First, thank you Jerry, George, truckernix, tclederman for all your replies.
Got home, pulled the plugs. They look like they've been running too cold, but other than that they are all dry, no erosion or significant buildup.
[img]
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1p02ACadoDvJ7cIkQ4Wy33YktwOqirlx-[/img]
Got the head off. There's a lot of carbon but I think the valves look ok. Don't see any chips or cracks and they seem to seat well. I don't have a compressor tool, and I can't find one locally so I can't get the valves out yet. But I am pretty happy with the head I think.
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https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Z4x6An_0k_SLAU253kyPD6874ERS1yux[/img]
Here is a map of the head bolts as were in the engine. I'm wondering if one of the manifold bolts was swapped, as they were stamped, and the M bolts were close, but not exactly like the F bolts.
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https://drive.google.com/open?id=12xW11sslKvvJPwsnCwwIAFKEFIWgef9A[/img]
The cylinders look good. I don't see any crosshatching, though it's present in the bottom below the rings. The walls are smooth. I cannot feel anything with my fingernails. There is a lip at the top, thinner than a fingernail, maybe 2-3 thousandths. Here is an example of the walls
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https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cBPgDThn46pcaulr1vDetUZg1OeP1_66[/img]
Here's the bottom of the engine with the pan off
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https://drive.google.com/open?id=1SEPGyDbgSqgcZ0G7Yz2uXvCeztUM4vWV[/img]
Here's the camshaft
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https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GNA_FH81R0Oz4_5Pzcb5MBXrBXhMoT70[/img]
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https://drive.google.com/open?id=1r0uai4e-sIWB2EucyibkqvwKpVj8SlZl[/img]
Here's the bottom of the lifter that was stuck. Sorry, this was the best angle I could get. By the way, someone suggested in another thread to try a hose clamp around the lifter. That was pretty effective. I think if I'd been more persistent I would have been successful, but I was pulling off the pan anyway, and decided to wait. I can easily access them from the bottom and will probably tap them out if it comes to that. That tool, Jerry, would have worked in my situation also. I didn't know of that thank you!
[img]
https://drive.google.com/open?id=17xkXpmZOJP7Fi1xCvz27exhV8jFh4RvR[/img]
Here's the sludge in the bottom of the pan. There is some grey precipitate, but it was buried and undisturbed. This is fine, but sandy.
[img]
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1B-ql6ZGU6SaA0RMqIAC66-0TmWmKu3-b[/img]
Well. I have only rebuilt engines in event of a failure, and that was 15 years ago and my Dad was in charge. I have no experience that tells me what to do here. If this was a farm truck, or something I planned to just putter around town I would just clean it up, reassemble and drive it. But my wife and I want to drive it to Louisville, KY for the NSRA nationals which is 550 miles away next year. Of course we plan to make many short trips first.
QUESTIONS:
1. I am really interested in what you guys think about this engine, and what you'd do with it.
2. Is there any point in pulling the piston rod caps or should I just leave well enough alone?
3. How in the world do I clean this gunk out?
