August 08'-09' Build Off: 1969 Chevrolet CST/10

[2jack3jack]

Love the truck tho and I'm guessing 400 hp. Sry I really don't want to start a flame war

[texan_idiot25]

Ooo, we got bad news. Coper glitter in an oil filter is a sign of a pwnd bearing. I had issues earlier with a faulty oil filter seal allowing oil to blow out while driving. Issue was made worse by the cold since the oil is thicker, and had greater pressure when initially started. The effect of this? It could blow out a quart of oil in less than 2 days, and the only sign of this was if it either had shaky oil PSI at slow speeds, or unfortunantly, it usually lost oil on the freeway so that meant starving some of the motor for oil and unhappy sounds until I got off the freeway and poured in another $8 of royal purple... Despite it running good, with solid oil PSI, the copper material in the filter is a bad sign, as well as an odd rattle at high RPM and high load.

Truck runs great, cool, and still very strong, but it's on borrowed time it seems. Not sure if the oil filter issues were the cause, my driving, or the guys who rebuilt it.

Good news is I found a '69 Camaro 350 with vortec heads for $400, gotta see if it's still available. If so, back in bidness with a stronger motor, and I can set this one aside to rebuild later.

PS: it's had over 10,000 hard miles of shenanigans, towing, and hauling, lots of which were at freeway speed. Knew this day would come!

[Blade.]

Sounds like the Crank bearing got destroyed, from your explanation of the odd rattling at high RPM & high load.

Sucks man, I hate it when that happens. Crankshafts are a biotch to get out, pull the engine, pull the pan(drain it first) and blah blah blah, tis' horrible to do such work because it's time consuming like bodywork!

Though, that 69' Camaro 350 with Vortec Heads for only $400.00 if still available, is a good deal man. Totally worth it eh?

Good luck on getting the engine eh?

Blade.

[texan_idiot25]

Ah, yeh, I've been forgetting the crank bearings this whole time! I kept over looking bearings at first (I thought it may be a noisy valve rattling) since it's very rare a SBC cam bearing spins (would also screw oil pressure), and a rod bearing results in hellacious rod knock. But a crank bearing, in theory, would be pretty quiet. But they also tend to hurt oil pressure, and mine is perfect. Maybe in it's early stages, though.



Hard to see them in the filter, but you can see them in the oil. All copper colored *** holes.

Yeh if I get the motor it's no big deal. Takes no time to swap motors in my truck, with all it's room. Puts a dent in cab swap savings, but oh well. A 69 Camaro motor (will ask for block numbers to check) with vortec heads is a sweet package if it's solid. A good 350+ hp easy with out being a ****ty truck motor (plenty of low end).

[2jack3jack]

Dude sorry to hear about the truck. Atleast you didn't blow the motor

[AJB32690]

Originally Posted by Blade.

Sucks man, I hate it when that happens. Crankshafts are a biotch to get out, pull the engine, pull the pan(drain it first) and blah blah blah, tis' horrible to do such work because it's time consuming like bodywork!

Really? I could swap one out in a few hours. (including removing and reinstalling the engine, of course.)

Anyway, sorry to hear it Tex, hope you get things worked out soon.

[Blade.]

Originally Posted by AJB32690

Really? I could swap one out in a few hours. (including removing and reinstalling the engine, of course.)

See time consuming. If you look at it properly, cause within those hours you could have done many other items also eh?

If it is the Crank Bearings, look at your idle PSI for the oil, if it's below normal then there's your problem eh? Though, I do believe you know this already eh?

Cab Swap, pfft, get that engine man, then hobo some cash off the rents' eh?

Blade.

[texan_idiot25]

Oil pressure is good at idle, just above 20psi at idle. 20psi per every 1000 rpm is more than enough for SBCs.

Maybe in it's early stages, but noise and copper are bad signs. Running by a friend's shop tomorrow, old school car guy, gonna check things out. Looking more towards just pulling the motor and replacing the offending bearings at this point.

[AJB32690]

Originally Posted by Blade.

See time consuming. If you look at it properly, cause within those hours you could have done many other items also eh?

Not when you compare it to rebuilding an automatic transmission. Even a seasoned tech needs about 6 hours for that.

Tex, if you are replacing the bearings, remember to check the crankshaft journals for wear! Don't want to go through all that trouble of replacing the bearings just to tear them up again because a journal is out of round.

[texan_idiot25]

Originally Posted by AJB32690

Not when you compare it to rebuilding an automatic transmission. Even a seasoned tech needs about 6 hours for that.

Tex, if you are replacing the bearings, remember to check the crankshaft journals for wear! Don't want to go through all that trouble of replacing the bearings just to tear them up again because a journal is out of round.

My dad is a 20+ year ASE Mastertech and has built a few badass motors back in the day, I have a **** fine person to work with.

Have to measure the journals anyways for bearing size, so all will be noticed.

It will be good to have full power again. Even before the noise it has been weak at higher RPM.


In other news the dash is complete now! new gauge cluster and dash pad for xmas. Looks sweet inside

[Blade.]

Pictures?

Yes, Automatic Trans. are quite time consuming also. Haha, but if you look at it, everything is eh?

Replacing the bearings is a cheaper route for sure, plus means more money in your pocket.

Blade.

[texan_idiot25]

I've never worked on a manual, but I find the oldschool RWD autos pretty **** simple to work on. It's like a gigantic sandwich of gears and clutch packs.

Will get pics in the morning of the dash, so purty!

Considering oil PSI is still good, this is a good sign that there isn't excessive wear on any of the bearings (big gap, low oil psi), so things should be ok. Of course, should is a relative term. But no use worrying til it's out. Fun stuff is I'll have a full GM dealership shop at my disposal, and have that sum***** out in no time.

[Blade.]

Sounds like fun bro! Good luck to you eh?

I really want to see your Dash, estatic to see it man.

Blade.