5.7 v8 help

fergal.b

This is an engine I got for a boat that I am building it's a small block chevy and has an odd noise coming from it,I hope to rebuild it and would like to know where I can get parts for it in Ireland or better still north Dublin.
Also if you think you know what the tapping noise might be that would be great Thanks. just click on the pic.
I have this posted in motors and it was suggested to try you guys that might be into american muscle:)

Hifive

Hi Ferg, Mark here.

It's hard to hear anything other than that fine V8 growl!
What sort of noise is it? tapping, rattling whine?
Engine speed related?
Worn rocker?
Circulation pump bearing?
Mech fuel pump worn out?
A blown manifold gasket can sound surprisingly like a speed related tapping sound.

I'm sure some of the American motor guys can point you in the right direction for spares.

Mark.

shagman

There's nowhere in Ireland that stocks parts but everything is available from the UK. www.realsteel.co.uk would be the main source for engines parts but there are others. Jim Robinson up north has some chevy bits I think but is mainly Rover V8s these days www.jrv8.co.uk
They are fairly simple engines to work on.I'd find a manual on line and try and find where the problem is coming from once you know what part needs replacing we can give you advice from there.
Other american car clubs that may be able to help are
http://www.americanmusclecarsireland.net/portal.php
http://www.maac-ireland.com/
http://www.gascc.ie/
http://www.americancarclubni.com/

fergal.b

Hi Mark and shagman thanks for the tips, I think that I will do a full rebuild just to be on the safe side, realsteel look to have all I need and I singed up to americanmusclecars last night just waiting for email back,I will start off with a compression first and then work from there. Thanks again.

shagman

I'd take the rocker covers off first and check all the lifter/push-rod clearances and examine all moving parts. If the fault is in there (damaged lifter ,rocker , spring, push-rod etc) then you will save your self stripping the engine and can probably sort it in-situ.
Be aware some parts are different for marine engines on small blocks chevys not sure if this applies to internals too.

fergal.b

Do you think I should just find the problem and leave the rest of the engine as is e.g big and small end bearings,As in if it,s not broke don't fix it. I know these engines are built to last but as I have it out and it will be hard to work on when it is in the boat what parts do you think should I replace to be on the safe side.
Thanks again.:)

fergal.b

I did the compression and got 120 in all but these two 60 I had a feeling when I saw water coming out of the exhaust ports and the plug holes something was up:eek:
I am hoping it is just a head gasket so next step is to take off the distributor manifold and heads.

Kevin_Herron

Personally I would use Rodley Motors in England.
All parts for this engine are readily available off the shelf.
0044-1274688968.

kelpie

Hi, been meaning to post on boards for ages,but most topics well covered, these V8 engines are things I do use however, I have a 5.7 in a dayvan, and a 5.0 in my boat. I believe shagman is on the right track. Sounds like rocker to me, sticking valve perhaps? where did the engine come from? I see its marinised, was it always so? marine and automobile engine, though identical, are not the same. built for purpose, with the marine unit more robust as its designed to operate at constant full throttle. If its a marine engine, I would take the sump off and see whats lurking in there, every marine I have dealt with had a lot of sludge lying which makes its way into the oil pump and eventually blocks the oil ways. a lot of people buy these without knowing how to look after them. I would also consider putting in a heat exchanger and close in the cooling system if using in salt as it is cruel on internals, and dont forget the anodes. I have most parts for the 5.0 GM marine about here somewhere.

fergal.b

Thanks for the reply Kelpie it is a marine engine and came out of this my donor boat.


and this is what I hope to put her in a 1954 crackerbox that I am building.


As you can just make out there is water on the rockers so I would say it is down in the sump.Do you know if mercruiser use a chevy block.
THANKS:)

Dades

fergal.b wrote: »

That is a thing of beauty! Best of luck with the build and keep us updated here.

kelpie

they are General Motors engines, which is the umbrella company of many lesser companies, one of which is chevrolet, so these units can be found in other applications too. Had the donor boat been used regularly or was it idle for a time? it is running so cant be much wrong with it, you will see that there is a lot of play in the rockers, and the noise I hear from that engine sounds like badly set tappets, but not all, which is why I think it could be a sticking valve. because of the harsh working environment of marine engines, end of season maintenance is vital.

fergal.b

I got the boat on ebay so I don't know a lot it was only used in fresh water and as there is not a mark on the boat I would not say it was not used much.
The tappets all feel good and tight but as you can just make out two of the valves look rusty so may not be sitting right I think I will take off the head and have a look to see if it is cracked or its just a gasket gone, could the noise be air escaping through the gasket or valves,

Dades if you would like to see my build here is a link. THANKS
http://s753.photobucket.com/albums/xx179/fergalbutler/crackerbox/

tin79

The build looks excellent Fergal good luck with it and I will follow it with interest.

The donor boat looks a nice clean one too. Are you going to put it to some use? You could perhaps modify the transom and stick an outboard on it or are you going to pop a mercruiser or something in?

