gm crate engine question

[67 chevelle]

Man you are gona love that engine , they run excellent , great choice

[El Dorado Jim]

engine on the hoist and after in the truck.

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by Jcfcamaro

I highly recommend the VHT paint and also por 15 exhaust manifold paint. Comes in a pint can and you brush it on. It really holds up. Used it on my camaro manifolds.

where can i get por 15 exhaust manifold paint?I used VHT for the engine

[Jcfcamaro]

Summit racing should have it. Or Classic industries

[TahoeK10]

Originally Posted by El Dorado Jim

where can i get por 15 exhaust manifold paint?I used VHT for the engine

Check with Tognotti's down in Sac.
They have Por15 on the shelf.

[El Dorado Jim]

removed old engine, painted inner fenders,will start installing new engine tomorrow...

[CaptRMW]

Eldo Jim it looks like they missed drilling and tapping the hole for the spark plug heat shield on the right rear of your block. They missed mine too and I didn't catch it until my engine was in and bolted up. It looks like you have the 5/16" hole for the starter brace but no 1/4" hole for the shield. It will be an easy fix on the stand but not so easy in the frame. Good luck, Roger

[saxart]

Originally Posted by CaptRMW

Eldo Jim it looks like they missed drilling and tapping the hole for the spark plug heat shield on the right rear of your block. They missed mine too and I didn't catch it until my engine was in and bolted up. It looks like you have the 5/16" hole for the starter brace but no 1/4" hole for the shield. It will be an easy fix on the stand but not so easy in the frame. Good luck, Roger

Thanks for the heads up on this Roger! My engine is not in yet, so ill have to look for this.

Originally Posted by El Dorado Jim

thanks, I have the engine in the truck already,I guess I wont be using the heat shield...

We need picks Jim!!!!

[El Dorado Jim]

thanks, I have the engine in the truck already,I guess I wont be using the heat shield...

[CaptRMW]

saxart does your block have all of the heat shield bolt holes?

[saxart]

Originally Posted by CaptRMW

saxart does your block have all of the heat shield bolt holes?

Capt-
I believe so... (Sorry for the bad pics)

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by saxart

Capt-
I believe so... (Sorry for the bad pics)

Art, how come that engine isn't installed yet? just kidding, I am retired and mine isn't done yet..

[CaptRMW]

I am 750 miles away and I got mine in about 4 days.

[CaptRMW]

Well crap Art they missed yours too. The threaded hole for the shield should be close to being centered between the spark plugs and I see the one hole you have on the pass. side rear is directly under #6 spark plug and is likely a 5/16" std. thread for the starter brace.
Good Luck, Capt. Roger

[CaptRMW]

BILT4ME Rock Auto has a Dorman balancer for about $30.00 plus shipping and it is probably made by the same rice farmer as the GM one at 1/3 the price. Get Radley to give you a price they may do better with the sale of the engine. Buy a water pump locally and get the lifetime warranty if you are keeping the vehicle. Keep us posted and see if the parts guy at Radley will check the engine to see if they drilled all of the heat shield holes in the block. Good luck, Capt. Roger

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by CaptRMW

BILT4ME Rock Auto has a Dorman balancer for about $30.00 plus shipping and it is probably made by the same rice farmer as the GM one at 1/3 the price. Get Radley to give you a price they may do better with the sale of the engine. Buy a water pump locally and get the lifetime warranty if you are keeping the vehicle. Keep us posted and see if the parts guy at Radley will check the engine to see if they drilled all of the heat shield holes in the block. Good luck, Capt. Roger

yeah,I just didn't want the hassle of trying to find the correct balancer....I bought a new waterpump from autozone with a lifetime warranty...you will need the rod and plate from your old engine for the fuel pump,and the oil filter adapter as well....I went to pick n pull and got extras ,so I could keep my old engine complete,it still runs good, I may put it in an old beater... also, I didn't like the little metal plug for the dipstick hole on the passenger side,so i used a 3/8 " bolt,cut off the threads ,left about 3/4 " solid piece and used gasgacinch to hold it in....that way the plug can never drop in the engine.....you will need to use your dipstick tube and dipstick also

[CC69Rat]

I had one in a 69 Camaro once upon a time. It was the 290hp version. About 500 miles in, it started smoking really bad out the passenger tailpipe.

We tore it down a bit and found it had 4.3l v6 valve seals in it. Interesting. The seals were just chewed all up allowing oil to drip by.. QC apparently isnt the best on these engines (?) maybe I just got a bad one. It was okay I guess.. but I wouldnt buy another one.

Also, if youre not ASE Certified, or you do not have this engine installed at an ASE / GM certified installer facility it will void the warranty. Ask me how I know.

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

I had one in a 69 Camaro once upon a time. It was the 290hp version. About 500 miles in, it started smoking really bad out the passenger tailpipe.

We tore it down a bit and found it had 4.3l v6 valve seals in it. Interesting. The seals were just chewed all up allowing oil to drip by.. QC apparently isnt the best on these engines (?) maybe I just got a bad one. It was okay I guess.. but I wouldnt buy another one.

Also, if youre not ASE Certified, or you do not have this engine installed at an ASE / GM certified installer facility it will void the warranty. Ask me how I know.

not true about the warranty,according to Radley...I had alot of great reviews from members here who installed one of these engines.....

[CC69Rat]

http://www.genuinegmparts.com/powertrain-parts/engines

The warranty claim for is on this page and according to Summit Racing ( where I bought mine years ago..) it has to be installed by a dealer or ISC to obtain warranty coverage.

You asked for opinions and I'm just sharing my experience with them. Good luck to you.

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

http://www.genuinegmparts.com/powertrain-parts/engines

The warranty claim for is on this page and according to Summit Racing ( where I bought mine years ago..) it has to be installed by a dealer or ISC to obtain warranty coverage.

You asked for opinions and I'm just sharing my experience with them. Good luck to you.

I called Radley today just to confirm the warranty, Mike at Radley said the warranty is good if you install it yourself...just doesn't cover labor costs...which I don't care about...thanks for your info but things must have changed...

[El Dorado Jim]

Got my engine running tonight, had wife keep it at 2000-2500 rpm's for 30 minutes....no leaks and no weird noises !! idled it down,set the timing and set the idle rpm's...it runs beautifully!!!! Love it when a plan comes together!!

[diggerbob]

Did the misses complain about sitting in your truck mashing down the gas pedal in the garage for half an hour? Just wondering...mine would've complained a little bit...ok..a lot.

[saxart]

Good work Jim! Mine's still sitting on the engine stand covered in plastic.

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by diggerbob

Did the misses complain about sitting in your truck mashing down the gas pedal in the garage for half an hour? Just wondering...mine would've complained a little bit...ok..a lot.

No, she was fine with it, she knows I had to check for leaks and weird noises.

[el_fantasma]

Originally Posted by El Dorado Jim

Got my engine running tonight, had wife keep it at 2000-2500 rpm's for 30 minutes....no leaks and no weird noises !! idled it down,set the timing and set the idle rpm's...it runs beautifully!!!! Love it when a plan comes together!!

Hi Jim,
Any updates on your engine? How is the paint holding up. What oil/additive did you eventually use. I'm asking because I'll be doing this too. Thanks