59 Chevy 7.3L IDI swap

[ptwcruiser]

I am on a budget. I can get some repairs done, but sleeves will cut deep into my wallet.

 

[79jasper]

Looks more like something in the cylinder. Like a glowplug tip or something.

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[ptwcruiser]

I have never seen cavitation before so it was a guess. but it is only on one side of those two cylinders and if you look closely it looks pitted almost like rust but clean.

i was going to use most of my budget on new injectors and injection pump but would it be a better idea to sleeve all 8 just to be safe and wait on the new pump and injectors later? Ill have to stay right around $1000 and my local automotive machine shop quoted me $110 per cylinder plus bore and hone. I could probably get away with squeezing out a little more from my bank account for doing a bottom end rebuild. I have a comfortable couch, i imagine I will be sleeping there a while.

 

[IDIoit]

deff not cavitation.
foregin debris into cylinder, or rings causing this.

if it was cavitation, it would not be so uniform.

those pistions are hurting, but i have ran worse.

 

[ptwcruiser]

ok, so not cavitation. Honestly I'm paranoid about cavitation so I see the whole engine as the problem.

If I want to get another 50,000 miles out of this engine, what should I do while it is open? (in general over all, and specifically with the scarred cylinders)

 

[IDIoit]

if this was my engine, i would be putting it aside for a future rebuild.
as i said, it will run, but no telling for how long.

look for another block.
if youre that paranoid, purchase a 6.9 they have thicker cylinder walls.
be aware of cavitation, and the ways to prevent it.

 

[BrandonMag]

look for another block.
if youre that paranoid, purchase a 6.9 they have thicker cylinder walls.

X2

 

[ptwcruiser]

I have come across another problem with my zf5. The donor truck is an 89 which I was glad to see used a cable speedo. But after looking closer at the trans, the speedo gear is casted over. I looked at the data plate and it is a replacement made in 94. (frustrating, but it also made me think that the engine might have as many miles on it as I though if it is a replacement as well) Is there any way to convert it to a cable driven speedo or do I need to find a new tranny? also, is there any way to tell if the engine is original in the truck?

 

[IDIoit]

running numbers will only get you into the ball park, it will not tell you if its the stock engine.

it sounds like your ZF was a PSD trans. they are all electronic.
dont know how to convert it besides getting a different tail shaft.

 

[snicklas]

Not sure either..... there is a way to get an electric signal from a cable, but not the other way around.......

If the truck were a 4x4, most t-cases have a speedometer port....... but you don't have that option either...........

 

[BDCarrillo]

Have you taken out the bottom end yet? I clearly see a valve kiss on your piston... wondering if the rod bearings are toasty.

 

[ptwcruiser]

The rod bearings are very worn. enough that there is a fine brass colored residue in the valley. do you know any reason why?

 

[IDIoit]

because, fubard engine.

with that valve impression in the slug, and your recent post, i would suspect a spun rod bearing.

 

[ptwcruiser]

yay... this project is determined to be way over my budget. tons of engine work or a new engine, either way its more than I can afford right now.

 

[IDIoit]

find a craigslist engine.
or slap the heads back on your current engine so you can do the fab work.
mock up engines are not useless!