I moved the motorhome over to the concrete pad yesterday so I could get started on it. It would barely run, acted like it was missing on a couple of cylinders and knocking. I had the dog box cover off while I moved it, and boy, it sounds rough. I noticed a little something dripping from the vent line that hooks to the oil fill and to the breather. I stuck my hand over the end with the motor running and dang! It is blowing HOT air out of the breather tube. Also moisture in it, looks to be antifreeze. Checked the oil, sure enough, it's milky. So either head gasket has blown, or there is a hole in the cylinder. Maybe even a hole in the piston, that hot air coming back up through the oil fill breather had force to it, not just air leaking out, so something is forcing it out like compression past the piston. I've got all winter to get it out, so I'll update when I do.....
I keep thinking I have all winter to get things done too. Next time I look I'm thrashing in Soringtime.Hope it's an easy fix for you. I know nothings easy.
gosh dangit bobby, hopefully you will be able to get it fixed. I could get you a running 370 truck engine for cheap more than likely but I doubt your interested
After doing some figuring on both building this engine and going with a new reman longblock, looks like the reman will be the way to go. I could possibly get by cheaper with a used engine, but you never know what you are getting with one and I don't want to have to do this over again. I can get a reman within three days from Advance, they will deliver and pick the core without a shipping charge, plus it has a 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty. Now I just need to sell some stuff and save some money get it, that will be the hard part with Christmas and winter coming up....
Thought I'd post a little update......I bought an engine off of Craigslist for $600. It had been gone through, bored .030, etc. Had to change the truck pan for the van pan, use the van waterpump and valve covers. Thought it would be a bear to swap, but actually it went easier than some cars I've done. Runs out real well, seems to have a lot more power than the original engine. The real test will be in a couple of weeks when we head up to Tupelo with the car in tow.
