What im thinking, just happy that I can salvage what I can, timing cover, valve covers, water pump housing, rockers, pulleys, brackets, motor mount brackets, alternator, distributor drive gear, yada yada. I think i pulled away over 300$ worth of big block accessories at least. At least compared to what i could buy new, just needs soaked and painted. Just amazes me how the outside looked as nice as a complete engine that sat for 10 years can be, yet the pistons are THIS STUCK. Maybe its a sign to get a 440 after all haha, this time I'll go with a BARE block to not have to do this mess again. Not like im using anything else.
I know it sounds crazy, but I have used coke cola as a soak many times with stuck pistons. It has always broken loose for me. I don't know why but I think the coke tales care of stuck rings to bore, but as I said, it has worked probably a half dozen times for me
Yeah, its going, sometimes it's tough but I'm trying to make it work. I mean, its what it is as far as money goes and what I can do with it. Not calling anyone out specifically, but its annoying though hearing people repeatedly trying to convince me how stuff that is undoubtedly nice is "what I need". Especially with roller cams. People here are generally not totally against flat tappet, but most people I meet in person are adamant about going full roller. They also are a lot of times adamant about h beam and lightweight pistons like Diamonds and roller rockers. If I followed their advice, hell I'd never have a engine built damn it. I know its a "better" way to do things but is it necessary? I dont make enough to build my car how i would like to as it is, adding more cost isn't possible.
I detailed in another post why anything aside from another 340 won't work for me, a 360 won't cut it for parental reasons, long story short. The small block I have is numbers matching, I don't want to even really chance losing the value if it kills itself
F#%k roller cams. If you read here long enough there are plenty of failures there as well. On the cheap get a good name brand hydraulic flat tappet, recommended valve springs, double roller timing chain and break-in oil. Don’t go snake oil break-in additives. And you don’t need them H-beam rods factory Chrysler rods are forged and probably better than the chinamen sell. Get a quality piston with the tallest compression height you can find. I hope you get the pistons out and the block is serviceable. Get a valve job on them iron heads, steel shim head gaskets, a gasket set. Put it together and enjoy it. Remember it doesnt need to be the fastest or prettiest just drive it and enjoy it.
Thanks for the advice man, best of luck with your builds too
Yeah those iron heads are done i think. Valve seats? There's only memories of those left on one of the chambers, not to mention one of the exterior bolt holes is cracked. Its hairline, and it doesnt go inside the head. Don't know if that's something that'll be catastrophic. Only reason i even have half of a slight hope for it is that the crack isnt near the inside of the head
Honestly not bad at all, the lifters kept the bores safe, and I was able to just pop em out. Its weird, you wouldn't expect such a fight from the pistons with everything else that is nice and fine
Sounds good, did it just sit with water in the cylinders?
I dont even think it sat with water, I think it just didnt have the plugs in and got moisture in it
This is a process I wouldn't normally recommend, but I had your scenario to deal with on a frozen 273 a few years ago. I got the engine in a parts lot and had zero interest in using it. It was massively frozen and I decided to give it a go just for educational purposes - it was going to the scrapper one way or another.
I dunno if this is even gonna work, as the rotational force might not be enough. Remember, I used a 12lb sledge and a chinese long extension and just popped the top off the pistons. I haven't messed with it in a while, but I think im gonna either buy a torch or get a friend to bring one and im gonna cut out the rods, then use a 4x4 and a sledge.
