Not sure if this one is a goner?
head gaskets looked good, no signs of leakage anywhere. Maybe the hood got left open? Heck I don't know.

 

Looks like a good candidate for new sleeves and the Chevy 305 pistons. Couple those with a Buick 300 crank and you get a 5.0 L displacement.

 

I like the way you think,
what do you suppose happened?

 

Likely the intake valve in that cylinder was open and water got in. Not unusual.

 

Looking at a grand for sleeves/pistons not including finding a 300 crank.
Probably going with the path of least resistance. (or coffee table )
Are 215 piston all the same? I only seem to find Buick pistons.

 

?

 

D&D says that Olds and Buford pistons are the same.

 

Got it to spin, after who knows how many years. Real unlikely the bores will clean up. Time will tell. Was surprised it, once freed, turns over by hand.
I'm afraid once the bores are cleaned up it'll be pitted with corrosion.
Having fun digging in. Still expecting shop art. Never know.
Soaked one bank with vinegar in the bores overnight then blasted them good with penetrating oil.
At first with my Snap-on flywheel tool it didn't budge then using the engine stand as leverage I used a big pry bar and gave it a small pry and it just went like nothing was ever seized up.

 

After some clean up I noticed this....


Coffee table? Looks like it could work but its pretty thin. I dunno?

 

See if a machinist can true the deck and overbore the cylinders. That damage in your last picture doesn't look too bad.

 

Thanks Olds64, what my concern is, the way the block has corroded at the water passage. Its less than half of what it was.


Bores will of course be an other issue.

 

No matter what direction I go with this engine, I need to clean it. So far I have used mild cleaners to get off the caked grease. Sprayed it with WD40
and scrubbed with toothbrush. Alloy wheel cleaner thoughts?

 

If you want to clean it with a powerful degreaser use oven cleaner instead of the engine cleaner you buy at the parts store. It's generally cheaper and works just as well.

Since that corrosion in your last picture is between the water jacket and the outside of your block I would think it should be ok. If it were between the water jacket and the cylinder I would be more worried.