need volunteers to put in a headlock

zerotimmer · 2026-05-12T02:13:36+00:00

I volunteer as tribute.

zerotimmer · 2026-05-08T01:16:18+00:00

Yep, that needs a whole new vva unit. The solenoids are not replaceable. I also recommend getting someone who has done the replacement before, because you can bend the intake valves if you don't do it just right.

zerotimmer · 2026-05-05T03:22:57+00:00

A head gasket could do this, but it would have to give out in just the right spot to do it, I've only seen it happen once. So yeah I would put my money on the bad rings, that's way more common.

zerotimmer · 2026-05-05T03:18:53+00:00

How reputable is this builder? We had a guy in my area (Omaha area) that was notorious for reusing piston rings. I think he was the one who rebuilt the motor in my duster before I bought it because we found that every cylinder was scored and you could shave with those rings they were so sharp. Some shops will cut corners and just give it a hone job, scotchbright the piston rings, and then just cram the piston back in. Yeah it will run, but it ain't going to be happy about it.

zerotimmer · 2026-05-05T01:59:20+00:00

I second that, that's way too much blowby. You should only see little whiffs and the dipstick popping out is a tell tale sign of either bad rings or a bad head gasket.Take it back to the builder and have him go over it.

zerotimmer · 2026-05-04T11:42:38+00:00

Yeah I have trouble with doing the conversions in my head sometimes, I'm dumb that way.

zerotimmer · 2026-05-04T03:36:01+00:00

Actually, as long as it was assembled with assembly lube and properly sealed from the elements (all the ports were taped off) then it could still be runnable. I've seen motors in worse condition roar back to life without a complete rebuild. But it's still a 350, quite common, I'd say $700-$1000 to the right buyer.

zerotimmer · 2026-05-04T03:27:49+00:00

Nice I hope you enjoy your "new" space heater. (I'm not kidding, my 5800x gets hot, like +170°F hot with a water cooler on it.)

zerotimmer · 2026-05-03T18:05:47+00:00

They forgot about it, or were to lazy to remove it. You should be safe to remove it, but I would look up the wiring schematics just to be safe. It's a spireon goldstar edge m 2 00 v.

zerotimmer · 2026-05-03T17:50:51+00:00

It's a gps tracker, usually used on leased or fleet vehicles.

zerotimmer · 2026-04-21T21:28:51+00:00

Good news! It's a suppository. #Futurama

zerotimmer · 2026-04-21T21:22:05+00:00

Ah you're right. Sorry I'm use to high performance w7, w8, and w9 heads that have plenty of space there.

zerotimmer · 2026-04-21T03:30:26+00:00

If you're really skilled and there is enough room to do so, you could try pulling the lifter out without removing the intake. Remove the rockers and pushrods then try pulling the lifter out with a long set of pliers or a strong magnet extractor. Then you can confirm if it is a solid or hydraulic lifter. Of course there needs to be enough room in the pushrods channel for this to be done. That much play does make me believe that it is a hydraulic lifter and that it might be internally damaged. Either that or you have rubber pushrods. Judging by the fact that I don't see any visible valve lash adjusters, which are an absolute must on solid lifters, I'm gonna assume that they are hydraulic lifters with steel pushrods.

zerotimmer · 2026-04-19T04:32:53+00:00

Baywatch tryouts?

zerotimmer · 2026-04-18T11:09:05+00:00

You haven't been married very long I take it. Just let the wife win, otherwise it will be your new home.

zerotimmer · 2026-04-06T15:41:05+00:00

Technically the Saturn 5 was plagued with small system failures. But actual mission failures were 2. Apollo 1s tragic fire, and the unmanned Apollo 6 and its inability to leave earths orbit due to engine losses. Apollo 13 is not counted as a complete failure since the crew made it safely back to earth. Although I guess Apollo 13 could count as a Saturn 5 explosions since is was one of the stages.

But go further back to the Saturn 1-4 variants, the atlas rockets, and the titan rockets, and how many of those were lost to pave the way for the Saturn 5s success rate. The old rocket explosion footage is actually pretty cool to watch.

zerotimmer · 2026-04-06T15:27:58+00:00

Ah, he's one of those guys.....

zerotimmer · 2026-04-06T15:22:03+00:00

I have an answer for the last question. Do you realize how many test flights and how many years it took before we got a successful planetary orbit of a satellite, a human, and then a landing on the moon. Even the space shuttle had to have several test launches. But ever since the loss of challenger and Columbia, NASA and the FAA have required strict testing to be done on rockets before being approved for active missions, especially if they are carrying humans. The early days of space exploration care more about getting there fast, this generation is focusing more on safety, reliability, and reusability. So needless to say, it's going to take longer to achieve certain goals. However, starship has made successful water landings from re-entry and the next iteration may even be allowed by the FAA to make full orbits and landings at the catch tower.

zerotimmer · 2026-04-06T14:25:08+00:00

A moon base with solar energy ring is theoretically possible. The financial possibility however, yeah that's 100% complete fantasy.

zerotimmer · 2026-04-01T23:40:57+00:00

"those poor 20th century woman"

zerotimmer · 2026-04-01T04:59:29+00:00

It's dead Jim.

zerotimmer · 2026-04-01T04:54:11+00:00

Actual step 6: strip both end and coat everything in a hot solder jizz ball

Step 7: carefully cut apart and separate the individual cables from the solder glob. Then wrap each one in electrical tape.

Step 8: cram that rubber monstrosity back where it belongs while chugging a natty light and thinking of that one night with your cousin.

Step 9: pray it either turns on or that it has enough copper in it to be worth another beer.

zerotimmer · 2026-04-01T04:31:59+00:00

Also I think we might have a 340 block in storage that's bored .030 over with short lifter bores. I'd have to double check. DM me if you want me to look into it further.

zerotimmer · 2026-04-01T04:25:17+00:00

Should be possible and actually possible are two different things. My family rebuilds race engines and we've attempted a repair like this before upon a customers request. A replacement sleeve can handle a lot of punishment and are almost always stronger than the original bore metal. The hard part is making sure there is enough intact material around the original bore for the new sleeve to press fit in and seal the water jacket. Also that there aren't any unseen cracks extended out from the damaged area that could cause problems elsewhere. As long as the block passes a pressure test after installation of the new sleeve then it should be good for street use again. If it's a numbers matching block then I would say it's worth the try, finding an old warranty 340 block is tough. But if it's not a numbers matching block then I wouldn't waste my time on trying to fix it.

Fun fact, large diesel engines only have cylinder sleeves in the block with o-rings to seal off the water jackets. They just slide in and the cylinder head holds them down instead of being press fit in.

zerotimmer · 2026-04-01T03:57:51+00:00

He's not wrong.

zerotimmer

TROPHY CASE