It started with a BANG . . . Redux

av8 · February 08, 2005, 08:15:50 PM

The steel fire-ring broke and the gasket eroded into a coolant passage.

The valves appear to be in excellent shape, as are the bores . . . just an ever-so-slight ridge. Surprisingly little carbon deposited on the pistons, valves, and combustion chambers.

I'm going to clean it up, blow out the crumbs, install a fresh gasket, and he will be ready to go . . . right after an oil change and some fresh coolant.

kb426 · February 08, 2005, 09:08:28 PM

Congratulations! Thats' the lesser of the evils lurking within.

Fat Cat · February 08, 2005, 09:24:18 PM

good deal Mike. I am glad for you that it was nothing big.

Sean · February 08, 2005, 10:05:07 PM

Glad to see thats all it was. Better go buy a lottery ticket...

Crosley.In.AZ · February 08, 2005, 10:16:17 PM

so far it looks like an easy repair.

check for cracks.

slocrow · February 08, 2005, 10:27:54 PM

Looks like it was starting on the other side too. To burn through, that is. Don't know flatty's so I can't suggest a solution. I'd investigate........Frank

Roadstar · February 08, 2005, 11:18:54 PM

Glad to hear it wasn't too serious. IT's funny how we will always think the worst, and when it something not so bad it is such a relief.

parklane · February 08, 2005, 11:57:23 PM

Good to hear that it was nothing too serious,

as others have said, check as to why it happened. Hope prestone didn't get down into the oil, as it does not agree with con rod and main bearings
John

Bruce Dorsi · February 09, 2005, 12:12:48 AM

OK, I'll bite! --- So, what caused the BANG?

....hydraulic lock?

....the gasket does not appear to be open to the adjacent cylinder, allowing a cross-fire.

I'm glad to hear things were not more serious.

...Please buy a lottery ticket for me, as well.

av8 · February 09, 2005, 11:01:16 AM

Quote from: "Bruce Dorsi"OK, I'll bite! --- So, what caused the BANG?

....hydraulic lock?

....the gasket does not appear to be open to the adjacent cylinder, allowing a cross-fire.

I'm glad to hear things were not more serious.

...Please buy a lottery ticket for me, as well.

The BANG was mechanical rather than an explosion, the sort of hit you hear with an incorrectly aligned Chevy starter. Best I can figure is that it was a touch of hydraulic shock from coolant that had leaked into the cylinder while I was gassing up. The great cloud of white smoke that followed me home was a combination of water and glycol.

I've got my Super Lotto ticket sitting right here on my computer console.

Charlie Chops 1940 · February 09, 2005, 12:38:07 PM

Sounds like it's gonna be good to go. Coax a few thousand nore miles out of her before the Chevy goes in - LOL.

Charlie

purplepickup · February 09, 2005, 01:48:43 PM

Mike, if that mechanical bang was caused by a form of hydro lock you might want to check to make sure all your pistons travel as high as they are supposed to. The last time I heard a noise similar to that I bent a rod due to rain water getting into #7 cyl on a SBC thru the carb. It made a sort of clink or clank/bang sound.

manyolkars · February 10, 2005, 06:25:26 PM

It may have been a headbolt that lost torque. Torque the headbolt repeatedly until it stays torqued

av8 · February 10, 2005, 08:37:57 PM

Quote from: "purplepickup"Mike, if that mechanical bang was caused by a form of hydro lock you might want to check to make sure all your pistons travel as high as they are supposed to. . .

That thought crossed my mind, George. I just finished ckecking it and it's okay, although in the process I discovered that things are not what they are supposed to be. The fellow I bought the truck from said the engine was the original -- as far as he knew. The original and long-term owner (independent garage owner/operator) has gone to his reward so I can't ask him, but it appears sometime over the years the old fellow slipped a Mercury shortblock into it; it has a 4-inch stroke!

That might explain why it's such a strong runner. . .

Crosley.In.AZ · February 10, 2005, 11:15:59 PM

Quote from: "av8"
That thought crossed my mind, George. I just finished ckecking it and it's okay, although in the process I discovered that things are not what they are supposed to be. The fellow I bought the truck from said the engine was the original -- as far as he knew. The original and long-term owner (independent garage owner/operator) has gone to his reward so I can't ask him, but it appears sometime over the years the old fellow slipped a Mercury shortblock into it; it has a 4-inch stroke!

That might explain why it's such a strong runner. . .

4 inch stroke. mayb punch the muther out a .100 or so?