Got a 348 today PO said it was rebuilt and run once.

[Ricola]

I got this 348 today from an old friend. I know he rebuilt it and installed it in a 59 Elcamino about 15 years ago. When he installed it he had what he thought was an intake leak. He never understood how cool the 348 is so instead of fixing the engine he built a 454 and installed that instead. Fast forward to last week. Were shooting the breeze doing some bench racing and we got on the subject of motors. He tells me he still has the 348 sitting outside wrapped in plastic. He say's he oiled the cylinders and if I want it come and get it.


Here's what outside storage wrapped in plastic will do to a new engine.



This is not looking too good.


Even worse...


And the sickening feeling finally settles in......

[Ricola]

Up date on the 348. :cry:  As I was cleaning up the bores I noticed a huge crack in the block! WTF!

[Eyeball]

shit that sux....I wonder if you could have that welded up?

[Serious]

348 Blocks are not that hard to come by,  if you can save the Rotating assembly, id just find a block..  Pistons are the EXPENSIVE rebuild parts...

if you can spin it,  take it apart and save what you can..   what the hell it was free right?

[Ricola]

348 Blocks are not that hard to come by,  if you can save the Rotating assembly, id just find a block..  Pistons are the EXPENSIVE rebuild parts...

if you can spin it,  take it apart and save what you can..   what the hell it was free right?

A poster on another board suggested I weld it. He said the 348's crack there all the time.

I'm going to post a WTB ad for a block.

I did get the pistons moving last night. I has to use a putty knife to scrape the 1/2" of growth off a couple of the cylinders.

The pistons and rings should be good. The crank and bearings should be good. The heads may need a couple of valves. Some of the push rods are are rusted. The cam and lifters look OK.

[Serious]

I personally wouldent weld a 348 block,  a 409 one yes, weld those,  348s just arent THAT hard to find,  the cost to have it welded right, and you could probably find one good one..