H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit.

Nmbr1GMfan · 01-14-2019, 07:31 PM

Checked some stuff and pulled everything apart today. I honestly have more questions than answers at this point with some of the weird stocker stuff but oh well. The reason for the tear down was low oil pressure, well the two rear main bearings were the culprits as you will see. The reason? Well I'm guessing it was the valve springs, or more so how they were set up, a stack of shims and no locator, the damper (with no locator) was bashing the shims and sending metal through the engine. I'm guessing some got through the filter. Also has the wrong retainers for the springs. Springs were pretty soft but hell maybe they are setup this way to loft the valve open or something with this square cam. One thing I didn't count on were the janky cylinders in the block, almost look rusted near the top of a few of them, we'll clean them up as good as we can... we gotta race.

Glenn Hayes · 01-14-2019, 08:24 PM

Todd,
Were you able to get any power numbers out of the engine before the "discoveries" ?
Glenn

Nmbr1GMfan · 01-14-2019, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn Hayes

Todd,
Were you able to get any power numbers out of the engine before the "discoveries" ?
Glenn

No Glenn we weren't.

Glenn Briglio · 01-14-2019, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nmbr1GMfan

Checked some stuff and pulled everything apart today. I honestly have more questions than answers at this point with some of the weird stocker stuff but oh well. The reason for the tear down was low oil pressure, well the two rear main bearings were the culprits as you will see. The reason? Well I'm guessing it was the valve springs, or more so how they were set up, a stack of shims and no locator, the damper (with no locator) was bashing the shims and sending metal through the engine. I'm guessing some got through the filter. Also has the wrong retainers for the springs. Springs were pretty soft but hell maybe they are setup this way to loft the valve open or something with this square cam. One thing I didn't count on were the janky cylinders in the block, almost look rusted near the top of a few of them, we'll clean them up as good as we can... we gotta race.

I believe comp cams has locators,might have to be machined to fit heads. Look at short height valve locks too.What spring pressure are springs at? What fuel are you using?

Nmbr1GMfan · 01-14-2019, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn Briglio

I believe comp cams has locators,might have to be machined to fit heads. Look at short height valve locks too.What spring pressure are springs at? What fuel are you using?

Glenn, I think the springs were 350# open, I'll have to look at the notes tomorrow. I should stick a pic of the cam info on here and see if anyone knows who did it so I can call them to figure these springs out. I think the standard is about 200# and 400#. Fuel is VP C12.

Keith Bennett · 01-14-2019, 11:07 PM

Todd,
I used to use VP C-11 and had to do major repairs to heads and cylinder walls after the motor set for some time.
I was told that the problem was from the VP fuel.
Luckily I had changed over to Sunoco before NHRA had made their switch. Never had any troubles with my motors during the down time with Sunoco.

VP is great fuel, I just had not been told to foam the motor after races.

Good luck sir.

Keith Bennett · 01-14-2019, 11:10 PM

Todd,

That would be just for the rust in your cylinder walls.

Nmbr1GMfan · 01-15-2019, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Bennett

Todd,
I used to use VP C-11 and had to do major repairs to heads and cylinder walls after the motor set for some time.
I was told that the problem was from the VP fuel.
Luckily I had changed over to Sunoco before NHRA had made their switch. Never had any troubles with my motors during the down time with Sunoco.

VP is great fuel, I just had not been told to foam the motor after races.

Good luck sir.

Thanks Keith, Yes I have been told to fog it. I believe these marks have been in it for a bit. I tossed around just buying a good block now and getting it over with, that will just add way too much time to this so we'll get this one going and worry about a new bottom end later this year.

Dissident · 01-15-2019, 01:07 AM

Todd,
Couldn't see oil filter adapter in the pics. Is the by pass plugged so everything has to go through the filter? IF not, I would highly suggest that for better filtration path.

Looks like the dampers were being used as hole saws into whatever spacers were being used. Hardened locators are better solutions for sure.

Might be worthwhile for you to measure the existing clearance on the gnawed up bearings so you can log what is too much for the weight lube you might be running.

Are the piston skirts all chewed up as well?

Wishing you the best of luck on the rebuild.

Regards to you and Autumn,
HB2

Dissident Hombre

Glenn Briglio · 01-15-2019, 07:54 AM

Yes rust in cylinders and on valves and seats is from fuel.

01-14-2019, 07:31 PM	#1
Nmbr1GMfan VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 1,763 Likes: 1,197 Liked 1,955 Times in 492 Posts	Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit. Checked some stuff and pulled everything apart today. I honestly have more questions than answers at this point with some of the weird stocker stuff but oh well. The reason for the tear down was low oil pressure, well the two rear main bearings were the culprits as you will see. The reason? Well I'm guessing it was the valve springs, or more so how they were set up, a stack of shims and no locator, the damper (with no locator) was bashing the shims and sending metal through the engine. I'm guessing some got through the filter. Also has the wrong retainers for the springs. Springs were pretty soft but hell maybe they are setup this way to loft the valve open or something with this square cam. One thing I didn't count on were the janky cylinders in the block, almost look rusted near the top of a few of them, we'll clean them up as good as we can... we gotta race. __________________ Todd Greene

01-14-2019, 08:24 PM	#2
Glenn Hayes Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Weeki Wachee, Florida Posts: 348 Likes: 416 Liked 18 Times in 12 Posts	Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit. Todd, Were you able to get any power numbers out of the engine before the "discoveries" ? Glenn __________________ "Real Race Cars Have Tailgates"

01-14-2019, 11:07 PM	#6
Keith Bennett Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakeland FL Posts: 199 Likes: 464 Liked 70 Times in 36 Posts	Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit. Todd, I used to use VP C-11 and had to do major repairs to heads and cylinder walls after the motor set for some time. I was told that the problem was from the VP fuel. Luckily I had changed over to Sunoco before NHRA had made their switch. Never had any troubles with my motors during the down time with Sunoco. VP is great fuel, I just had not been told to foam the motor after races. Good luck sir. __________________ Keith A/S 2990/Terri A/SA 2991 "Imagine what you'd attempt, if you knew you could not fail!"

01-14-2019, 11:10 PM	#7
Keith Bennett Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lakeland FL Posts: 199 Likes: 464 Liked 70 Times in 36 Posts	Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit. Todd, That would be just for the rust in your cylinder walls. __________________ Keith A/S 2990/Terri A/SA 2991 "Imagine what you'd attempt, if you knew you could not fail!"

01-15-2019, 01:07 AM	#9
Dissident Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Colorado hills Posts: 123 Likes: 11 Liked 73 Times in 36 Posts	Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit. Todd, Couldn't see oil filter adapter in the pics. Is the by pass plugged so everything has to go through the filter? IF not, I would highly suggest that for better filtration path. Looks like the dampers were being used as hole saws into whatever spacers were being used. Hardened locators are better solutions for sure. Might be worthwhile for you to measure the existing clearance on the gnawed up bearings so you can log what is too much for the weight lube you might be running. Are the piston skirts all chewed up as well? Wishing you the best of luck on the rebuild. Regards to you and Autumn, HB2 Dissident Hombre

01-15-2019, 07:54 AM	#10
Glenn Briglio VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Massapequa Park,NY Posts: 1,290 Likes: 1,914 Liked 977 Times in 312 Posts	Re: H-I-J '76 Nova re-fit. Yes rust in cylinders and on valves and seats is from fuel. __________________ 1989 Camaro Iroc-Z I/SA B&B Auto Machine Shop.