Chevelle winter projects
Moderators: MostMint, wxo, Fred32v, Basement Paul, ttamrettus
- ttamrettus
- Posts: 887
- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 6:59 pm
- Location: on the edge
- TireSmoker
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:45 pm
- Location: roaming the Matrix
- Contact:
Tragedy strikes
I went out to the garage this morning, after remembering that the Chevelle only had water in the cooling system. I opened the radiator and found some pretty solid feeling ice. I fired up my heater and went off to work.
When I got home, the heater had run out of kerosene. I refilled it, and took a trip to get more fuel.
After checking on it tonight, I found 2 popped freeze plugs -- looks like from the back of the motor. The yanking shall begin shortly. *sigh*
-Dave
When I got home, the heater had run out of kerosene. I refilled it, and took a trip to get more fuel.
After checking on it tonight, I found 2 popped freeze plugs -- looks like from the back of the motor. The yanking shall begin shortly. *sigh*
-Dave
- TireSmoker
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:45 pm
- Location: roaming the Matrix
- Contact:
Well, 2 of them did. Of course, it didn't pop the front 2, which I could theoretically replace without pulling the engine...
I let my heater run all night. It was almost out of fuel when I went to the garage this morning. I put my little personal electric heater out there between the engine and radiator. I'll get more kerosene after work.
The amount of water on the floor this morning (compared to last night) seemed somewhat 'limited'. I'm taking this as a good sign that maybe the top plugs popped, and that everything else is still water tight. I have not pulled the dipstick yet.
-Dave
I let my heater run all night. It was almost out of fuel when I went to the garage this morning. I put my little personal electric heater out there between the engine and radiator. I'll get more kerosene after work.
The amount of water on the floor this morning (compared to last night) seemed somewhat 'limited'. I'm taking this as a good sign that maybe the top plugs popped, and that everything else is still water tight. I have not pulled the dipstick yet.
-Dave
- TireSmoker
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:45 pm
- Location: roaming the Matrix
- Contact:
Well, I made the most of the good weather today. I pulled the engine out of the Chevelle. It turns out it popped the two freeze plugs right in the middle of the block. These are the 'third' freeze plugs that easily identifies a 4-bolt 400 block.
There aren't any cracks around either hole. I'm going to put two freeze plugs in and put it back into the car.
-Dave
There aren't any cracks around either hole. I'm going to put two freeze plugs in and put it back into the car.
-Dave
Good Plan
Putting that small block back in is a good plan. It's worth the small risk. Ultimately your only risking an install and removal. If there is something wrong you'll find out pretty quick. I might even bet a double cheeseburger that everything is A OK. May the CAR God be with you.
Fred32v
GMC Canyon Crew Cab Short Box 4x4 V6!
GMC Canyon Crew Cab Short Box 4x4 V6!
- TireSmoker
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:45 pm
- Location: roaming the Matrix
- Contact:
I put in a few words to the 'Iron Block Gods' in reference to your situation.
=================
"May the Blessed God of almighty acceleration be with you" - I recall that line, or something close to that, from the Blues Brothers movie. I believe a large Mopar B body, was involved, doing all sorts of stunts.
I know, unrelated.
=================
"May the Blessed God of almighty acceleration be with you" - I recall that line, or something close to that, from the Blues Brothers movie. I believe a large Mopar B body, was involved, doing all sorts of stunts.
I know, unrelated.
-Mark
2012 Impala LT 3.6 VVTDI
300hp - a bit much for FWD!
2012 Impala LT 3.6 VVTDI
300hp - a bit much for FWD!
- TireSmoker
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:45 pm
- Location: roaming the Matrix
- Contact:
New freezeplugs are installed. I'll hopefully be setting the engine back in later today. I've decided it'll just be easier to drop the engine in, hook up/fill the cooling system, and then pressure check it. That way, I'll know if there is damage to the heater core, too. My neighbor across the street (aka- Top Jimmy) has a cooling system pressure checker that I borrowed.
-Dave
-Dave
- TireSmoker
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:45 pm
- Location: roaming the Matrix
- Contact:
Beautiful day for a floating holiday
With a forecast of sunny/70F, I decided it was a perfect day to use a floating holiday.
The engine is back in the car. I only installed two bellhousing bolts, and then hooked up/filled the cooling system. I can pump it up to the 15-17 psi range and it holds, for the most part. It will drop what is probably 1-3 psi over about 30 minutes. I had drained the oil before putting the engine back in, and so far I'm not seeing any water on the dipstick. I was getting some minor leakage from the water pump initially, but I think it was from dry seals/gaskets. It has since stopped. I had the same thing near the heater core -- some initial wetness, but has now stopped.
I think I've dodged a bullet at this point. I'll start to bolt everything together this week and shoot for a St. Patrick's day startup.
-Dave
The engine is back in the car. I only installed two bellhousing bolts, and then hooked up/filled the cooling system. I can pump it up to the 15-17 psi range and it holds, for the most part. It will drop what is probably 1-3 psi over about 30 minutes. I had drained the oil before putting the engine back in, and so far I'm not seeing any water on the dipstick. I was getting some minor leakage from the water pump initially, but I think it was from dry seals/gaskets. It has since stopped. I had the same thing near the heater core -- some initial wetness, but has now stopped.
I think I've dodged a bullet at this point. I'll start to bolt everything together this week and shoot for a St. Patrick's day startup.
-Dave
- TireSmoker
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:45 pm
- Location: roaming the Matrix
- Contact:
- TireSmoker
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:45 pm
- Location: roaming the Matrix
- Contact:
Spent an hour in the garage tonight. Re-routed the oil pressure line so it comes out the same hole in the firewall as everything else (cleaner install), but need a ferrel so that I can shorten the line. It was pouring rain and I didn't wanna go to Murray's. That prevented me from putting the distributor cap and plenum back on.
I wasn't in the mood to do the underneath stuff (torque converter, headers, exhaust). Maybe Tomorrow.
-Dave
I wasn't in the mood to do the underneath stuff (torque converter, headers, exhaust). Maybe Tomorrow.
-Dave
Sounds promising so far.
Don't forget that the water will sink to the bottom of the pan. So rather than check the dipstick, see what comes out of the drain plug.
When my 327 broke, I poured a gallon of water into it (foolish me thought it was just a head gasket) and it all went to the bottom of the pan. The water was the first thing to come out when I opened the drain plug.
Don't forget that the water will sink to the bottom of the pan. So rather than check the dipstick, see what comes out of the drain plug.
When my 327 broke, I poured a gallon of water into it (foolish me thought it was just a head gasket) and it all went to the bottom of the pan. The water was the first thing to come out when I opened the drain plug.
[quote="Basement Paul"]Is that a mint rocketship on the hood?? :shock:
-BP[/quote]
-BP[/quote]
- TireSmoker
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:45 pm
- Location: roaming the Matrix
- Contact: