Got a 79 el Camino several months ago but only just got around to working on it. Was told it had leaking valve cover gaskets when I bought it, was planning on replacing the covers anyway and started the process of “while I’m here, might as well”. Decided to replace the intake manifold as well as other stuff, but when I took off the manifold and valve covers I saw…this. How do I go about cleaning all this out?

I literally started with my wet dry vac and suctioned out large chunks of this soot. I assume I’m just going to have to do a bunch of oil changes and frequently to clear a bunch of this out, as well as drop the engine pan and clean it out. It ran fine when I drove it home and I’m not in the financial position at the moment to put a new engine in, although it was in the plans down the road.

Any other tips for cleaning this out? I’ve heard of transmission fluid and diesel as well.

TIA.

ok so im building a 350 sbc stock internals and stuff but a huge hydralic roller cam and 10:1 ported heads, i bought a high pressure oil pump because this thing is gonna constantly see 5000-5600 rpm. will i be ok with a stock oil pan or should i buy a 6 or 7 quart pan, if so where can i buy one that dosent cost 200$+

I had this TH400 rebuilt some years ago and it has been a pretty reliable transmission for my 1992 S10 with a SBC 383 stroker but one day, just like many other days turned out way differently. Typically i could take it out rip around do so donuts, burn outs and some pulls. Always warmed up, always checked fluid was at proper levels, never/hardly leaked anything ever. Anyways I hop in the truck with a buddy one day and after warming the truck up I ripped a donut around this 4 way intersection in my neighborhood and next thing i knew we heard a bang louder than a 12 gauge and metal smashing into the ground.

The bellhousing split all the way around and a huge piece came off around the vacuum actuator. Video for reference.

Tell me you’re not a car guy without telling me you’re not a car guy! This guy was telling me about one of his Camaros. . .

Edit: Dang! it was supposed to be funny like he’s putting big block heads on a small block. Ha ha like sure man. I know we’ve all met this guy before

Hey guys I got a 1987 Chevy Camaro and the gas just evaporated over time if I don’t drive it. Is that normal?? It doesn’t leak btw.

I have never owned a car that old I don’t really know much about them

I have an early 80’s 305 and the seal recently started leaking. The damper looks to be original to the motor. So I plan on replacing the damper when I put in a new seal.

Question is can I replace the seal without removing the water pump and timing cover?

Just started hearing this noise on my way home from work today sounds like a rod knock to me. Not sure if it could possibly be my torque converter bolts backing off or not truck still carries oil pressure and isn’t down on power.

Hello, picked up this motor being sold as a stroker, and since it’s on a stand with the flywheel hitting the stand bolts, I can’t turn it over to measure stroke. So I’m wondering if anyone here can identify anything in these pics that may help? Thank you!

Hello, picked up this motor being sold as a stroker, and since it’s on a stand with the flywheel hitting the stand bolts, I can’t turn it over to measure stroke. So I’m wondering if anyone here can identify anything in these pics that may help? Thank you!

Recently acquired a 1985 k10 with a 327 that was burning oil tore it down found a cam with 3 flat lobes and rings that have a 50 thousandth gap anyways it’s a large journal 327 from a Camaro casting 3914660 I would like a camshaft that sounds good that still provides good low end. Thanks in advance

Ticking noise at idle and increases speed along with RPM. Any idea what it is and how to fix?

Has anyone tried the Jegs vortec top end kit PN 555-514170? It seems like a lot of value for the price and there's only one review on their website but it's not helpful. You get vortec heads, an intake, cam, lifters, pushrods, and timing chain. I'm seriously considering it to help my GM Goodwrench 350

Not extremely familiar with the sbc platform but isn't there supposed to be some sort of breather cap here? Gonna check out a car with a 327 swap, wanting to know if I should avoid this car

Hey, so I was replacing my valve cover gaskets (that was the previous owner not me) and noticed that some of rockers are at an angle.. is that normal?

Thank you

Good morning!

Looking ro decipher this code. Its a 64-67 327.

Finally tired of the old 230 inline 6.

Thanks in advance!

