im pretty sure i need too have my rear main replaced plus more for some reason my car lost oil pressure . it ran fast hard and cool last year but its leaking oil now, smoking on the passanger side heads and running warm there is no thermastat in and the radiator is a low about half empty , but the oil does not look milky but theres some gunk in the breathers and it was low on oil so my freind put in 3 quarts now the dipstick says its way full . it has a dip stick for a van i think it curves up front along the driver side heads. whats the best way to flush my motor should i have the gaskets replaced then flush or try too do it first then tear it out ? the most messed up thing is this motor supposedly only had about maybe 5000 miles , it was in a freinds moms boyfreind that was in jail chevy 2500 it supposedly blew the rear end up after 38 miles then it was parked for about 2 years . we then pulled it out and put it in my freinds gp it blew up 3 more rearends he gave up and i blew my 3.8 so i got it from him the motor is a 70s lt1 my freind verified in some chevy power catalog or something like that i need some help
I need new gaskets which ones are good
- Thread starter illregal82
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Did u figure it out, yet? LT1 that blew up 4 rearends? I doubt its the engines fault. junkyard rearends aren't always good.
For your probs, though. Why is the radiator half empty? Did u ever fill it? Did it leak on the ground? Does the exhaust have excess white smoke?
No milk on the dipstick is a good thing, but if there is a white residue on the oil fill cap, then u have a moisture problem of some sort. Possibly from just sitting around in the garage, or maybe worse. But, first, get the right dipstick or an aftermarket so u r not guessing on the oil level, why take a chance on this? Is it leaking oil on the ground? Does it smell like its oil burning under the hood?
My suggestions:
1. Get the right dipstick and tube
2. Put a T-Stat back in it 180^
3. Fill the rad. with a 50/50 mix of coolant/water
4. Change oil and add 5 quarts of 10W30 and a fresh filter
5. Clean the breather
6. Replace the PCV Valve
After doing these all minor things, do u still have any oil pressure? Does it rattle or knock? Maybe its a bad gauge because no oil pressure gets noisy. Run a 2nd gauge or rent a test gauge for pressure testing.
BTW, sounds like u have leaky valve cover gaskets also. If u r leaking oil at the bottom of the engine (doesn't really sound like it), then replace oil pan gasket and rear main at the same time.
For your probs, though. Why is the radiator half empty? Did u ever fill it? Did it leak on the ground? Does the exhaust have excess white smoke?
No milk on the dipstick is a good thing, but if there is a white residue on the oil fill cap, then u have a moisture problem of some sort. Possibly from just sitting around in the garage, or maybe worse. But, first, get the right dipstick or an aftermarket so u r not guessing on the oil level, why take a chance on this? Is it leaking oil on the ground? Does it smell like its oil burning under the hood?
My suggestions:
1. Get the right dipstick and tube
2. Put a T-Stat back in it 180^
3. Fill the rad. with a 50/50 mix of coolant/water
4. Change oil and add 5 quarts of 10W30 and a fresh filter
5. Clean the breather
6. Replace the PCV Valve
After doing these all minor things, do u still have any oil pressure? Does it rattle or knock? Maybe its a bad gauge because no oil pressure gets noisy. Run a 2nd gauge or rent a test gauge for pressure testing.
BTW, sounds like u have leaky valve cover gaskets also. If u r leaking oil at the bottom of the engine (doesn't really sound like it), then replace oil pan gasket and rear main at the same time.
i havnt done anything yet right now my freinds are working on getting this gp on the road then were doing my motor . i dont do the wrenching i was in a car accident dec 26 2006 and am walking with a cane so techniclly i cant but on another note i was thinking of buying the mr gasket ultra seals and replace all the gaskets
If your going to do a gasket kit you should buy a Fel-Pro set. I used that when I put my SBC together and I've been very happy with it. But I'd make sure its not coming from the topend before you tear it all appart. Its always worth it to not cut corners when it comes to gaskets
IMO, Fel-Pro is the only way to go. Some Victor isn't so bad, but I think they r going out. And, yes, Valve Cover leaks cause all sorts of messes that look like oil pan leaks.
A second thought: check the intake manifold gasket, I've seen a few of those blow out. I know from first hand experience... I used the gasket and found out the hard way. If you go through the motor pull the manifold off and run a beed of silicone on there, its the way to go!
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