Engine Help...b4 I sink it on purpose
 

I have been diagnosing a problem with my rebuilt motor for about a month now. First I lost compression and found a blown head gasket between cylinder 5-7 after 25 hours...well I get it all back together after having a valve job done on the heads and now I hear a bad knock...I check the oil and its low( bottom of dipstick) add oil to top line...knock is almost gone and is now intermmitent...and is not nearly as loud as before. If I give it gas it goes away I can' hear it over 1200 rpms. The motor is a 5.7 vortec motor. Oil Pressure is 60 I can't figure out where my oil went but its in the bilge...

a few other things I have notice...
1) there is a decent amound of /steam/ oil mist coming out of breathers...enough to fog up mirror above motor on hatch
2) not sure whats its called but the arm on the plugs was flat against the electrode I believe its called...I regapped it and reinstalled it...ran motor( which runs a little rough) up to 4000 rpms and it still looks ok now.

what do you think happen and where should I go next

MY SOB STORY..I just called the place where I had the short block built in Texas( We'uns Speed and Machine) of course it went out of business..Guess my warranty is ng now. I bought the damn thing in June...This is really frustrating!

Re: Engine Help...b4 I sink it on purpose
 

bump

Re: Engine Help...b4 I sink it on purpose
 

first thing...slap on wrist...that done always buy from someone you know or a refferal that said at this point take it to a reputible shop in your area and have them check it out do a leakdown test and diaginos the noise


other then that anything you here on here is just going to ge guesses

Re: Engine Help...b4 I sink it on purpose
 

Two options really:

1. Pull it and buy a new short block from a reputable builder.

or

2. Pull it and have a shop take it apart and do it right.

Sorry but those two are really the only things that can be done at this point (based on the lower end noise, smashed plugs, etc.).



Oh... for the loss of oil... if the short block has the capacity for a mechanical fuel pump, make sure that the bolt that goes into the pushrod stop is installed (it will be short... half an inch in length). The engine will leak like crazy without that hole plugged.

Re: Engine Help...b4 I sink it on purpose
 

I will have to check that...I will start the disassembling this weekend. I think all of this happened becuase I didn't have my carburetor rejetted I put vortec heads,intake, and cam in had the carb rebuilt but thats it...I ran way to lean and before i new it...nothing but problems, heads valves gaskets, now this...guess I learned my lesson...anything else I should look at for possible oil leaks? I thought about getting rid of the remote oil filter...not much need for it I can just reach my hand under it with only 1 motor. are those known to leak?

Re: Engine Help...b4 I sink it on purpose
 

Remote filters can be a source of leakage if it's not put together correctly. I would agree though that it would be better to get rid of the remote oil filter. You "can" use the remote parts to set up an oil cooler... a much better thing than having the remote filter, but you would want to focus on making sure that the adapter was installed correctly either way.

Running lean is a definite way to kill a marine engine due to the constant load. I would get some baseline jetting information off the web for a like combination and maybe up it a couple of sizes just to be safe. Rich is better than lean and melted.

Oil leaks... did you reuse the stock pan? You could have some problems there (pinched oil pan gaskets around the bolt holes). The pan to timing cover can also be a bad spot if the wrong rubber seal is used.

Good luck on getting her back together!

Re: Engine Help...b4 I sink it on purpose
 

Spark plug issue/ knock - timing off or bad wrist pin or wrong head gasket you definately need to find and address the cause of that knock before it causes serious damage..... good luck man. :(

Re: Engine Help...b4 I sink it on purpose
 

Oil pan drain plug could have vibrated loose or looser.

Re: Engine Help...b4 I sink it on purpose
 

It definatly sounds like a lower end problem. Probably a rod bearing judging by the desciption of the noise and smashed ground electrode on the plug(s).

Time to take Tom Z's advice and get it out and get it fixed.

Good Luck
Barry

Re: Engine Help...b4 I sink it on purpose
 

lucky for you the sbc is the easiest and most affordable engine to hop up there is, buy a 383 short block and have your head redone and go boating. competition products has a 383 stroker short blockk for 1495.00 1-800-233-0199 with flat top pistons and a 72cc chamber you will be good to go and these motor make an azz load of tq. doug herbert has sbc roller cams and lifters etc that are also very inexpesive but work great. 2500 buck will make your ride a lot faster if you go the 383 route, good luck