DC_Gearhead
Sr. Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2015
- Messages
- 563
So, I took my baby for it’s first drive around the block and realized I needed to take a look at the motor. It was running, so I prioritized my time to start with suspension, brakes, steering, body, etc. Well....now my trip around the block didn’t go that well...engine wise. On the positive side, everything else worked perfectly....I just didn’t have any power and it had a ticking sound coming from under the hood.
I did a compression test and noticed that 2 cylinders had 0 compression. The rest were right round 135. I figured the ticking was probably a valve hitting a piston, so I took off the heads to look. I was correct. Bent push rods and small rings in top of two pistons from the intake valves. I took them to a machine shop here in DC to take a look. After disassembly they said the guides, valves, a couple of valve seats, and springs all needed to be replaced. Apparently the springs were all at 70lbs when they were supposed to be 82+ for the installed height. Anyways, long story short, I am getting the heads rebuilt.
My question is this: Is there anything else I should do while I have the top end off the motor?
Current specs: ‘69 351w, C90E heads, HEI distributor, PS pump, cast exhaust manifolds, Elelbrock intake, 750 BP Holley, 302 RV cam and lifters.
I can’t check the rings, without installing the heads, so I am gambling that the compression issue is the heads. The heads being so bad, is probably because the motor sat assembled for 25 years before I started it, but I don’t know.
Any advice?
I did a compression test and noticed that 2 cylinders had 0 compression. The rest were right round 135. I figured the ticking was probably a valve hitting a piston, so I took off the heads to look. I was correct. Bent push rods and small rings in top of two pistons from the intake valves. I took them to a machine shop here in DC to take a look. After disassembly they said the guides, valves, a couple of valve seats, and springs all needed to be replaced. Apparently the springs were all at 70lbs when they were supposed to be 82+ for the installed height. Anyways, long story short, I am getting the heads rebuilt.
My question is this: Is there anything else I should do while I have the top end off the motor?
Current specs: ‘69 351w, C90E heads, HEI distributor, PS pump, cast exhaust manifolds, Elelbrock intake, 750 BP Holley, 302 RV cam and lifters.
I can’t check the rings, without installing the heads, so I am gambling that the compression issue is the heads. The heads being so bad, is probably because the motor sat assembled for 25 years before I started it, but I don’t know.
Any advice?