Thread: time for new engine or ?

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Hey guys Ihave a 400 sbc that is from a 76
after getting it to run i noticed that its blowing a lot of smoke
after some searching i think my valve seals are gone

it had been sitting for 15 years
it has 60 k km or miles
if i do a compression test and all is good should i just replace the valve seals
or should i get a rebuit from napa
the thinking i s there are other seals etc that are probably rotten too
and for the cost it may be cheaper to get a rebuild
rather than do the seals then have the next thing go bad then the next and so on
and if the valve guides are shot when doing valve seals
should i just get new heads andnot halve to think about valve seats grinding ec
and if i get a rebuilt should i take a mystery block or get mine re done
cheers

if it is not noisey and has good compression yes find the source of the smoke and fix it ..i`ve cranked engines that have sat for 20 years with no grief

well there is at least 1 loud ticking sound
when i got it safetied the mehcanic said it was a noisey lifter

i am apt to do the seals but dont want to $#$% with anything inside the engine

also do i do the umbrella with the o ring or take what napa gives me (ones for intake ones for exaust)?
cheers again

If it is blowing smoke all of the time it is probably bad or broke oil rings. If it smokes only when you start it, then it could be the valve seals.

Even if you get it to quit smoking you need to worry about the little plastic sleeve between the oil pump and the oil pump shaft, being brittle and breaking along with other gaskets.

If I had a motor that sat for 15 years I would rebuild it. You could have issues with dry bearings (before you started it). It might only last a little while anyway.

I personally would not get a rebuild from Napa Auto Parts. Pull the motor and find a local engine machine shop. Take it to them and let them tear it apart, rebuild it and put it back together unless you know how to do it yourself.

The thing is with most if not all engine machine shops (and Napa), to get their warranty you will need to replace your water pump, radiator (or at least show that it has been cleaned out and tested) and a few other items. They will have a list for you to go by.

It all depends on if you plan on keeping it or not.

Hope this helps.

was thinking napa /piston ring for warrenty
its going in a motorhome and want coverage across us and canada
just in case somthing happend on the road

The other thing you could do is check Napa's price and then check with Chevy on what a crate long block will cost.

Napa is just not my preference is all. Go with what you feel comfortable with.