HAFRODs 78 Aeroback Salon build

[Texas82GP]

Not to second guess you, but why not just glue a new seal in the timing cover or replace the timing cover with the engine in the car? All you need to do is loosen the oil pan so the front will drop down. Doing an engine swap sounds like an extreme solution to a small leak.

 

[DRIVEN]

Agreed. I've replaced quite a few SBC timing covers without loosening the pan. They come out easy, its getting them back in thats usually the tricky part. I've found that nipping the corners off the inner edge seems to help. Some RTV and touch up paint and it's like it never happened.

 

[HAFROD]

I have done a couple by loosening the pan only to have a pan leak after.

 

[DRIVEN]

Understood, same here. That's why I was suggesting trimming the timing cover inner lip and not disturbing the pan. Just hate to see you have to do 2 complete engine swaps in this short time crunch is all. Either way, you'll get it handled -- always do.

 

[Texas82GP]

I have done a couple by loosening the pan only to have a pan leak after.

In your picture it looks like you are using a 1-piece pan gasket. Shouldn't that make it more forgiving? Either way, good luck with it. You've worked very hard.

 

[HAFROD]

I got most of the top and front of engine torn down and found my intermittent overheating issues. The machine shop obviously did not get the rusty clumps out of the block. This is twice now with this engine. My thermostat was clotted up with it. The radiator is clotted and it looks, smells, and feels like oil traces in the coolant passages. The water is not milky though. So I think the rust clumps from this engine have clogged the radiator and performance thermostat. This engine will never go back into any of my vehicles. So whomever had the engine before me that ran straight water has ruined it. I'll have this engine out before noon. Then the El Camino engine is getting pulled. I tracked my new 4 row radiator and it's supposed to be here tomorrow

 

[liquidh8]

Man, that is awful news for that engine. At least you didn't put the new aluminum radiator in it yet, just to get clogged.

 

[HAFROD]

Out at 12:01. I have the trans and flywheel removed and the engine stripped of everything needed for the other engine. Eating lunch right now and the El Camino is getting pulled to the front. I'll have it removed in a few hours. My plan is to have the engine/trans in tomorrow by noon and hooked up

 

[Texas82GP]

View attachment 74066 Out at 12:01. I have the trans and flywheel removed and the engine stripped of everything needed for the other engine. Eating lunch right now and the El Camino is getting pulled to the front. I'll have it removed in a few hours. My plan is to have the engine/trans in tomorrow by noon and hooked up

I know I've said it before but damn, you are a machine Danny. Nice work!

 

[HAFROD]

Here's the deal, I got the 350 from the El Camino, stripped down, cleaned, put in a new rear main seal, timing cover gasket, one piece oil pan gasket, balancer seal, painted blue, and just shot on some urethane high solids clear. That Goodwrench 350 from the El Camino is very clean inside. The cool part was it already had a pilot bushing and it looks new. The paint was flaking off the timing chain cover and oil pan. I used Aircraft stripper on them before the resealing and gasketing. I am beat down. Every muscle in my body is cramping and my arthritis is raging in my back and hands. I'm gonna whip this mother #$%^&* though, you watch 😵