[Shiny]

I'm curious what your compression numbers are?

What method did you use to hold the valves up when you changed the o-rings?

Give us an update on the oil consumption. Were you seeing smoke or are you driving enough to measure oil loss?

Mike

[Verdoro 68]

6 of the cylinders are between 120 and 125. Cylinders 5 and 7 are at 80 and 90.

I’ve been rotating the engine by hand to put each cylinder I’m working on to the top of the bore. I’ve been using an inspection camera to make sure the piston is at the highest point. Then I use compressed air to keep the valves in place when I remove the hardware.

At first, I installed the seals on cylinder 1 before I put the retainer on. Then I learned you have to put the seals on the valve with the retainer on and spring compressed or else it pushes the seals down the valve. I took it apart again and sure enough, the seals were pushed down the valve. For as long as I’ve owned Pontiacs, I’ve never worked on a stock valvetrain so this is all new to me.

We haven’t driven it enough to measure oil loss, but it smokes pretty bad on initial start up. It lightens up when the engine is warm. This engine was so leaky and everything had caked on oil and grime so it’s still kind of burning off. The cloud around it is kind of like pig pen on the Peanuts.

[johnta1]

If between 5&7 I'd say the headgasket may be bad?

[Verdoro 68]

That was my thought. No sign of coolant in the oil or exhaust in the coolant though.

If a gasket has to go, that’s the side I could do without pulling the engine. It’s really difficult to work on the passenger side due to a/c.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by Verdoro 68

That was my thought. No sign of coolant in the oil or exhaust in the coolant though.

If a gasket has to go, that’s the side I could do without pulling the engine. It’s really difficult to work on the passenger side due to a/c.

You could use your air compressor to pressurize one of the cylinders and put your air pressure gauge on the other one and see what happens.

Edit: well I guess the other cylinder valves would have to be closed too so that probably won't work.

Edit #2: If you removed the rockers that would close the valves.

[Verdoro 68]

I think I’ve narrowed the issue down on 5 and 7 to the exhaust valves in particular. The air compressor will barely hold the them in place. Maybe they’re burnt? Oddly, the intake valves weren’t as bad to hold in place.

I tried to do a leak down test when I had several of the cylinders at the top and the valves closed, but I’m not sure I’m doing it correctly. #7 in particular showed around 70%.The other cylinders I tested were around 20-25% which seemed too good to be true. Either way, this engine seems pretty tired..

I got through 13 of the valve stem seals. I couldn’t get #6 intake and #8 because the a/c suitcase prevents removing the pushrods which I need to do to compress the spring. I think this was a futile effort anyway. I could feel and see the play in a few of the valve guides, but maybe he’ll get a little more run time out of it before we decide to tear it down.

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by johnta1

If between 5&7 I'd say the headgasket may be bad?

X 2

[RocktimusPryme]

I put the Firebird back together after it sucked the carb stud down the intake. Got the head back from the machine shop after repair. Seems fine. Ran a little rough at first start but quickly settled down. Probably just started rough because its 30 degrees out.

I have to retorque the head now that its heat cycled, but so far it seems like its okay.

[Drag Star Le Mans]

Put the car cover on the 73 Formula, lifted the cover on the 64, set a beer on the 62 and dreamed about racing it on the salt flats.

[Verdoro 68]

Ignored the fact that we have engine issues to deal with and spent some time polishing up the Ventura. Started with a Comet wash to knock off the rust and stains and followed up with whatever I had around for polishing- a couple medium/heavy pads and some Chemical Guys C4. Really surprised with how much it came back.

While I was doing this, Cole installed new rear 1/4 window seals and we removed the interior panels for cleaning and painting.

[blueghoast]

Isn't it amazing what a little or a lot of elbow grease can do LOL
I've done that to a lot of my own vehicals so I don't have to paint
them. Everyone thinks because I'm a bodyman that I should paint
every car I own. If I did that I wouldn't have time to drive them. LMAO
Car looks great.

GT

[b-man]

Nice outcome.

Ignore the little bumps, bruises and chips and just enjoy it.

Chasing perfection just takes away from your time behind the wheel.

If something happens to it it won’t hurt so badly.

[Jeff Hamlin]

Took in one Last C&C for 2024

[JacintasHot]

Northwest Indiana

[JacintasHot]

12/28:

[Verdoro 68]

Repainted the grilles GTO-style, touched up a few of the more egregious scratches. Took the car the get some gas last night and a wheel alignment this morning, then went for a long shakedown drive.

Cole had a goal of driving it to work tomorrow to show it off to coworkers and I wanted to make sure it was good to go. I swear this car gets more attention than my GTO, but I guess Fernmist Green is a lot harder to miss than Verdoro.

The oil smoke is largely gone, plugs are reading clean. It ain't gonna win any races, but it starts easy, drives straight, stops well and idles smooth. I'm deeming it roadworthy.

[b-man]

I’d start using this new Valvoline in it, it works to clean up the gunk in the ring lands and should seal up the cylinders better.

[Verdoro 68]

I'll have to check that out. It's got some thick Driven 15-50 in it now. I almost picked up a can of SeaFoam when I was at the parts store earlier today. A few weeks ago we fired it up and had a ticking lifter. It went away after it warmed up and has been quiet since.

[Scarebird]

Our households goods finally arrived today; 4+ months after they were picked up in ABQ. Amongst the items were an extra hood, bumper and bumper braces for the 71.

Now for Portuguese customs to clear the car...

[twilightTA]

Installed some Holley Retrobright headlights that I managed to find someone selling new for $80/each. Still a lot for a headlight but better than the $175 list price. Need to test them out tonight on the road but they sure look much brighter and definitely much whiter.