My journey to the Nationals on Sunday was cut rather short by an engine failure. I am not too sure how big/bad at this stage but it sounded terminal.
It is a 1972 454 big block on 54000 miles, and other than a recent air intake and carb upgrade is pretty much stock. Convertible 4 speed manual, power steering but no air con. It has been mine for just over a year.
First of all, thanks to the two Corvette drivers who stopped to make sure I was ok. Mark Brailsford, and the other chap whose name I cannot remember in a metallic orange c3.
M1 southbound just before J20 and doing 65 ish, what started out as a tapping noise from the drivers side, very quickly turned into a bag of spanners rattling. I dipped the clutch and pulled over as quickly and safely as I could. By the time I came to a standstill on the hard shoulder, the engine had cut out. I noticed the oil pressure had dropped significantly but cannot remember if that was before or after the car cut out - it was all a bit sudden.
I opened the bonnet expecting to see everything coated in oil, but nothing, not a drop anywhere in the engine bay or under the car.
I got recovered home by Unity, provided through the recovery service of my ClassicLine insurance policy. Excellent service was provided by both Unity and ClassicLine with welfare calls to me every 10 to 15 minutes to update me and make sure I was ok. Picked up just over an hour after calling and back home with the car in the garage by lunchtime.
I have checked the oil and coolant with the engine cold. Both are still full and both are still separate so no significant gasket failures or internal damage based on that very rudimentary check.
Assuming (perhaps incorrectly) I could not make it much worse, I did remove the coil lead and turned it over on the starter for a very brief moment, and it turned without any problems and did not sound too different than normal.
My suspicion is a timing gear failure, could be worse, could be much less but do not know.
Work and other commitments meant today is the first time I have been able to think about doing anything with the car.
My questions are;
What are the sensible next steps?
Do I just try and start it and see what happens - perhaps not sensible I know?
Is it worth getting the rocker covers off and see if there is anything noticeable?
Getting to the timing gears looks possible, albeit slightly challenged due to the large block with the engine in the car, but would be easier with the engine out.
Is it worth taking the heads off with the engine still in the car?
Is getting the engine out the next sensible option?
I know this is such an open-ended question, but are there any guide prices for a top end , bottom end and full rebuild?
Assuming the worst, and it needs a full or partial rebuild are there any good engine specialists around Leicester, or even national that I should be contacting or avoiding?
So far I have found or had the following recommendations.
- Williams Brothers - Northampton
- Andy Fanshaw - Chesterfield,
- John Sleath Race Cars - Doncaster
- Boost Performance - Nottingham
- Lincolnshire Corvette - Grantham
- JE Engineering - Lancashire
I have an excellent group of friends that can help get the engine out if needed, and between us we have enough skill to start stripping the engine down. I have access to a double cab truck and trailer so moving the engine and car is not too big a deal. However, rebuilding the engine correctly and any machining required is pushing our capability to its limits or beyond. Would an engine builder expect to see the engine as is before we take it apart?
I am open to sensible suggestions and advice.
Jeremy
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