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Hi All, my 86 RC's engine has either blown a head gasket or cracked a manifold, block or head! Has lots of puffy condensation type blue/grey smoke all the time when running. :\'( This happened yesterday, when I started the beast at the NAPA parts store!!! (maybe something going on here?)
I don't want to invest much more in that engine overall (has over 250,000 miles on it and has never been opened), other than reworking my existing heads focusing on a valve job new valves, springs, keepers with a 3 way grind / seating. Shaving the head to be sure not warped, and that is it for the top end.
As for the lower end, just change out the lifters, push rods and put in a new double roller timing chain. Clean and inspect the manifold for cracks. Put heads, manifolds all back with new blots and studs all around. I have thought about a cam, but really don't want to risk a new came with out changing the cam bearings. I don't want to have to pull that block just yet or go that far inside. I think the bottom end is OK, unless I find a crack in the block! And, I still have the new motor mounts to put on (that will be easier now), and the new fuel pump to put on, and to fix the slow leak in the power stearing pump. Just maybe will splurge and change distributor to match the orange ignition module, haven't decided on that yet!
I'm not wanting to start the engine again, with out pulling my plugs and seeing which cylinder is getting wet. When I arrived home yesterday I parked in the driveway, and changed oil on my car. When I went to start the RC and move it later, is when i noticed the smoke the most. And when starting, it was a real draging on the first rotation of the starter then it did what I thought was a kind of hydro lock thing going on, and the engine didn't even move for a moment then started right up all on the same keystroke. I guess one of the cylinders took just prior to it stopping. I didn't like that, not good, may have bent a rod!
Since this 86 has all the polution crap still on it and I hate it. I know all of it just does not work, and I really want to take it all off. Just don't dare.
I want to keep this RC for a long time, and some day I know the clean air inspections are going to setup shop in my town and want to stuff things into my tailpipe.
I know the local state inspector only does a visual inspection on the crap and it wouldn't pass state inspection with out all that stuff hanging around. But, please don't ask me to repair all that old crap! As time goes on most of that stuff and the replacement parts will become totally obsolete and no longer avalible for this model year, this is the plan for all those "Environmentalists" and "Old Car Killers" anyway, when you can't keep the air clean CRUSH IT mentality!
Long range plan is to find a doner 1998, or newer 360 Magnum MPFI engine and wiring. That is what I really want to do for my old RC, would be emissions compliant too.
While I'm rounding up some scratch for parts and for working over the heads, whats the word on gaskets, I was thinking of going "Fel-pro" all around? Any other suggestions?
I know that I don' t want to do a total rebuild on the engine at all, and money is a factor, but that is exactly it, money is a factor, and I don't want to be doing this a second time because I used a sub-standard or unknown product that I could have spent maybe a couple of more bucks on it the first time around and in the long run saves me money! This is an old engine, and I know that I may have to change plans totally in the middle of things, might even have to find that doner sooner then I want!
And what is wrong with removing the "power heat valve" under that right exhaust manifold? I don't think mine is not working, but can't really see how that is adding much to a bunch of emissions stuff that don't work, an its definitely not "helping" my engine make anymore power in the long run? I don't think that the inspector guy can see it either! Something has to go, it might as well be that! If it needs a pipe strecher to align the exhaust pipe, then I'll gut it out and put back just the spacer. Hows that sound?
Does any of the engine builders, or anyone else that has gone through all of this, have any other suggestions and things to keep an eye out for??
I don't want to invest much more in that engine overall (has over 250,000 miles on it and has never been opened), other than reworking my existing heads focusing on a valve job new valves, springs, keepers with a 3 way grind / seating. Shaving the head to be sure not warped, and that is it for the top end.
As for the lower end, just change out the lifters, push rods and put in a new double roller timing chain. Clean and inspect the manifold for cracks. Put heads, manifolds all back with new blots and studs all around. I have thought about a cam, but really don't want to risk a new came with out changing the cam bearings. I don't want to have to pull that block just yet or go that far inside. I think the bottom end is OK, unless I find a crack in the block! And, I still have the new motor mounts to put on (that will be easier now), and the new fuel pump to put on, and to fix the slow leak in the power stearing pump. Just maybe will splurge and change distributor to match the orange ignition module, haven't decided on that yet!
I'm not wanting to start the engine again, with out pulling my plugs and seeing which cylinder is getting wet. When I arrived home yesterday I parked in the driveway, and changed oil on my car. When I went to start the RC and move it later, is when i noticed the smoke the most. And when starting, it was a real draging on the first rotation of the starter then it did what I thought was a kind of hydro lock thing going on, and the engine didn't even move for a moment then started right up all on the same keystroke. I guess one of the cylinders took just prior to it stopping. I didn't like that, not good, may have bent a rod!

Since this 86 has all the polution crap still on it and I hate it. I know all of it just does not work, and I really want to take it all off. Just don't dare.
I want to keep this RC for a long time, and some day I know the clean air inspections are going to setup shop in my town and want to stuff things into my tailpipe.

Long range plan is to find a doner 1998, or newer 360 Magnum MPFI engine and wiring. That is what I really want to do for my old RC, would be emissions compliant too.
While I'm rounding up some scratch for parts and for working over the heads, whats the word on gaskets, I was thinking of going "Fel-pro" all around? Any other suggestions?
I know that I don' t want to do a total rebuild on the engine at all, and money is a factor, but that is exactly it, money is a factor, and I don't want to be doing this a second time because I used a sub-standard or unknown product that I could have spent maybe a couple of more bucks on it the first time around and in the long run saves me money! This is an old engine, and I know that I may have to change plans totally in the middle of things, might even have to find that doner sooner then I want!
And what is wrong with removing the "power heat valve" under that right exhaust manifold? I don't think mine is not working, but can't really see how that is adding much to a bunch of emissions stuff that don't work, an its definitely not "helping" my engine make anymore power in the long run? I don't think that the inspector guy can see it either! Something has to go, it might as well be that! If it needs a pipe strecher to align the exhaust pipe, then I'll gut it out and put back just the spacer. Hows that sound?
Does any of the engine builders, or anyone else that has gone through all of this, have any other suggestions and things to keep an eye out for??