Hi all. Bought a used 68-69 olds 400ci big block cast# 396026 G with matching casting # C 394548 heads mounted on it today. Engine is mostly complete minus intake, carb & exhaust manifolds. The engine turns over & heads looked clean when I pulled the valve covers off of them. Only negative I saw was that the intake was missing & the engine had been sitting like that for some time. top off the motor looked a little dusty & dirty up there. I bought it in hopes to use it as is. My questions are as follows...

1) what kind of checks, maintenance & parts should be checked or replaced prior to installing the motor in the car? Other than metal shavings what should I look out for when I pull the pan?

2) I know about checking the crank bearing caps w/ plastigage but what other checks/measurements should be made?

3) How do I check the heads? What to look out for?

4) since ill have the motor on the stand. is it normal protocol to replace freeze plugs, timing chain & oil pump? Any other internal or external engine parts that I'm missing?

5) i checked the web but came up empty. even a step by step how to guide or online vid would be helpful.

I have access to a compression tester, micrometers, bore gauges & other measurement tools so I can pretty much do most internal checks

Thanks in advance. Sorry for all the questions but this is my 1st time doing this so I figured I'd ask the pros.

 

Your call, but I'd hesitate to use the engine as is since it had been stored without the intake.

1) If you can change the oil pump and timing chain. Try to clean things as much as you can without pulling the pistons if you are not ready to rebuild it. Look for little pieces of plastic in the oil pan. That can be from dried out old valve seals.

2) Without a full rebuild not sure what to check

3) It would be best to pull the heads, have them hot tanked and magnifluxed to check for cracks. But that's tearing things down quite a ways if you want to run it as is.

4) I didn't mention freeze plugs, but that's a good idea too while you have it on a stand.

5) There are a number of books out there. I like the one from wildaboutcars. I've got it in front of me and its called Engine Modification and Tuning Guide, Oldsmobile Division and its written by Bob Gerometta.

P.S. if the valve covers are good on your engine be careful with them. They should be the notched valve covers and are expensive to replace.

John

 

Maybe do a compression/leakdown test before pulling the heads - would tell you a lot about ring condition.

 

thanks guys. after further inspection i noticed its not as clean as i first thought so i'll be doing a complete tear down. i'll have the block & heads magnafluxed etc. i also noticed 3 broken bolts around the timing chain cover... who knows what else i might notice or what may fall out when i open her up... not too bummed only paid $100 for block, heads together... price included a free homemade pallet support thing it's sitting on.

 

Congrats on the price you paid. I hope the block and heads are OK. But it does sound likely you'll not be out any money on the deal


John