thanks Gui, yea, all new gaskets are gonna go in, new valve seals too while the heads are out, then I'll do a compression check. I didn't see any oil at all in the coolant. Hopefully the head gaskets were my only problem. I'm hoping to find the extra cash this week to buy what I need to get her back together quickly, we'll see what the wife allows, LOL.

I might just get new head gaskets and valve seals but leave the rest of the head alone. I've got a 350 4 bolt block that's been laying around that I should start building up. Thanks for your replies Steve, you seem to be the only one giving advice lol


Been there done that, got my first camaro when I was 16, tried to get my buddy to buy it, but he and his dad didn't want it, so I asked how much, long story short, ended up buying it for $600, tightened up the converter bolts and drove it for 2 years!!! been through all kinds of ordeals with my cars,

my favorite, was how all of a sudden my 327 developed a skip, did everything I could think of, ended up being a bad pushrod, the top end was missing .125 off the tip!!!!, have no idea!!!


Glad I could help through the keyboard!!!!

Got mostly everything I need to put it all back together. New head gaskets, new head bolts, new valve seals, new gaskets for intake and exhaust, and a new 10 in. air cleaner ( the new rpm manifold is taller so the 14 inch would hit the hood bracing at the back). Valve seals on one head complete. Have to pick up a heater hose fitting for the new intake tomorrow and of course an oil filter and oil as well as coolant. Hoping to get time to get it back together by the weekend.

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Small steps. heads are back on.

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And new intake is ready to go too.

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got the motor buttoned up, just need to set the valve lash, I haven't done it yet because I never have and I'm a tad nervous LOL.

also installed lowering blocks in the back. I had to use a small spacer to move the wheel out a tad or else the the shock mount on the lower perch would be hitting the inner part of the rim. I don't have the proper backspacing yet, so I have to do it this way until fund roll in for proper stuff. The spacer is 5/16, I could probably get away with a smaller one, and most likely will so my lugs get more of a bit on the studs. I can't wait to get it out of the garage and see what it looks like. (and yes, I don't have the outside u-bolts in yet, I have to make the upper holes a bit bigger so the threaded part goes in the lower perch easier, I had to find my bigger drill for that, which I just found)

oh, and I definitely need to get some shorty headers now, measurement from ground to flange (or bottom of the header for that matter) is just under 2.5 inches on the drivers side. I just keep opening more and more cans of worms here.

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progress!!! looking good, lash is no big deal!! you can do it,

well, I finished installing the blocks last night, so thats done, then I tried doing my valve lash adjustment, which didn't go so good. Now its running like a total piece of doggy doo doo. I must have tightened them too much. so tomorrow I'll back them all off and tighten each nut down to 13 turns like I originally did when it seemed to run fine.

re-adjusted the rocker nuts last night and it still runs very bad, basically what I did last night changed nothing. Actually it doesn't run at all. doesn't want to start. I spray starting fluid in the carb it starts but runs extremely rough, almost violently. I'm wondering if somehow I screwed the timing up, but I don't know how I would have done that, I never pulled the distributer out to do the valve lash adjustment!!! I'm stumped. If anybody has any input it would be greatly appreciated, as I'm ready to beat the fenders in with a hammer!!!!!

I'd verify you had your distributor dropped back in right, verify your plug wires are on correct cyl. and re-adjust your valves.

On the valves being a rookie just do one cyl. at a time. turn the engine over when the int. starts to open adjust the exh. valve, when the exh. starts to close do the int. Take out the free play between the pushrod and rocker then give it like a turn more.

Got her out of the garage today, I think I've got the valves decent, might need a tad more adjusting, I'll drive it a bit then do another adjustment.

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