A question that I am not sure how to even ask...

BillGrissom said

I wouldn't pull it just yet. I have seen much gunkier engines. If the compression measures good, the oil pressure is fine, and it makes no deep, clunky sounds under throttle, it is probably perfectly good. If it proves out, I would jack it up a bit, remove the oil pan, and wash the topside good w/ kerosine (diesel) or gasoline (don't smoke) until shiny, and wash all the carbon and crud down, clean the oil pickup screen. Force clean oil thru the passages using a small garden sprayer attached to the oil sender port (I do this on engines that sat for years) to wash any grit out of the rockers. Then bolt back w/ new gaskets.

Click to expand...

I think that your right about cleaning out the pick up screen.

After I pulled the cover and photoed it I went to a wyfy bar to send it. When I got home, just to be sure, I pulled the oil plug again and...


Black gold!


Somehow the removal of the valve cover let the oil spill down, maybe the pressure change or movement dislodged the stoppage.

To test this, I poured 48 ounces over the vales and they went right through as if nothing was unusual.

I'm going to put the cover back on with a new gasket so I dropped by here to send you the note. My oil collector got it all, so the oil's accounted for [6 1/2 quarts].

Now I have to look into the screen to clean that out and then look at the core plug problem that RustyRatRod explained. I cant afford a rebuild so I'll have to find another solution. 64ragtop asked about coolant on the valves but that was just the flare of a cheap digital camera. The oil looks clean inside and there's not much sludge to find.

So thanks for the feedback. I'm off to buy some dowel rods to set the valve cover gasket and I'll pour another 4+5 with it on to see if there are any leaks I had missed before.

Thanks!

Be back as soon as I'm in wyfy range...