1997 5.7L thunderbolt ignition. Slow crank

[findinghomer]

Oh and if I am able to do this, can change into one that's fuel injected? Or will that give me a bunch of incompatible headaches?

 

[nola mike]

Oh and if I am able to do this, can change into one that's fuel injected? Or will that give me a bunch of incompatible headaches?

A truck cam works fine, may need a composite head gasket and brass core plugs, though my 2003 block already had both. Stick with a carb. Your 97 may or may not be a vortec engine. If you got a newer vortec block and combine it with a 4bbl carb that would be a nice upgrade. Otherwise you'd need a non vortec block or swap your heads over.

 

[findinghomer]

A truck cam works fine, may need a composite head gasket and brass core plugs, though my 2003 block already had both. Stick with a carb. Your 97 may or may not be a vortec engine. If you got a newer vortec block and combine it with a 4bbl carb that would be a nice upgrade. Otherwise you'd need a non vortec block or swap your heads over.

Here are a couple pictures from inside of my spark plug hole.. is that yellow stuff rust? I did spray WD-40 in all of the spark plug holes. And should those be in that position?

 

[findinghomer]

If those tell you anything and you need some better pictures I can get some later it just got really hot out and I couldn't concentrate getting a better shot, my camera it's not that great

 

[alldodge]

Looks like rust to be

 

[findinghomer]

Looks like rust to be

Is it worth squirting some PB blaster in there?

 

[alldodge]

Is it worth squirting some PB blaster in there?

No
Your motor is acting like a bull dozer I bought. It would crank but only slowly. After doing most of the stuff you did, I pulled the valve cover like Mike mentioned and found water. After that I pulled, rebuilt and reinstalled the motor.

The cylinder walls were rusted up bad. This is why I wondered if the oil level was correct. Water floats to the bottom and you will not see it on the dipstick but it will raise the level

 

[alldodge]

CAT 3204 motor