Will be interesting to see how it progresses and i would love to see it all on the water in the future.

fergal.b

Thanks tin79, yep the donor boat is very clean I was in two minds weather to strip it or not and I was thinking of putting an outboard on it and selling it on.
This is the last boat I built
http://s753.photobucket.com/albums/xx179/fergalbutler/

Well today I took the head off the v8 and it looks like last winter was a bit much for it and it was not drained or antifreezed so now I have to find a new block or engine, The joy of boating:mad:

shagman

Doh!!!

I have an 350ci SBC that came out of my van that I may have up for sale soon. Once I get my new engine running I'll know, and I have to check whether its a 2 or 4 bolt mains before I set a price on it.

fergal.b

shagman wrote: »

Doh!!!

I have an 350ci SBC that came out of my van that I may have up for sale soon. Once I get my new engine running I'll know, and I have to check whether its a 2 or 4 bolt mains before I set a price on it.

Thanks for that keep me posted, do you mind me asking how much you paid for your new engine.

Big Nasty

If you're looking for another yank V8 the very odd one comes up on done deal but best bet is to look in the UK.

There's a UK site with an index to pretty much everything you would ever need for a US engine, thought I had it bookmarked but I don't. Will try root it out.

In the mean time you could try posting a wanted on the Pontiac Club Site UK http://www.poc-uk.org/ or if ya wanna go balls out and get a HEMI try http://www.moparuk.com/ - mean engine but good luck with finding a reliable one!

There's plenty of other US car sites and suppliers in the UK but those are two I'm most familiar with off the top of my head. Google is your friend!

Actually also try this dude: http://www.americantechnique.co.uk/ - breaks and rebuilds GM's and a good guy to deal with. Ask for Rocky.

Big Nasty

Not the one I was looking for but this site is worth a look: http://www.yanktanks.co.uk/clfiles/clgmc.htm

Google 'American Cars UK' and a rake of stuff comes up - bound to find what ya need there.

tin79

Ah thats bad luck fergal. Pity.

Love the previous build the Merc look great. is it a 50s mark 30? Did you source it from Donedeal? Do i remember a similar one on there a while ago?

We were going ro restore a 1965 tower of power a while back but couldnt find the time in the end.

Yep I would defo sell that boat on. With a decent OB on it should sell well.

hi5

I recently bought a carb from these people,best price I could find.

http://www.cpusaparts.com/results.asp?categoryid=98

fergal.b

Thanks. Thats cheep for a block alright but I don't think I can afford a new one at the moment.

shagman

Make it look like this!!!!

fergal.b

Now which is prettier. yours or mine, tell the truth:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcXchrQDVH4&feature=player_embedded

fergal.b

shagman wrote: »

Doh!!!

I have an 350ci SBC that came out of my van that I may have up for sale soon. Once I get my new engine running I'll know, and I have to check whether its a 2 or 4 bolt mains before I set a price on it.

Hi shagman, have you any word on your engine yet or can you tell me how much you paid for your new engine.
Thanks.

shagman

I got my engine on e bay and paid €2000 I think it was but it was a one off private sale and besides it turned into a mini ebay nightmare as it wasn't rebuilt correctly and I had to do a lot of work to sort it. It still isn't completely sorted as I have the carb to go back on. Once I have it finished and running well I'll look at selling on the original either as is or rebuilding it.

fergal.b

Just a little update on this, I was able to get a new long block from marine parts in swords if any one is looking for a V8 chevy engine they are not bad on price. This is how it sounds now

The engine is in the boat now and I have just started to wire it up, maybe one of you guys will be able to tell me how to connect the REV counter on these engines as there is no coil do you use the distributor or the alternator or am I missing something on the engine. Thanks again.

[IMG][/img]

Big Nasty

Hi Fergal,

It wires in to the distributor. Have you got a rev counter for it?

If you don't mind me asking how much did the block set you back?

fergal.b

Here is a price list for them http://www.marineparts.ie/engine-parts/mercruiser/engine-parts-1-2/long-blocks/

This is the rev counter I have it has a small switch on the back that you can turn from 4-6-8 so it should work.

[IMG][/img]

hi5

Your coil is the square bit on top of your distributer, there should be a connection for your counter there.
Marine parts are great for all v8 stuff,
I got an inlet manifold gasket from them last week, I had it next day and a lot cheaper than shipping it from the US too,

http://www.marineparts.ie/engine-parts/mercruiser/engine-parts-1-2/internal-engine-parts/gaskets/intake-manifold-gaskets/intake-manifold-gasket-gm-5-0-5-7l-v8-95-non-vortec.html

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FEL-17320/

fergal.b

Thanks for that, so if my rev counter worked off a standard coil it should work of this one.

I was heading up to marine parts today only to be turned back by the Guards as both sides of the old airport road were closed because of a fire in the scrapyard across the road. :eek: