So when I was in Florida I picked up a mid 70s Chevy 250 6 cylinder for a project. The guy told me it was low mileage and probably the only thing it really needs would be gaskets. Well when I pull the head off I thought OMG. There was about 3/4 to 1 inch of sludge buildup in the head and then under the side cover it was just as bad. I thought the worse as I clean the head off of crud so I can remove it. When I pulled the head it had a OEM metal head gasket, there was zero ridge at the top of the cylinders and the valves looked really thick. I then flipped the engine over to pull the pan and check the rods and main bearings. It was running the fiber timing gear on the cam was in pristine condition. The rod and main bearings look like they might’ve only had a few thousand miles on them. What do you think? Going to get the block dipped to clean the rust out of it and reassemble it as it is other than possibly replacing of the timing gear since it’s fiber. What do you folks think?…..joe
~ Joe Donate Blood, Plasma, Platelets and Sign Your DONORS CARD. The Life You SAVE Might Be Someone You Know and LOVE. Two possibilities exist: Either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying. ~ Arthur C. Clarke
Joe, my first thought is it didn't get that much sludge sitting around not being run, but I could be wrong. I'd get a micrometer and start checking everything. Look to see if there are any signs it has been rebuilt in the past.
50 years ago I bought a Ford flathead V8 from a junkyard. When I got it home, I pulled the head on one side. There was no ridge and the valves (from what I could see at first) looked okay. I was thinking I had gotten lucky until I pulled the other head. Then I decided somebody before me had been there first, reamed the ridge, pushed out a piston or two, gave up on it and put it back together to see what they could get for it. I saved it, but it cost much more than I hoped it would. Good luck!
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
