The truck in question is 1958, fleetside with a 283.

About a year and half ago the the 283 was rebuilt. At the time of the rebuild the engine was painted the wrong the color. It was painted the Chevrolet 6 color. At the time of the rebuild the machine shop had put a tag on the engine claiming it was dry and needed oil. Okay no problem I put 5 quarts in it and once a week turned it over by hand. A few months later got the starter installed and then once a week turned it over by that method. A few months ago, I attached the exhaust manifolds and attempted to start it. It did right up. Let it run for a few seconds and shut it down.

From there I ordered and installed the exhaust system, went to a lot of trouble to use the correct clamps and hangers, even the an original NOS type around the muffler. Thursday, I thought with the complete exhaust installed lets run it. I prepare everything including rebuilding the carb and it starts right up again, although there is a fuel leak. I improve the fuel leaks, and start it up again. Not as easily as the first couple of attempts but it runs. Let it run for a minute, shut it down. Clean up everything wait an hour or so, and think okay the dog needs a walk, lets start it up one more time and then I will take the dog for the walk. Could not get it to run. My first thought was probably burned the points as I was not running the resistor, so I clean them up and try again would not run. Keep at it, check the oil, to much oil, start taking oil out through the dip stick tube, get 2 quarts of oil through the tube and there is still too much. Call the re builder he tells me he put oil in it, suggests removing the oil drain plug and putting in the correct 5 quarts of oil. I did exactly that, he doubted I had done any damage to the engine. I am a skeptical person, so I decide to do a compression check.

Yup all 8 cylinders around 100 PSi. I think naw must be gauge to low, so I take gauge and test a known running engine, gauge goes past 100PSi, conclusion.

New engine not new anymore. Always check oil, no matter how many tags, should have been more skeptical. Just unbelievable.

Last edited by GMCAMARO; 11/26/2010 3:09 PM.