Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
I'm working on a Chevrolet. :doh:
For those of whom remember, I've been chasing the same gal for a few years now (the lovely Sarah). Well, she was lamenting to me earlier this year that she took her 1982 Camaro Z/28 out of winter storage, and it wasn't running correctly. So, stupidly, I told her I'd have a look at it. The car is a 305 with the much-hated Cross-Fire Injection but my thinking was that it was likely no more than bad fuel from sitting, and probably the standard tune-up. Of course, if it was more than that, I had my ace in the hole: one of the best mechanics I've ever met, who was the top wrench at one of the Esky dealerships for 20+ years. He knows Cross-Fire, and agreed to either coach me on the car or work on it if it was beyond my capabilities.
Did I mention Sarah's a bartender at my favorite pub? Apparently one night after several free beers and even more for which I paid, she told me the car was making ominous noises. I didn't remember that handy fact, and was still convinced I could get it running correctly.
So, I made arrangements with Stretch to fetch the car and bring it back to my house. We were getting ready to jumpstart the car and drive it on the trailer, and Sarah's Dad says, "Uh, I don't think you want to do that. It'll probably blow up if you try to put it on the trailer." Great.
I started it yesterday, and it knocks to beat hell. Still hoping for the best, I wasn't convinced it wasn't a collapsed lifter--one of my 340s used to knock like hell when it was low on oil, but the bottom end was solid upon inspection after we pulled and disassembled it. Plus, it would pull past 7000RPM when the oil was at the prescribed level (it had a leaking drain plug). This 305 is quieter than my 340 was, but the 340 was under load and all I did was rev the 305 in the back yard in park.
So, I asked Stretchy to come by and have a listen. Well, we didn't actually meet up, but he did stop by and start the car. He told my neighbor (the good one) that he feels it's definitely a rod knock. So, it looks like I'm changing a long block.
I'm still trying to figure out how an engine developed a rod knock over the winter; supposedly it ran fine when they parked it. But, I digress.
Luckily, I found a low-mile 305 engine earlier today, and he'll sell it to me for $100... he removed it from a pickup truck to replace it with a 350, and has no use for it (thanks, Toby!). A simple cam change, and it should be ready to install.
So, at this point, you're thinking to yourself, "There goes Jass, thinking with the wrong head and doing a semi-major job on this gal's car to try and get some." Yes, that was originally the plan. Funny thing is, in the time since this started I've actually hired Sarah to drive for Auto Value... so in keeping with my mantra I'm now just doing to be a nice guy. :doh:
You know what, though? It doesn't even bother me. She really digs the car a lot, and knows no one else that can do the work for her other than a professional shop, and she can't afford that. I think that she takes such pride in her hot rod is honorable. So, the agreement now is that I'll fix the car, but she's going to help me. She'll be a part of her baby's revival and that will only make her love the car that much more, and learning about such things will make her more valuable at the store.
Why the hell couldn't she have bought a Duster?! :doh:
If you're not familiar with Sarah, the car, or her ability to drive it, click here.
For those of whom remember, I've been chasing the same gal for a few years now (the lovely Sarah). Well, she was lamenting to me earlier this year that she took her 1982 Camaro Z/28 out of winter storage, and it wasn't running correctly. So, stupidly, I told her I'd have a look at it. The car is a 305 with the much-hated Cross-Fire Injection but my thinking was that it was likely no more than bad fuel from sitting, and probably the standard tune-up. Of course, if it was more than that, I had my ace in the hole: one of the best mechanics I've ever met, who was the top wrench at one of the Esky dealerships for 20+ years. He knows Cross-Fire, and agreed to either coach me on the car or work on it if it was beyond my capabilities.
Did I mention Sarah's a bartender at my favorite pub? Apparently one night after several free beers and even more for which I paid, she told me the car was making ominous noises. I didn't remember that handy fact, and was still convinced I could get it running correctly.
So, I made arrangements with Stretch to fetch the car and bring it back to my house. We were getting ready to jumpstart the car and drive it on the trailer, and Sarah's Dad says, "Uh, I don't think you want to do that. It'll probably blow up if you try to put it on the trailer." Great.
I started it yesterday, and it knocks to beat hell. Still hoping for the best, I wasn't convinced it wasn't a collapsed lifter--one of my 340s used to knock like hell when it was low on oil, but the bottom end was solid upon inspection after we pulled and disassembled it. Plus, it would pull past 7000RPM when the oil was at the prescribed level (it had a leaking drain plug). This 305 is quieter than my 340 was, but the 340 was under load and all I did was rev the 305 in the back yard in park.
So, I asked Stretchy to come by and have a listen. Well, we didn't actually meet up, but he did stop by and start the car. He told my neighbor (the good one) that he feels it's definitely a rod knock. So, it looks like I'm changing a long block.
I'm still trying to figure out how an engine developed a rod knock over the winter; supposedly it ran fine when they parked it. But, I digress.
Luckily, I found a low-mile 305 engine earlier today, and he'll sell it to me for $100... he removed it from a pickup truck to replace it with a 350, and has no use for it (thanks, Toby!). A simple cam change, and it should be ready to install.
So, at this point, you're thinking to yourself, "There goes Jass, thinking with the wrong head and doing a semi-major job on this gal's car to try and get some." Yes, that was originally the plan. Funny thing is, in the time since this started I've actually hired Sarah to drive for Auto Value... so in keeping with my mantra I'm now just doing to be a nice guy. :doh:
You know what, though? It doesn't even bother me. She really digs the car a lot, and knows no one else that can do the work for her other than a professional shop, and she can't afford that. I think that she takes such pride in her hot rod is honorable. So, the agreement now is that I'll fix the car, but she's going to help me. She'll be a part of her baby's revival and that will only make her love the car that much more, and learning about such things will make her more valuable at the store.
Why the hell couldn't she have bought a Duster?! :doh:
If you're not familiar with Sarah, the car, or her ability to drive it, click here.
) and the paint on the hood looks like ass and she's embarrassed to drive it as it looks now. I've got a Z/28 cowl induction hood for it, just need to get it painted..tires and paint cost money and the car is low on the priority list right now.
