09/26/PXL_20200926_235839046.jpg[/IMG]
So I pulled the valve covers, and it was a bit sludgy, and more concerning was having trouble getting oil to flow up the pushrods and onto the rockers....But in theory, that should be taken care of with some cleaning etc.
Next up - pulled the intake and heads, and found a lot of hard carbon build-up on the combustion side of the valves:
[IMG]https://www.beamingpix.com/images/2020/10/08/PXL_20201008_182405799.jpg[/IMG]
That lead to enough concern to pull the valves (disassembly of the heads was not in the original plan, but getting new valve seals can happen now), and finding more carbon build up. This stuff is not so easy to clean off, and not sure how 'aggressive' I can be with mechanical cleaning, abrasives, etc?
[IMG]https://www.beamingpix.com/images/2020/10/09/PXL_20201009_225139925.jpg[/IMG]
For those of you familiar with old SBCs - how salvageable is this with just some cleaning and putting back together? Or am I beginning to see a valve job from a machine shop?
Still have to drop the pan and take a look at the bottom end.
Re: SBC 350 for the 58 Willys
They are permanent...both the oring and umbrella style seals help control the flow of oil that lubricates the valve stem movement in the valve guide hole. A little oil needs to seep down the valve stem, but its then either sucked through the intake valve and combusted, or partially burned and carried out with the exhaust outflow. Both seals are above the valve guides in the top of the head and thus are not directly exposed to intake and exhaust gasses.
Re: SBC 350 for the 58 Willys
[COLOR=#141414][FONT=Tahoma]So the question now...what are the next steps? Time to work on the block and bottom end.....I pulled the oil pan, timing cover etc....[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#141414][FONT=Tahoma]It is only a 2 bolt main - based on the casting number it had a chance to be a 4 bolt main - not that I am going to be hot-rodding this engine and don't have any need for the extra strength per se:[/FONT][/COLOR]
[IMG]https://www.beamingpix.com/images/2020/10/28/PXL_20201029_025155039.jpg[/IMG]
[COLOR=#141414][FONT=Tahoma]I am thinking I should pull the main bearing caps and take a look?....if those look ok, then leave the crank in place as well as the connecting rod, pistons etc...I'd like to replace the RMS of course....What to do with the oil pump - probably replace it? Some have suggested I use plastiguage to check clearances on the main and rod bearings....mmmm, not sure I want to go that far if the surfaces look ok - TBD.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#141414][FONT=Tahoma]Here is the timing chain....Its the plastic/nylon coated gear teeth[/FONT][/COLOR]:frown:[IMG]http://earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?media/10.2792/full[/IMG][COLOR=#141414][FONT=Tahoma]...I guess my first thought was that it seems too loose, and will likely be replacing the entire timing set (quite cheap, so no reason not to).[/FONT][/COLOR]
[IMG]https://www.beamingpix.com/images/2020/10/28/PXL_20201029_025023959.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]https://www.beamingpix.com/images/2020/10/28/PXL_20201029_025114332.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]https://www.beamingpix.com/images/2020/10/28/PXL_20201029_025054052.jpg[/IMG]
[COLOR=#141414][FONT=Tahoma]No current intention to pulll the camshaft at this point, but I will inspect the lifters to see how much wear they show....I'd like to start degreasing and cleaning a bunch of the block, but am concerned about using the typical harsh cleaners with the camshaft and camshaft bearings in place?[/FONT][/COLOR]
Re: SBC 350 for the 58 Willys
[COLOR=#141414][FONT=Tahoma]Got all the lifters out - that was little bit more of a pain than I expected....the bottoms were not mushroomed or anything (although at first I was worried) - just needed quite a lot of penetrating oil to free stuff up. The shape of the bottom of the lifters seems very nice - most seem like they haven't seen much wear at all. There are a couple that might be concerning as there is some corrosion on the bottom of the lifter - better to replace or leave as is?[/FONT][/COLOR]
[IMG]https://www.beamingpix.com/images/2020/10/29/PXL_20201029_235355511.jpg[/IMG]
[COLOR=#141414][FONT=Tahoma]the bottom of #2 exhaust is the one that is most concerning....the dark is corrosion into the polished/chrome coating....[/FONT][/COLOR]
[IMG]https://www.beamingpix.com/images/2020/10/29/PXL_20201029_235418375.jpg[/IMG]
Re: SBC 350 for the 58 Willys
[quote=FINOCJ;339740]the bottom of #2 exhaust is the one that is most concerning....the dark is corrosion into the polished/chrome coating....[/quote]
...and they're supposed to slowly rotate at each cycle, yes? If yes, this one isn't rotating.
Re: SBC 350 for the 58 Willys
Hmmmm....didn't check that before pulling. Maybe I should put back in and check. The lifters were pretty gunked up in their bores and not free to rotate....wondering if the wear you see is from the recent turning it over by hand during the various testing and what not. Clean out bores and reinstall and check for rotation....would help identify if there is an issue with cam.