Help me trouble shoot my 350

Daubs · April 12, 2006

Here's the background:

1972 Chevy K-20 (3/4 ton 4x4) with manual tranny, Holly manual choke carb. Purchased last year and has been running like a champ ever since. Example...It can be 20 degrees out...jump in, pull choke, pump throttle 3-4 times...turn her over and she fires right up...no problem.

Drove home from brother's house on Saturday with no problems at all. I get in to start her up yesterday and have trouble:

1. Would barely turn over (battery just two months old). Click, click, click...Finally got her cranking

2. Needed more gas for her to fire...and when did hit, puff of white smoke came out of tailpipe

3. Fires up, but would barely idle. I had to keep my foot in it and keep RPM's up to keep her running.

4. Noticed the oil pressure guage going wildy up and down with RPM's. If I pulled foot from gas she would sputter and die. Oil pressure really low when dipped down to idle speed

5. Couldn't keep her running with the manual choke (normally I can increase RPM's with the choke and keep her going).

I did not really have a chance to pop hood and have a look. Had to run at the time. With the oil pressure doing crazy things I was a little hesitant to keep her running. Hope to give her a try later today.

Thoughts / suggestions?

keninsalem · April 12, 2006

not positive but sure sounds like blown head gasket.

Daubs · April 13, 2006

You may be right. Pulled dipstick and fluid level is way above normal...and looking contaminated with radiator fluid. Ick.

FivePointSevenLiters · April 16, 2006

Not to be overly negative... Agreeing with head gasket possiblility... Don't rule out a possibile cracked head, block, or intake manifold...

skagracer · April 27, 2006

hi be for you pull the top off that engine check the tining gear set common to jump happens when engine is shut off and changes tining making it hard to start and run like you say and the high oil level ie coolant in oil will be like milk intake gasket most common

legionwagon · April 27, 2006

I doubt it's a timing issue. Maybe you are lucky and it's an intake leak- Parked it hot, water fizzles into a cylinder or two, maybe even fills one up. Hard to turn over, of course, and when you do spit the water out, it will run but stil has enough of a leak to run poorly. I'd not run it at all any more, your instincts were good in not letting it run long with water in the oil. You may try checking the plugs; they may look cleaner on the side with the most problems, and you can aim your search for intake leaks and cracks that way. Let us know..

Steve H

MustGoFaster · April 27, 2006

compression test would be my next suggestion

OldSalt · June 3, 2006

compression test would be my next suggestion

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just a thought, A bad ground can also give some of these signs. You did say that the oil pressure guage was going crazy. Good luck.

snoman · June 3, 2006

Not to be overly negative... Agreeing with head gasket possiblility... Don't rule out a possibile cracked head, block, or intake manifold...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree on the intake gasket and I would not consider a head gasket or a crack unless it has been overheated recently. You need to flush crankcase out and Napa sell a additive to flush anitfreeze out of crankcase as it is bad news to internal parts. DO not try to start it or run it until the leak is found and fixred and fresh oil with additive is in crankcase.