Recent content by 1960-348-El Camino

Well, considering that my original plan was to degrease the engine, replace all the gaskets, add a new coat of paint on it and throw it back in, I'd say I'm still looking to save a buck every chance I can since I'm already into it over $1,000 and I still need to spend another $1,500 to get it to...

That'll be my plan going forward.

I think at this point, I'm going to assemble the bottom end, pick up that 0950 cam and wait to pick up a set of one piece valves and some better springs....

I remember him saying they were pressure checked and passed, didn't know that's what it was for. Again, I'm green at any internal engine stuff, but I'm learning a TON in here and doing internet searches.

It was pointed out to me that one of the heads had an old crack that was fixed in the past. He said he put some kind of chemical agent on it to re-seal it up. Saw that crack when I took the pic.

Good info, thanks yet again! It did have steel shim gaskets in there when I tore it down.

Honestly, I was planning on assembling the short block and going from there. I will say that the top of the pistons were close to the top of the block, so I might have to figure that out once I'm there. Otherwise, I have some FelPro's that came in an engine gasket kit.

How can you tell they're two piece valves? Is that what the "TP" stamping means?

So say I bought these set of springs, can I just swap them out with the ones on there and be good to go? Again, I feel like a dumb ass asking these questions, since it's stuff I should've learned in high school auto shop, but I never took high school auto shop, I stuck to auto body instead...

I was told a starter out of something like a 2001 Chevy Blazer was the ticket, that's what I got for my 348.

Say I didn't want to change out all the valve springs and machine the heads out for bigger valves, because I already had the machine shop go through the heads and don't want to get that far into this car at the monent but do want to get it back on the road as a good-running cruiser and work in...

I was just out in the garage and took a few pics of the heads. When I got this car in 2004, it looked to have been gone through at some point. Looks to me like it has dual valve springs installed and they look like Comp Cam units. The heads were just gone through and I told the machine shop guy...

HA HA!! We had an emerald green 1974 Malibu wagon growing up, I don't want my El Camino sounding like the ol' wagon!

This sounds perfect! I wonder what cam is in there anyone care to take a guess?...