The 365 is a 58. The 390 sounded great but it kept blowing the radiator hoses off. If it wasn’t for that you wouldn’t even known it was getting combustion gasses into the radiator.
Just by looking at the deck though even as pitted as it is I can’t tell where the leakage would be coming from since the areas around the cylinders seem ok. Which still makes be suspicious of the block itself…. I really need to ask around and find a solid machine shop. I’m learning that a bad one can cost you a lot of money and wasted time.
I'm guessing it was going through the headgasket - probably from warpage/wear on the deck and/or head
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) 1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe 1979 Ford F-100 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Back in the day when we found a block or a head that was pitted we used an epoxy filler. It's been so long ago now I don't recall the name of it. We would use a hand held bead blaster and a soda (baking) blaster to clean out the pits. Grind out some of the bad ones with some small stones. Even drill some small holes for the epoxy to grip to. Apply the epoxy to the pitted areas and let it cure. Then file it flat. Apply a little more if there were imperfections. When the head gasket and head are bolted on it would hold the epoxy in place and made for a good seal. Just an option to salvage an old irreplaceable engine.
51 GMC 100 with 59 chevy 261 under the hood. 3 on the floor with 3.42 gear.
Devcon Epoxy Steel- - - - -it can even be drilled and tapped in some applications. It's also possible to machine the top of the block for a stainless steel O ring made from .032" diameter aircraft safety wire, which is usually used with a solid copper head gasket for blower-equipped tractor pull engines. I've done that on several MOPAR hemi engines for a friend's unlimited class pull truck. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. Ernest Hemingway
After 4 years and tons of help from this site grandpas truck went for its maiden voyage down the street. The 365 caddy motor seems to be in good shape. Fun fact, don’t ever fire up an engine without the carburetor on. I got to try out my fire extinguisher this weekend. Not too much damage done but I’ll need to replace a few wires.
Oh, and I’m going to get a t-shirt made that says “argh, I knew I should have replaced the rear main seal….drip drip”
My 365 has been leaking from the rear main seal for 21 years. I should have named the car Exxon Valdez instead of Bismarck.
They always leak.
Nevertheless, it beats a Chevy 350 by a long shot.
Last edited by Otto Skorzeny; Tue Jan 17 2023 03:43 AM.
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) 1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe 1979 Ford F-100 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Does anybody else remember the Allard sports car- - - -the one with the Cadillac V8 for a powerplant? I've got an Excalibur roadster kit car waiting in a long line of projects- - - - -Dad's old 390 just might find a new home after all!
insider.hagerty.com/car/1952-allard-j2/
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. Ernest Hemingway
