> Date: Tue, 14 Jul 92 09:56:19 PDT
> From: pwv@tc.fluke.COM (Pat Vilbrandt)
> To: cobra@snakebyte.cdc.hp.com
> Subject: Re: snake in the grass
> Cc: british-cars@autox.team.net
>
>
> > Before starting the car I removed the valve covers to oil up
> > the valve train. I was pretty well sickened by the God awful mess I
> > found there. There was about an inch of waxy sludge on everything. [...]
>
> I've seen this in just about every older 289 that I've popped the covers off.
> I've always attributed it to the way the valve covers "stand proud" on that
> engine - this could make them run cooler which could cause the volatiles to
> condense out onto them.
Yes. It has that oily-dirty-watery-mix-after-its-dried look.
I think distilled gunk-deposits pretty well describes this stuff.
>
> I presume you still have this beast, and will be bringing it back to life??
I do still have it (in many, many pieces) and do plan to revive it, but
after I take care of a few dozen other things. It'll be a costly
rebuild.
>
> > seals used in these engines tend to harden and disintegrate.
>
> 'Tis true. However, pay close attention to the "disintegrate" part - when
> they disintegrate, the bits of hardened rubber end up in the oil pan and
> will eventually reach critical mass and plug the oil pickup. #1 cause of
> no oil pressure in this engine, and resulting in siezed bearings?? Hmmmm...
I suspect the rubber chunks are no worse than the "deposit" chunks in
this regard. Both concern me quite a bit. The two times I've had the
HiPo engine apart I didn't see anything approaching the mess inside this
Fairlane engine. And I know what caused the seized bearings; the
diaphragm in the mechanical fuel pump split resulting in the crankcase
filling with gasoline. I'm probably lucky the car didn't catch on fire.
BTW, this is a fairly common problem with with these engines. Another
common problem is for the oil pump shaft (driven off the bottom of the
distributor) to seize and twist off.
>
> Also, you can expect the timing chain to be quite sloppy, given your
> description of the condition of the engine - but that's okay, since you will
> be rebuilding your hi-po 289 soon!!?? :^)
Right!!
Roland Dudley
cobra@hpcdcsn.cdc.hp.com
CSX2282
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