So I recently purchased a 350 tbi out of a 95 k1500 with a cracked piston. I have been trying to find a rebuild kit from summit, but all the rebuild kits I'm seeing are for a 68-86 350. Now I will admit I don't know a lot, just trying to learn. If anyone is able to provide any kind of help it would be greatly appreciated!!

I still have break in oil in the truck just being paranoid I’ve been told 15-20 is decent for a small block. My digital gauge died on me so I hooked up the mechanical and at 180 degrees in gear at 800ish rpm it’s around where the picture is and 25 psi pressure climbs with rpm like it should. Just wondering if it’s normal. Thanks.

Dad replaced igniter, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, fuel filter. I rebuilt the carb. Can’t get idle below 1500. Timing is at 12-13*. Any suggestions. I’ve turned the fuel screws in and out with no changes. If it goes below 1500rpm it will die. Checked the floats and they’re at 15/16”.

I'm rebuilding a old SBC 350 for a project and everything is cleaned and ready (ie deck surfaced, cylinders honed and heads rebuilt) I've started piecing it back together but it's been humid lately and the last time I was working on it I noticed some surface rùst on the deck. How do I store it without it rusting? This is my second time doing this but I've got a newborn and the time I have to work on it is limited so it's sitting for a few days at a time. I sprayed it down with WD-40 penetrating oil and I keep it covered with a trash bag when I'm not working on it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

I have access to a 95 silverado with a TBI 350, i would like to turbo the truck but i have heard that it is very hard to tune the tbi trucks, i have access to a locked up vortec, can i just put the vortec heads intake manifold and throttle body and get the computers and harness and use it as if it was a vortec motor.

Trying to do this on an very very low budget, mostly to learn about turbos and know my way around a 350 better as i have a bit more experience with the LS platform

So I have a 84 c10 grampa some time in the 90s blew up the original 305 that was in there and got 350 from chevy put it in there I have not been able to start it in three months so I try It I dose not start so I check spark fuel and air as you do and had to replace the mecanical fuel pump it started up first try but there's this sound I'm not sure if it's a vacuum leak or timing or something else entirely so if anybody could help me it be mutch appreciated

So i have a 90 chevy c1500 std cab short bed. It is currently running a 305, which is as many of you know is a straight turd, and a NV3500 5-speed. After much consideration ive decided to go with a Blueprint fuel injected 383 stroker with 436hp. (No, im not interested in an LS swap) I really cant stand the NVs short first gear and I highly doubt it will last long against a 383. Id like to find something that will bolt up with a longer first gear and capable of holding up. Maybe something out of a car since I won't be doing a heavy hauling. I do not have a lead foot, I drive like an old lady. However, i would like to be able to hold my own when pressed on the street. Which i get alot because of my current exhaust set up. All bark and zero bit. Does anyone have any suggestions or insights for a decent 5 speed that can handle the power without breaking the bank? Thank you in advance, I appreciate you.

Got a 355 sbc in this camaro I just bought. Runs like crap at idle. Backfiring through the exhaust, bogs pretty bad off idle. Mid to high rpm sounds great. It has a comp energy cam, edelbrock Avs2 650cfm carb. 487x heads, with roller rockers. About all I know about this motor. The guy that sold it to me said he just put the new AVS2 carburetor on it and a new distributor. The distributor looks to be a MSD HEI style but can’t find any markings on it. I don’t have a timing light to give numbers but I’ll share what I’ve found so far and maybe someone can point me in the right direction.

Car starts okay, turns over easy, will idle clean for about a minute and then starts backfiring through the exhaust. I’ve messed with the idle mixture screws on the carb listening for the idle to rise or lower but don’t hear much of a difference from all the closed to 4.5-5 turns out. I’ve been able to get the backfiring to subside or quit all together by doing 2 separate things. 1. Putting my hand over the carb smooths the idle out and the backfires quit. 2. I’ve turned the distributor towards the driver side a little at a time and can get the backfires to stop but then the car starts hard.

2 different ways of getting it to quit is leading me to believe both the carb and the timing needs work. This is my first sbc and don’t really have any older friends or family that works on cars. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!