Good afternoon,

I was informed by Master Tedd to come ask for advise.

Thanks Tedd,

I can only see that the top part of the lifter, where the pushrod sits is broken. I straightened the pushrod but it will not sit properly. Looks like an intake valve. Not sure? Also I turned the engine and it looks like the camshaft turns great but the pushrods are not opening the valves all the way. The heads are coming off Sat and I will post pics (I think I can figure out how.)

 

Just a shot in the dark, but a hydraulic lifter may have collapsed and let the push rod get out of the socket causing it to get bent and probably the reason the push rods aren't opening the valves all the way is because they aren't pumped up as yet (no oil pressure). Are both banks doing the same thing?...Tedd

 

Well i took off the head and this is what i discovered. I have been told to take heads to shop and replace piston ?

 

How does this happen? No piston head at all. Also no valve.

 

Not good, the head of that valve is there some where strung through out the engine.That must have made a serious noise when it gave it up, how bad is the cylinder wall chewed up, can it be saved? The head may be salvageable with a new valve seat unless there is more damage than what I can see from the pictures but all in all it might be time to look for another 371, sorry to see that....Tedd

 

Where are you located Jason? Wouldn't be NY would you? SI maybe?

 

I am in OntaRIO, CA. I AM GOING TO. DRO THE OILPAN BUT MY QUESTION IS THIS? Where is the piston head? I guess this guy had opened the engine before. So engine replacement? Or can i just put newpiston in and get heads done? The walls of the piston are in good condition.

 

That is usually catastrophic, otherwise known as "digested a valve". I recommend a complete rebuild and hope block crank and head is salvageable... The complete valve dropped into the cylinder and thru process destroyed the piston. It will all be in the oil pan...

 

The piston and the valve top spent a bunch of RPM's together grinding each other to bits, you can tell by the valve next to it, it's almost polished clean. Just for sh&# and giggles you might drop the oil and see if you find your missing parts, some went out the exhaust probably the rest are hiding somewhere in the engine......Tedd

PS I know where a runner 324 and jetaway are stored, complete except carburetor. If you get stuck and can't get what you have going it's a option to think about. It would bolt up the same and with a little gold paint most would not know the difference...Just a thought ...Tedd

 

I would love to know how much and where 324 is, thanks tedd,

 

It will be Monday before I can check it out if he is there (its in a old wrecking yard in Chico)I was told it was a runner about a year ago and the owner would fire it up on the ground and show me it ran. Just a quick observation I noticed it had number 8 heads which are 1955 and a jetaway transmission which is late 56 57,so parts have been swapped around on this beast. It's been stored in an old van for some time and kept dry so you don't know it may be OK. I'll try and get a price if It's still there.....Tedd

PS. do you think you would travel that far to pick it up.It's 100 miles above Sacramento?

 

Checked out the engine as explained above and everything was as I remembered except it was in more of a bitch of a place to get to than I remembered. When I removed a cover that was taped to the intake I could see some rust in the intake, not a lot but enough to worry me . I couldn't turn it over by hand either. It will take more serious of an investigation to pronounce this engine fit enough to swap into a car as it sets now. If it is a runner owner wants $350 for just the engine. If you are interested I will have him squirt oil down the spark plug holes and see if it will free up, then we can work toward getting it out in the open where it could be started up, if not nothing lost, nothing gained..... Please advise...Tedd

 

Ive got any part you could need to fix that 371,Give me a call

Tony

 

Ok everyone, sorry for the delay in getting back here. Have had to work to get my car off the ground. Ok, so I have a few questions? These might be a little goober but I know you guys can help.

1. What engine size is the 88
2. I am in Ontario, CA. Where can I find someone to help me rebuild.
3. If I cannot rebuild what size engine can fit.

I would love to keep it original. But I do have an engine budget.

Tedd, thank you for looking and I would love to get that engine from you but I do not have a truck and making it up there would be really hard.

any help would be appreciated guys... You are wisdom above knowledge.

 

# 1 If original it's ( and I think it is)a 371 CI engine.
# 2 I can't help you there, I know nothing of the south end of the state.
# 3 Any Old's engine from 1949 to 1959, thats 303, 324,371, Is a drop in exchange, later engines will work 1960 to 1964 but will require a modest amount of adaption. Beyond that you will need a bunch of adaption and a different transmission, drive line setup, motor mounts, a different radiator will be needed and lots of other stuff. It all can be done, it just depends what you want to get out of what you have and the dollars available.

Have you taken your engine to a machine shop to see if it's rebuild able, that would be my first step, you may get lucky.....Tedd

 

Jason,

1.CI is a 371
2.I can help you with any part or complete you could need dopped to your door step for your 371......Its what I do for a living
3.57-58 371's are the only direct bolt in

49-59 are not a direct drop in........

49-53 303's use different exhaust and flywheels and trans
54-56 324 use different exhaust and flywheels ,trans yet again
Both are internally balanced engines

none of above is the same as 57-58 also a 371 crank assemblie is externally balanced all by itself so its not just bolt a flywheel on and go....not unless you want double vision

1959 different engine again....exhaust,deck height different,wider,differnt manifolds,balanced different, ect ect.....

Now can any of these things be alterd?...sure,but thats where a custom builder like myself comes in....you have to know the ins and outs of these powerplants...or they can give you fits.

Give me a call and Ill walk you through....and give you what I think are your best options for your budget.

Tony

 

Thank you very much.

Well I have a budget of $1100 and was looking to see what I can. If I have to wait then I will have to wait. All of you guys are very helpful.

 

Is he in Ontario CAnada, or in Ontario CAlifornia??

 

I am in Ontario, CA. In San Bernardino County..... I was hoping not to change the engine but my option for now, I am assuming, is to find an engine I can put in her for now to get her rolling and rebuild the original slowly.

Any other ideas would be appreciated.

 

Ok guys I am pulling my engine out and have acquired an olds 305 with transmission. I am planning on installing that and calling Tony to acquire the parts to rebuild the original engine and reinstall. any advise before I start on the job?

Tony,

Do you sell the rebuild kit with pistons?

 

Oh god. I'm shaking my head already

 

59-59-59.... I know this is not what I wanted to do. I am rebuilding the original 371 and will re-install. I just want to do it slowly. I need to be able to drive the car for paint and for upholstery. I figure I can rebuild it in about a year. then reinstall.

 

 

You missed it. Since when did olds make a 305?

 

If you are going to go that far, I would find an OLDS 350 to transplant and leave it. What you are in for is a lot of work and for me personally I would make it permanent. They are cheap and very easy to find in our neck of the woods. I like my chevies but an olds rocket would be way sexier in there... And of all chevy motors, a stock 305 is going pretty anemic. Unless you're going to spend a bit of loot on it to wake it up you might as well get behind it and push... Just my 2 cents

 

For what its worth you can install a 455 in there with a turbo 400 easy peasy. I have this setup in my 57. Goes like stink and easy to maintain. Send me a pm with your e-mail address and I will send you a sent of plans and photos to show you the install. If you want to stay stock then do the rebuild now. In the end it will cost less the a take out then modify for a different drive train then undo the install and reinstall the original. Just my two cents.

 

They seldom go back to original once modified, if you are short on funds now doing it twice will be even more expensive. We will help you no mater what decision you make but think this through be fore jumping into something that you may regret.......Tedd