1963 Corvette

[wxo]

Before you pull the intake, is there any way to spray some brake cleaner in that area to dry it off, then run it for a while. Even if you have to use a mirror and a light, it might be worth it to eliminate the intake leak as the source before looking elsewhere.

[TireSmoker]

Yeah, Ive cleaned it a few times. The area it leaks from is towards the passenger side. Oil pressure sending line (copper) is clean and dry.

I bought the new distributor because it seemed to be in that area. It was also something i had recently fucked with, so it seemed more reasonable than an intake leak.

So its either leaking at the base of the distributor between it and the intake (round gasket) or back of the intake.

[TireSmoker]

Success, i think!

All distributor gaskets are not created equal! I put in a different from inventory that measured a little thicker than the one that came off. It was oil soaked. Seeing that made me not pull the intake.

I let it idle in the garage for a while to burp the cooling system. After a 4 mile test drive, everything still looks clean. Fingers crossed. Ill take it for a longer cruise tomorrow night.

[TireSmoker]

After too many years of an improper air cleaner setup under the hood, I finally started to do something about it. I built this engine in 2011 and used Vortec heads, because they are The Best factory heads made. I topped it with a Performer 2116 for Vortec heads, despite Edelbrock's catalog saying it wouldn't fit under the hood of a C2. They are correct. I had to use that stupid triangular little Edelbrock air cleaner. I've hated it since day 1.

With the demise of Paul's Corvette engine at Nelson Ledges earlier this year, he made me a good deal on the heads and roller-tip rockers. They had just been rebuilt before his bottom end failure, so they are in great shape. These are regular-intake-pattern heads, aluminum too. I did paint them Chevy Orange. I'm going for a more factory-ish or period-correct modified look.

I've got a sweet 60s vintage Edelbrock C4B intake to use with it. I had to put in some Helicoil repairs on the thermostat housing and one carb stud, but it looks great.

BUT -- the big surprise came when Speece and I pulled the valve covers and intake. We found milkshake looking oil. WTH??? It was still oily and we mopped it all up, but that was a bit of a shock. The engine had been running great. Before I started, I was lamenting taking apart a good running engine. But here we are...

After thinking about it a little, everything that could've been leaking water into the oil is already being replaced as part of this project. The combustion chambers and tops of the pistons all looked pretty uniform, which I took as a good sign.

The new heads use centerbolt valve covers, just like the Vortecs. I bought a set of adapters that will allow perimeter-bolt valve covers and will use a set of vintage Corvette script valve covers.

More to come....

[Blue_69_malibu]

Lookin good!

Did this motor really go in 14 years ago? Seems like five.....

[TireSmoker]

I am way behind here...

Speece came out one night and we did a bunch of work to the Edelbrock C4B intake. We heli-coiled the carb mounting holes and one of the thermostat holes. Annnnd then I figured out it wasn't going to work. The stock thermostat housing doesn't fit -- it hits the big runner right up front. And if you try something different, you end up interfering with the oil fill tube. The stock housing is in my hand. So the C4B is out.. it goes back on the shelf.

So my next plan was to get a '63 327/340hp intake. It will look correct, and I can fit an air cleaner. But these are kinda rare, 1-yr only intake. I shelled out $500 on ebay for a nice one. It had both heater hose fittings, a temp sender unit, a base gasket, a complete bolt kit -- it was so close to being 10/10. Except someone put 3/8" studs in for carb!! They're supposed to be 5/16". I was sooo mad. I reached out to the seller and he's agreed to work with me.
Today at lunch, I dropped it off at Michael's to have him repair it. I'll have it back next week.

Another fun fact I've learned on this job, early Chevy intakes could have the oil fill tube point to either passenger or driver's side. The Edelbrock goes to the drivers, as does the stock '63 327/250hp, while the '63 340hp goes to the passenger. And the oil fill tubes are different too, because of where the hose barb comes out.

To be continued...

[TireSmoker]

So Michael's was able to turn around fixing my carb stud holes in just a couple days, which was nice. I got it back the day before I left for Florida to be with Dad, so everything sat on hold.

The intake is bolted down and the carb fits as expected now. I bought a 14x2" air filter that allows the hood to close, although the drop-base air cleaner hits the Edelbrock carb's electric choke. I've heard of this issue before, so it wasn't a complete surprise. Allegedly, and Edelbrock 1221 air cleaner will fit. I *might* have one in the basement.

I got the exhaust manifolds on, but waiting till I can get the car back on the lift to bolt up the exhaust.

Another stupid thing -- with the Corvette script valve covers, I can't get a socket onto the valve covers nuts. I have to use an open-end wrench.

Not much left, I should be able to button it up for the most part this weekend.

[Blue_69_malibu]

I like it....all of it!!