The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Sludge - O - Matic

Pulled the intake on this little 283 and found lots of sludge. Carefully cleaned her out, we will see. Would like to get at the pan but that is a pain in the a$$

[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b11/Toomanyhobbies/032.jpg[/IMG]

I think you should take it apart, have the whole thing hot tanked, and rebuild it. Modern cams are so much better anyway, and don't cost that much if they're flat tappet. And there are some really good heads out there that don't cost much either. Check out Summit and GM Performance Parts for starters.

That sludge could be in some critical oil galleys too. If the sludge is that bad, I don't think I would want to trust it.

Hot Rod Dad, I agree 100% with you. Right now I am on a budget, just finished a kitchen/house remodel.

If I do pull the motor, I would dump either a 350 or a 383 stroker in her. I am leaning towards the stroker. I built one for one of our Camaros, serious torque and of course traction problems.

Here is a before pic of one of out Camaros

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b11/Toomanyhobbies/PB200035.jpg

And After

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b11/Toomanyhobbies/PC030017.jpg

Have you thought of just flushing it with half and half oil/kerosene mix? then drain and refil with oil. Most folks who do this are very happy with results after idling the engine for 2-3 minutes with this mixture. John

I wouldn't want kerosene going through my engine bearings for 2 or 3 minutes with the engine running.

Add a litre of Auto tranny fluid to the oil, run for 10 minutes at
idle then change oil and filter....ATF is high detergent and will
clean out the motor a bit....

I second the auto trans fluid

I have heard of these tricks, but advised against them. I am hesitant to loosen it up and clog an oil journal

ATF Fluid,It will do less harm that aggresive mechanical removal....it will disolve the sludge gradually, not in chunks/bits and pieces...
my 2 cents....

I myself would pull the pan, remove as much as possible and use 1 qt of ATF in lieu of 1 QT oil for the first few oil changes. I have done that for years. I have also used the 1 qt of diesel in the engine just prior to an oil change. With engine warm, add diesel, run engine for about 30 seconds, then shut off and let sit for a minute. Change oil often.

Then if the engine starts to rattle, re-build it.

Thanks Scott. My thoughts exactly going to pull the pan and clean it out. May try the ATF. If it goes post toastie then I will put a 383 stroker in.