Latest Lost Cause Project: 1979 Z28

[Midnightmoon]

I didn't realize y'all sold glass too. I need to remember to get some damn catalogs, lol.

@Midnightmoon what do you mean by "wasn't fully installed"?

Fuse box was mounted and only a few runs made. Previous owner died during restoration. So, we had to finish making the runs and connections about 90% finished now.

 

[Midnightmoon]

Finally got around to getting a picture of the cowl tag. If my decoading skills are correct, legit Z28 built the first week of May 1979. Black exterior and Red deluxe cloth buckets.

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[Midnightmoon]

Culprit for the no shift issues.

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[Midnightmoon]

B&M Quicksilver

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[Ricko1966]

Yes. But doesn't seem to be in the oil.

They don't always swap with the oil,you can have a coolant passage only open to the combustion chamber. They also don't always fail a hydrocarbon test. Actually I wouldn't even waste time on a combustion gas test on this one. Take the plugs out and look at them,disable the ignition,pressurize the cooling system,crank the engine over at least one cylinder is going to spray water when you crank it,pull the heads pay extra attention to that cylinder looking for bad spots in the head gasket,cracks in the cylinder walls,cracks in the head.

 

[Ricko1966]

Also if you don't have a coolant system pressure tester and don't want one for the future. I have a couple of work around. Most simple is cut a bicycle innertube,use the cut tube to replace the upper radiator hose. Inflate it with a bicycle pump.

 

[Midnightmoon]

Finished up the shifter install today and replaced a damaged transmission mount. Car now moves under it's own power and shifts through the gears.

Fun begins tomorrow. Pulling the top off the engine to see what we are working with.

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[Midnightmoon]

Well ladies and gentlemen, we found the problem. This is the #8 cylinder. Helicoil in the block either not installed correctly from the beginning or it pulled through. If you look in the picture, it is sitting above the block surface. Head was never properly seated on the gasket.

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[Midnightmoon]

Really kind of a shame too. Looks to have been a virgin block with all new internals. Standard Bore still stamped on the pistons. Everything on the top end looked to be in great shape.

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[Radiohead]

Don't clutter it up with a "CB" antenna mate. If you know what I mean

 

[bucket]

Really kind of a shame too. Looks to have been a virgin block with all new internals. Standard Bore still stamped on the pistons. Everything on the top end looked to be in great shape.

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Maybe 15 years ago, we had a regular customer at work with a late model Toyota Camry 4cyl, it had a seriously blown head gasket due to head bolts pulling out of the block. I pulled the head and a local machinist came and properly rethreaded all the head bolt holes with the block still in the car.

Maybe there is someone local to you that is willing to do the same? It'd be a shame to scrap a good block just because of one bolt hole.

 

[Midnightmoon]

Maybe 15 years ago, we had a regular customer at work with a late model Toyota Camry 4cyl, it had a seriously blown head gasket due to head bolts pulling out of the block. I pulled the head and a local machinist came and properly rethreaded all the head bolt holes with the block still in the car.

Maybe there is someone local to you that is willing to do the same? It'd be a shame to scrap a good block just because of one bolt hole.

I'm calling around already to see who can do what and what their thoughts are. I'm getting a lot of "Ugh" responses when I send them the block pictures.

One of the machine shops that I just talked to (and they don't want anything to do with the repair) suggested taking one of the short bottom row bolts, creating a bridge with a bunch of washers and seeing if the coil will take the torque. If it does, flap wheeling the coil flush with the block and try the process again. If it holds, "bolt it together with a fresh gasket and pray". I kid you not. That's exactly what they said. I don't know if he was half joking or not. Seems like a complete long shot, but that's legit the only actual suggestion anyone has given me to this point.

Keep in mind that I do have an LS on a pallet as another option if we run out of ideas with this small block.

 

[Midnightmoon]

One more thing while I'm thinking about it, take a look at the head pic I posted. I didn't notice this until I was looking at the pictures right now. It looks to me that the raised heilcoil scored an almost perfect circle in the head around that bolt hole, almost in to the sealing ring area of the gasket around the cylinder. The head is down at the shop right now so I can't look again in person, but I definitely want to take a closer look at that thing.

 

[bucket]

One more thing while I'm thinking about it, take a look at the head pic I posted. I didn't notice this until I was looking at the pictures right now. It looks to me that the raised heilcoil scored an almost perfect circle in the head around that bolt hole, almost in to the sealing ring area of the gasket around the cylinder. The head is down at the shop right now so I can't look again in person, but I definitely want to take a closer look at that thing.

Yeah, I see that now. You'd have to be careful with gasket selection.

What heads are those again?

 

[Midnightmoon]

Yeah, I see that now. You'd have to be careful with gasket selection.

What heads are those again?

Some cheap low buck "Patriot" heads.

Here's an article with about as much information as I've been able to find on them.

Patriot Aluminum Heads 64cc - Dirt Cheap Aluminum Heads From Patriot

Check out if these new pair of 64cc heads from Patriot could be best for your muscle car. - Car Craft Magazine

www.hotrod.com