boring build

[bravekozak]

That thing on the distributor is a capacitor for FM radio noise suppression.
The wire goes back to the ignition coil.

Remove the baffle plate from inside the valve cover and inspect.
There should be a clear path for blowby gases to travel to the PCV valve.

[jawja jim]

The spark noise suppression capacitor can be replaced with a standard , round, can-type capacitor as is commonly available at any parts store, with no problems( I guess I should say so far. I replaced mine over a year ago. I wish I could remember the mf rating.)

[justinhw]

thanks-

i tried getting the baffle plate off on the valve cover but the screws are in too tight and I ended up stripping a few.

[justinhw]

Snow tires on - ready for winter! Car just has to... run.... now...

[justinhw]

Heated seats:


Quality Control foreman inspecting


Foam was washed and I washed the seat coverings in the washer as recommended by someone on the board - worked out well.


Just used the dorman stuff.

[justinhw]

Engine is back together - new headgastket/valve cover gasket, rings. Ring gaps were all within spec, didn't have to grind any. Came from ITM engines from rockauto.





Head was planed at a machine shop down the road and vacuum tested.



Compression afterwards was 150, 160, 140, 140.

about 30-40psi increase.

Started it up and had it running for a bit however noticed some white smoke and water droplets out of the tailpipe.... sigh.

[Green Bean]

If there was an issue with the head gasket before then you will have some white smoke cause the coolant is soaked into the catalytic converter and if not then hopefully the machine shop checked the head for cracks .

[FestYboy]

Water from the tail pipe isn't unusual, however white smoke/steam that smells sweet is. The compression numbers are still low, but that may require some moles on the engine to seat the rings.

[Rick the Quick]

Water from the tail pipe isn't unusual, however white smoke/steam that smells sweet is. The compression numbers are still low, but that may require some moles on the engine to seat the rings.

I'm not sure there are moles in Wisconsin and how would you keep them on the engine? Oh, miles? You probably meant to say "put some miles on the engine". It sounded funny so I couldn't resist the stupid reply. Yeas I would agree with Festyboy, the compression may come up after you drive it a few hundred miles. I would keep an eye on the coolant and oil level and check that the head gasket "keeps them separated" That's a good song BTW. Is your coolant temperature normal?

[ricko1966]

A customer brought me a plymouth acclaim with a blown headgasket.I pulled the head and had him take it to the machine shop near him, with the instructions have it checked for cracks and resurfaced call me when you have the head back so I can make a time to put your car back together.Reassembly time, he had it checked for cracks and resurfaced, it had five cracks. I was WTF!! why did you have it surfaced you need another head. He said no money for a new head put it back together as is. I put it back together put in a can of permatex headgasket repair, followed the directions exactly. I saw him months later he said all was good. I was amazed

[justinhw]

i had the head vacuum tested - would that have helped any? Also, would cracks be obvious to the naked eye?

[firebush357]

Did you check the compression with the engine at operating temp or cold? I know that will make a little bit of difference in the compression numbers. Also make sure you have a strong battery and have all of the Spark Plugs out so that the engine doesn't have to work as hard to turn over. It also helps to have a second person watching the Pressure Gauge so that you know when the gauge stops rising. I know I checked an engine and only let it turn over about 4 times and numbers were low but then I let it turn about 7-8 times and the numbers were a lot higher.