Craigs List Rebuild? Oiling Issues.

This is why all 'rebuilt' engines from private parties should be considered as a core unless there is some sort of proof.

 

Yes that is correct. The heads are identical so you are good. Some aftermarket rocker tubes did not have a knotch ground into the tube to indicate proper location like the factory tubes did. That caused a lot of confusion to some of the guys here that rebuilt the 225 on there own. Happy to see your right. The bolt going into the front pedistal should have a narrow shank so oil can travel around it.

 

This might be the issue here. The front bolt has a flange head on it and the two rear bolts over the splash guard have regular heads on them. From what I remember they all seem to be the same diameter. I will have to remove the bolts on the other side and see if somehow the bolts where mixed up by PO in some reassembly.

 

Had a few minutes and removed the bolts on driver side. They are all the same and are all rather thin.

I’m going wheeling in N Alabama this weekend so we’ll have to see next week what the compression numbers are before moving forward. Anyone else have any concerns doing a plugs out compression test with the oil pan off?

Thanks everyone for the replies.

 

Put the oil pick-up in a drain pan of decent used oil, don't turn it dry and loose the prime.

 

This looks good enough to go ahead and pull the timing cover and look at those parts.

 

I’m really out of time for this week to work on this stuff but I got the timing cover off very easily without any broken bolts.

The timing chain looks okay except the tensioner is missing. Then I remembered that the 5 cylinder Dauntless has a new(ish) Cam, lifters and chain.

 

If you swap another cam into this engine, be sure to keep each lifter in order so they can go back to the same lobe that they were running on. Very important to the life of the cam! Its also a good idea to keep the pushrods with the same lifter/rocker too. A shoebox works well if you punch two rows of 6 holes, after marking “front”.
-Donny

 

The oil in the 5 hitter was really bad. I wouldn't use those parts.

 

Great compression numbers.

 

I'm surprised you haven't had a talk with the seller. Depending on what you paid, you may be able to get a partial refund of your money.

 

It’s been in my garage for over a year. I don’t even remember who/where I got it from. I do remember that I paid under $1000.

 

Did you check all the cam lobes? It's not uncommon for one or two to be wiped and the others are fine.

 

The plot thickens!!

Check out the crank on my old Dauntless. It’s well stained from years of use.



The Craig’s List rebuild has a perfectly shiny crank. It looks brand new.

The timing chain also seems new. Has less slack than my other Dauntless with maybe 8,000 miles. I’m going to swap over the missing tensioner and the newer cam and lifters. We’ll see….

 

With the timing chain off what’s holding the Camshaft in? I don’t remember or see anything but it’s not slipping out?

 

Checked only by peaking in from the bottom and turning it over. No big issue I can see but there’s obvious wear. I’m just going to swap it with a newer known mileage cam.

 

Gotta have all the lifters out (numbered and arranged) then take the chain off and pull nice and smoothly. All the lifters and distributor gear should keep the cam riding to the rear. Some engines have a physical lock plate or thrust button but not these (if I remember).

How do the cylinder walls look?

 

Lifters and chain, got all that. Don’t see or remember anything holding it in. Didn’t pull the heads. I still may, seeing I ordered a gasket kit that has the new head gaskets.

 

Don't mix and match cam and lifters. If your lifters aren't dished they should still be ok but MUST be kept in order. Chain should have very little slack. I was surprised at how little my new chain had. Very similar to you, had an engine with good compression frozen lifters and a wiped cam. I did a cam, lifter, timing chain set and don't regret it. Wasn't much money as I recall but did the work myself.

Melling Sbc8 Cam | ECJ5 (earlycj5.com)
Cupped / Dished Lifter Question | ECJ5 (earlycj5.com)

 

That’s pretty much what I’ve ended up with. I swapped the cam and lifters today. The chain that was on there was definitely new. I’m guessing that since the crankshaft is new or machined the PO had to at least put in new bearings. I see old pistons but hopefully they put in new rings. It has good compression so that seems more likely now.

I skipped work today and did parts cleaning and swapping and reassembly.


I’m now very familiar with the term “sticky lifters” Every one of these fought me coming out.



First attempt at a RPM sensor bracket. It needs to be redone but the mounting and stiffness are going to be good.