catastrophie!

[73CustomDeluxe]

True. I did see a 350 on craigslist. Will one from a 70s buick mount right?

[bake74]

     The only difference I can think of would be the casting of the block for motor mounts.  If those lined up I would say you should be good.

[Blazin]

A 350 Buick will not directly bolt into your pickup.
It can be put in but you will need all the accessory drive brackets etc. the motor mounts, along with the coresponding frame mounts for them, and manifolds, or headers. Also a transmission or bell housing with B.O.P bolt pattern.

[bake74]

     Good catch blazin, totally forgot about the bell housing being different.

[73CustomDeluxe]

k so update. i went out today and tried to start the 73 just to see since its been sitting for a few days. My battery is completely dead. not even a glow in the headlights. its weird because i charged it completely just last week and nothing was left on. i checked all of the switches and the keys have been out. any ideas? I'm going to look for shorts but i don't believe that's it because a few years ago we had a lot of problems with shorts in the main harness so we wired in a "main fuse" on the wires coming out of the terminal on the fire wall that all current runs through (it comes straight up for the battery and then out of the terminal) and the fuse is not blown. so i dont know. I'll check tomorrow. in the mean time, being green to mechanics, how do you turn the engine it's self? where do you go after you pull the plugs? thanks for all the advise.

oh and autorepr, thank you very much. it means a lot and i hope your Nephew is doing well. Semper fi.

[beastie_3]

turn the crankshaft clockwise. how old is the battery? just because it got charged doesnt mean that the charge held.

[Blazin]

5/8ths socket on the balancer bolt, or a flywheel tool on the teeth of the flex plate, or flywheel.

[73CustomDeluxe]

thanks but how lol. How do I get to the crankshaft or fly wheel? The battery is relatively new and I've never had problems with it.

[Blazin]

With the key off and maybe even the battery disconnected!
Either lay under the truck and reach up, or lean down in behind the radiator for the balancer bolt.
Remove the inspection cover under the flex plate, torque converter to access the flex plate teeth.

[Stewart G Griffin]

After going thru something similar.......


1) Yes, after you get the inspection cover off the trans, you can use a long screwdriver, or equivalent, in two of the holes in the flexplate to try to turn the engine.  Not recommended, but if it's all you got........       The best way is to use a flexplate turner tool.


2) Best to forget about the buick 350.  And for that matter pontiac, oldsmobile and cadillac 350's;  They are not the same engine.  It would be easiest/cheapest to stick with chevy in your case.

3) IF the engine is seized, then i'm betting a valve dropped and is now wedged against a piston or other part.   Also, just because it moves in one direction does not mean things are ok.    The engine must be turned in both directions.   i hope it is not seized though.

After what happened over the weekend, thank you for your upcoming service.

[73CustomDeluxe]

thanks to everyone for the advise. I got the plugs out and found my original problem with the missing. The black passenger plug is completely fouled over. if this does happen to work a new set of plugs are in order. any ways i went ahead and sprayed the cylinders with oil and im about to go try to turn it.

and thanks Stewart G Griffin. I think our men deserve a big HOO RAH!!

[73CustomDeluxe]

so i went and tried to turn the engine. no go. So i replaced all of the plugs (after spraying the cylinders) and tried the starter. still nothing. I did however find why i lost power. my positive battery cable is split in half.

[bobcooter]

I think she's probably toast .

[73CustomDeluxe]

I do too. Sad day. I don't think I have time to fix it. Seriously if anyone wants it ill let you have it for like 200 or something. Right now I have no time to mess with it. With work and getting ready for the corps o have like 5 minutes a day. And once boot hits then Ill have more on my plate. Hate to have to come to this

[beastie_3]

Im not trying to talk you out of it, but Id wait to sell it until you know what duty station you'll be at after MOS school. If you get sent overseas, they will let you come home before you leave. Ive been in since 04, I know recruiters lie. If you have any questions, let me know.