[Chevy 84]

Started a new project today. I finished up the F100 pickup with the 460. I just left it stock with a mild cam and it runs good. Nothing fancy, just a good little Home Depot/Lowes truck. I picked up a new project yesterday that will be alot more challenging. It's a 69 Mustang with a 351W. I have'nt had a chance yet to really get into it, but from the jump, I know the floor pans are completely rusted out, and both interior and exterior needs alot of work. I pulled one of the valve covers off, just to see how the rockers looked and it was'nt good. The rear four were rusted along with the pushrods. I know they can be replaced, but just makes me wonder how the internals look now. I know this is a million dollar question without seeing the engine, but what's the odds that the heads, cylinders, and block are still good?

[sqzbox]

Odd that the push rod end of the rockers are rusty and not the valve end.
With that much rust on the high end chances are slim that the piston bores with the valves open are not rusty.

[richard stewart 3rd]

Hi,
This is a project car, pull the engine & check it. Your youngest child could render a guess as good as anyone else's.
Rich

[eloc431962]

The only true ways is to tear it down. You was probably going to anyway. JMO


Cole

[Chevy 84]

Yeah, it will be torn down. It will probably be a while though before I actually get into the engine. I want to get the body and interior straight before I dig into the motor, so it will probably sit on a engine stand for a couple of months. Just thought maybe someone who has been working with engines longer then I have had seen this before and probably have a good idea of what I should expect. But yeah, I know there's no way to know what the inside looks like without breaking it down. Thanks for the response.

[eloc431962]

Yeah i know what you mean i have seen them this way and tore the engine down and everything look fine, with no cylinder rust Just a good honning or cylinder bore to clean everything up and the crank may just need to be polished or turned. And i have tore them down and have rust in a few cylinders that were pretty much junk IMHO. And as we know that's why a tear down is really the only way of knowing.



Cole

[matts37chev]

rent or buy a cheap borescope
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/ele...urce=google_pe
and have a look around
but from the pics, it looks pretty bad

[Arrowhead]

Nice project! Even had factory A/C and power bakes (front disc even?).

Do yourself a favor and pour a gallon jug of water down the grill in front of the windshield. My guess is the lower cowl is rotted and rain will fall from under the dash. If it does, you know you will need to repair the lower cowl which is no fun.

You can check out my '70 rebuild if your interested:

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/jour...ge=5&reverse=1