randyfox Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Well, this was certainly not planned! The reason why there hasn't been any posts or threads about my 55 in a while is due to the fact I couldn't get it running. I thought it was the starter not being powerful enough. Then I thought maybe the timing was off. Then I thought I had a bad distributor cap. Then I noticed bad plug wires. The more I poked around, the more I found. First I pulled off the cap and found two green terminals. I cleaned those up with a bore brush (everyone in the Army should have one of those lying around!). While I was at it, I ordered the plug wires. With those installed and the cap back on there, I tried to fire it up. No luck. Not even close. I went back to my original thought: weak starter. Turns out the starter was powerful enough, a TCI high torque unit more than capable of turning that engine over. But it wasn't engaging the flexplate long enough and deep enough. Resulting in uneven wear on the starter gear and the flexplate. With those two parts replaced, I tried again. Fail. It seemed far more willing to turn over, but no luck. Time to take it a shop. I was out of ideas. Turns out there was a short in the distributor so it had to be replaced. Still didn't fire. They felt that the engine was just too tight feeling. The pulled off the valve covers and a couple of rocker arms to discover a bent push rod! Now the top end is pulled off with the exception of the heads themselves. This is what has been found so far: Two bent pushrods and lobes of the cam wiped (rounded off)! Over half the lifters concaved: Cam bearing: The top end in pieces: The block as it sits right now: The mechanic thinks this was caused by the valvetrain just being set too tight. I know it sitting in storage off and on for the last few years didn't help either. All I know is that this is tough to look at right now. So I made a thread because we are going to be doing some mods, albeit some unintended ones... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBlack151 Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Sigh...I'm exhausted just reading all of that. I can only imagine how eager you are to get her back together. Good luck with everything! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chase@InsanePaint Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I always hate these moments. BEEN THERE Randy. I'm so sorry bro. But it's alwaaaaaaays a good excuse to upgrade!!! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyAcadia09 Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 ouch! Had a feeling my Dak RT was goin that way so I got rid of it before it really bit me. Hope it gets all fixed up at a semidesireable rate. I agree on the bore brush Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris@Adams Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Bummer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyfox Posted August 20, 2012 Author Share Posted August 20, 2012 Yeah. I was hoping to have it running before I had to deploy, but now I am not sure about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txredgt Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Randy could you do me a huge favor? The latch area on the back door for the top glass, could you snap a picture or 2 of the hinge unit for me? We have an ol station wagon and that part on ours broke but I believe its a '54. Just trying to see if the part matches to broaden the car we could find the part on instead of the exact car as the car is nearly impossible to find in junkyards here in the south that we know of. Maybe you have a parts supplier you could recommend as well for it? Any help would be great. Oh and sorry to see the motor work but the good news is hopefully it will be built better than before! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyfox Posted August 20, 2012 Author Share Posted August 20, 2012 I'm afraid I am un able to help you because I have a two door sedan and not a wagon. As far as a part supplier is concerned, I don't have a good one for pre 1955. A quick google search yielded a site called Chevsofthe40s.com that specializes in 1937-1954 Chevys. Hope that helps some! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE Mook Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Dang Randy. That's all I got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewy Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 That sucks Randy... Just think how good an LSX motor would look in there though. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyfox Posted August 20, 2012 Author Share Posted August 20, 2012 It certainly has crossed my mind... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewy Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 It certainly has crossed my mind... I'm a resto mod kind of guy... The looks of old, and the reliability and power of new. There's nothing like 500+ RWHP in an 'ol chevy like that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyfox Posted August 20, 2012 Author Share Posted August 20, 2012 It still may happen one of these days, but it isn't in the cards right now. I guess if the bottom-end ends up being toast too I may feel differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyfox Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 Update: Having the bottom end inspected. Hopefully everything checks out OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GXPaycheck Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 LSA or LS9!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyfox Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 You guys are bad influences! La la la, I can't hear you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyfox Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 Ugh. Copy and pasted from Facebook so I don't have to type this all again : It's official. The engine in the '55 needs to be rebuilt along with machine work on top of that. It might actually be the time to really consider a LS swap after all. I know I have asked this question before, but if it was you, what would you do? The number 3 piston was rusted to the cylinder from water somehow getting in the engine. All cylinder walls were scored as well. I would have to magna-flux the block, re-bore the block, machine the cam bearing, replace all of the pistons and rings, re-balance everything, replace the push rods, cam, lifters and springs since they were too heavy duty for the set up and wiped the lobes off the cam, and clean up the heads. Or swap in a LS engine and transmission. This is really tough. I am really at a crossroads here, so any input would really help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewy Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 If you have the money, an LS swap would be great. Not cheap though!!! Sent from the past using special algorithms and data nodes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyfox Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 Either way, it's going to be brutal on the wallet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE Mook Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 If you go LS based, don't go too big or too far from the original soul of the car if you can. Know what I mean? It would seem silly for something like that to have an LS7. But an LS3... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyfox Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 Thinking a LS2 or LS3 if I go the LS route. Really, it boils down to money. The thought process is that I pay off part of the swap with parting out the good components of my current set up and paying the the rest of it off with the additional money from deployment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z71_Denali Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 LS swap would be cool! LS2 you'd have to get used but fairly cheap. LS3 would most likely be new unless you find a used one out of a totalled C6 vette. maybe price out both options and let the money do the talkin' for ya?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewy Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I'm all about using the latest and greatest so I'd go LS3, but either is good... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyfox Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 LMAO, it's easy when it isn't your money! I went to the shop today and took some more pics. I will post up later so you all can see what exactly is going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyfox Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 Bump for pics! Avert your eyes if you are squeamish with engine carnage. Top end before the engine was pulled. Valve covers off, rocker arms and push rods removed, and cam pulled out. Cam bearing needs to be re-machined. The next set of pictures are of cylinder #3, where the piston had rusted to the cylinder wall. Piston #3. Heads. As you could guess, the corroded combustion chamber is #3. Rocker arms. Damage to the push rod seats on the first two and damage to the valve spring side on the last. Oil pan sludge. Scored cylinder walls. 2 and 4 6 and 8 5 and 7 1 and 3 Cam with worn off lobes. Concaved lifters The engine as it sits now. *Sniff* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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