The 305 was beginning to miss and it wasn’t responding to the throttle well at all. So I thought that maybe one of the lifters might need adjusting. So I did an adjust with the engine running. All was OK until I got to #7 cylinder. The exhaust lifter at the far right was not moving a whole lot – maybe a 1/16″. My suspicion was that maybe the cam lobe for the valve was damaged.
So off with the carb and intake to see if the lifter was stuck part way up and the cam was just tickling its bottom.
#7 exhaust lifter and it has been ground out by the cam lobe which destroyed itself in the process
Three choices: #1 install and new cam and lifters ($300+); #2 put in the 350 cam and lifters from the original Chevy motor; or #3 pull the engine and get the original 350 rebuilt and installed.
I”m going with #3 rather than using my time fixing the 305. Here the 350 is loaded on my utility trailer and I’ll be taking it to R&D Performance in Lower Onslow to be cleaned and new cam bearings installed. I was going to install the bearings myself, but I’d have to buy the tool needed plus a set of bearings and maybe two if I messed up!
Didn’t expect to have to remove the engine so soon. Oh well, it would have to have come out eventually.
Up to the top of the quick jacks and time to get everything disconnected underneath. Not my favourite job. getting the fluids out – messy, tools dropping on my face, …
Car back down on Jack stands. I can’t fit the hoist legs under the car with them in place. Here I’m lifting the engine just enough to get the mount bolts out.
Next will be the trick of getting the engine an trans out together without damaging the body.