4.3GL Rebuild it?

[dtescher]

Had water intrusion somewhere above the pistons. Intake manifold. Exhaust risers. Heads. I'm not sure.
I've attached photos showing pistons, valves and rusty areas. Oil is clear on dipstick no water. Need help
deciding whether or not I should open up the bottom end or just replace risers and manifolds. Do a valve
job on both heads.

Valve Bent


Piston Damage


Inside Cooling System-What Is that?


See Attached For pics of center of motor and some rust drips. Ok? Not Ok?

 

[Fun Times]

Re: 4.3GL Rebuild it?

Did the engine ever Hydrolock.

If the piston is damaged then it should to come apart.

Do the cylinder walls have any deep grooves?

Being in CA, Do you run in salt water?

 

[dtescher]

Re: 4.3GL Rebuild it?

No Hydrolock. Piston just marked on the top. No deep grooves on cylinder walls. Yes, salt water. It was running rough due to the one valve being stuck open.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 4.3GL Rebuild it?

No Hydrolock. Piston just marked on the top. No deep grooves on cylinder walls. Yes, salt water. It was running rough due to the one valve being stuck open.

Ayuh,.... It may well be Cheaper, 'n No doubt Quicker to go with a re-man Long Block, over rebuildin' it yerself,....

For the back-story,...

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: 4.3GL Rebuild it?

Cant tell from the pics for sure.. but on the cylinder pic looks like you have some pitting......move the piston down to the bottom of the stroke and wipe down the walls and take another pic.

 

[dtescher]

Re: 4.3GL Rebuild it?

Unfortunately I just realized that I removed the distributor without finding TDC first. Do I just put it back if it might have moved a few teeth one way or the other? Then find TDC?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 4.3GL Rebuild it?

Unfortunately I just realized that I removed the distributor without finding TDC first. Do I just put it back if it might have moved a few teeth one way or the other? Then find TDC?

Ayuh,... Yer not goin' to try to Start it are ya,..??

If so, ya gotta find Tdc 1st, then stab the distributor at Tdc,...

 

[MikDee]

Re: 4.3GL Rebuild it?

When TDC comes up on the crank, it could be #1, or #6, they're both on top at the same time. Your camshaft determines which one is ready to fire, as it turns at 1/2 speed of the crank. (4-cycle engine). Find compression, & TDC, on #1, then drop the Dizzy in set to #1.

 

[Lou C]

Re: 4.3GL Rebuild it?

How many years worth in salt water? Was it running hot before the stuck valve? Here most mechanics will not re-build a salt water run engine. The reason being the corrosion build up in the cooling passages causes chronic hot running after some years. This is why, despite thousands of arguments about 'air doesn't freeze', I have always filled up my engine and manifolds with -100 AF for winterizing. I don't have corrosion that looks like that in my engine and its older, at least 15 years use in salt with it being moored in salt for 6 months of each season.
Its a bit of a gamble but you could try doing the heads, make sure the manifold and head sealing surfaces are not corroded and put it back together, with new manifolds and risers. Never go more than 7 years or so in salt on them. That most likely is the main cause of your problem here. Water down manifold, water rusts valve stem, valve sticks open hits piston.....
I go 5 years on manifolds and change em....

If you do get a new or rebuilt engine GET CLOSED COOLING for sure....and avoid some of those problems.....as long as you look at regular exhaust replacement you can get 25+ years out of it....I have even with raw water cooling....