pepe10

Took the heads to the shop for a valve job. Will have back by Monday and will put all these parts back together in a way that it will resemble an engine that works.

jdp6000

How does the cam and lifters look?

pepe10

Cam and lifters appear to be working just fine. Lifters only have 20,000 miles on them and were operating well.

When I took the heads to the shop, the owner said he could smell the bad gas causing the buildup. Fuel was left in the tank without stabilizer for nine months when I had the car towed in for transmission rebuild and sat again as I was out of town. I may know by the end of next week how well things are going.

I have an ASE certified Corvette pro who will help me put this engine back together...hey, I can take almost anything apart. Actually I have a lot of parts that made up something at one time.

jdp6000

You and I both! Spare parts after reassemble are bad though...

pepe10

Will attempt to take an even closer look at the cam next week. Pulling lifters has revealed nothing out of the ordinary and am really not expecting a cam problem especially with the amount of caking on the valves.

Worse than parts left over...maybe...is when one is finishing the reassemble and the part needed next is missing...where is that thing?..Oh...just get another part...what the hey!

Actually everything is labeled and in plastic bags. Rocker arms push rods are all in order and kept together.

The manual I put together is very detailed and just hope I don't get lost on the way putting the pieces back together. It has been many years (if ever) since I have gone this far on a repair.

terry82

looking at your factory headers.i can see the tubes inside the header,they have to be a big restriction.i would trim those back .

pepe10

Before and after pictures of valve job and painting head with GM Corporate Blue.





Waiting for the arrival of the gasket set which is here somewhere in Tampa since 5:34 AM and sat most of two days in Orlando. I could have gone and picked it up yesterday.

pepe10

The guys doing the valve job state that the valves were sticking and the cause of my issues. Seemed to get worse as the engine heated up. Anyway, I am putting the engine back together and nearly completed the process yesterday. Here is what it looks like as I have to put the exhaust manifold back on the RH side as well as a couple of other things before I start the engine hopefully today.

jdp6000

Looks good. Hopefully the problems are gone.

Jim

LastC3AZ

lookin good ...... wouldn't a sticky valve be related to soft springs ???? hopefully they put in new ones for ya ..???

pepe10

I suppose that would make sense but the bad gas that I had turned to shellac and coated the valve stem which caused them to stick open. Note the picture I posted on October 17.

The stems were all coated but the front cylinders where the source of the backfire. All is good now except I have yet to reattach the RH exhaust manifold and of course an issue has arisen. My goal was to start the engine today but looks like tomorrow is my best hope.

It was very cold here in Florida (46 degrees in the early AM) so we all stayed inside until we warm up again.

pepe10

Was able to put the final parts in place, new plugs, connect battery and started engine. Chugged along just like it did before I took the intake manifold off and coded MAP sensor 33. Not sure what my next step is but will keep you posted.

jdp6000

What the F@@k! That makes no sense!

Did you use the right plenum gasket?

Take a reading off the port the map sensor is on. Are you getting a constant 20? Is the port plugged? Is the hose to long? Does the MAP work?

Lastly have the IAC's reset? You have to drive it for them to.

Jim

LastC3AZ

How long did you run it ..... remember it will take the ECM some time to get new readings and make adjustments accordingly .... ????

pepe10

Must have been one cog off. TDC lined up with #2 and only had to twist dizzy to get to#1 and set timing. Started right up and ran very smoothly. Very nice...but...coolant leak and yet to locate the source.

On the right path.

jdp6000

Did you figure it out?

Jim

pepe10

First test drive today. Ran very well.

Coolant leak was from the rear the intake manifold to the shutoff and reattached. Still have a very small leak from the threads around the CTS.

Got an oxygen sensor code 44 on the drive and that was after tuning the TBIs. Not sure what to think but may recheck to see if TBIs remain in balance and check fuel pressure.

Mostly seems like I am tying up loose ends now. Not pleased that I got the 44 code and seems like the only thing really holding me back.

terry82

tb balance should not have changed.the o2 code could be from anything .clear and try again.

pepe10

Sensor was an ACDelco AFS22 (already tried code clearing and just came back again) probably should have been a AFS21. Put the old sensor back in and no codes.

Final Word


SWEET!

I am done here. Thank you all!

jdp6000

Nice! Happy motoring.

Jim