61 c10 Build

I'm back! We moved, and had a lot going on. I lost this site somehow, and when I would search for it, it would show 401 errors. Must have been going to the wrong site.
 
welcome back!
any new projects?
garage or shop upgrades?
tools? or issues?
 
Grumpy said:
welcome back!
any new projects?
garage or shop upgrades?
tools? or issues?
Click to expand...

Thank you.
I still have the same truck. Milled some hickory, and finished the bed up.
Working on cleaning up the wiring harness, it was a bit of a mess.

I've got a lot of patch panels to start on soon too.

The ol 383 is still running strong, but I have to constantly fiddle with that dang Edelbrock carb. I may start looking for a Holley. They never really did me wrong.

My shop is really a wood shop, so no major upgrades there except wood working tools. Added a smaller cnc a year or 2 back, it's been fun to use.
 
So, I've been working on the truck a lot lately. Milled, and put in a hickory bed, led lights, new exotic wood gauge cluster panel.
I very been driving it more, and this 383 is burning some serious oil. I did an oil change about 2 mo ths ago, and haven't driven but maybe 300 miles, and it's almost empty.
Oil pressure has been really high, about 78 psi. Doesn't smoke, or leak. Motor has less than 1000 miles on it, so it's a little disappointing.
Guess I'll check vacuum, but that's a lot of oil.
 
BetsyRed63 said:
So, I've been working on the truck a lot lately. Milled, and put in a hickory bed, led lights, new exotic wood gauge cluster panel.
I very been driving it more, and this 383 is burning some serious oil. I did an oil change about 2 mo ths ago, and haven't driven but maybe 300 miles, and it's almost empty.
Oil pressure has been really high, about 78 psi. Doesn't smoke, or leak. Motor has less than 1000 miles on it, so it's a little disappointing.
Guess I'll check vacuum, but that's a lot of oil.
Click to expand...
Lots of Chevy guys do not like High oil pressure but I do.
I prefer 80-100 psi Hot checked at 2600 rpms and 4000 rpms.
High oil pressure will not cause excessive oil consumption.
I would check the PCV Valve.
Try and find a Vintage NOS AC Delco PCV Valve best place is hunt for on Ebay a private seller.
Fram PCV valve is what I buy for my daily drivers.
The piston rings maybe are not seated in yet will cause high oil consumption.
I recommend an engine break in oil used.
Lucas Engine Break in oil has high reviews and affordable.
I used Royal Purple Mineral grade 10w30 break in oil on my 76 Pontiac 455.
I was skeptical but listened to an old time Pro engine builder .
He was right.
I have zero piston ring blow by and zero oil consumption use.
100 psi cold oil pressure warming up.
90 psi Hot oil pressure at 4000 rpms.
 
If the engine is misfiring it will burn oil too.
Pull all the spark plugs.
Be wise to install a fresh gapped set.
 
B&R Racing said:
If the engine is misfiring it will burn oil too.
Pull all the spark plugs.
Be wise to install a fresh gapped set.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the info, I have heard great things about Royal Purple, and was going to pick some up.
Hooked up a vacuum gauge to the full manifold on the carb real quick, and it was low, under 15.
 
BetsyRed63 said:
I appreciate the info, I have heard great things about Royal Purple, and was going to pick some up.
Hooked up a vacuum gauge to the full manifold on the carb real quick, and it was low, under 15.
Click to expand...
I like Royal Purple products.
Stock is getting harder to find in Covid China Era.
I am using the Synthetic R.P XPR Racing 10w40 Now.
Its expensive though $16 a quart Summit Racingmy engine holds 10 quarts, but 12 quarts at a time, makes for $225 changes with filter. But it's my Street Race Hotrod pump gas 93 burner 520 Hp true.
Gas 93 octane is so expensive now at $4 per gallon.
Have about 700 miles on the engine in my 63 Gp.
Take it out to cruise local on country roads and highways.
Play and test Drag racing.
Burnouts get my Speed Thtills and it does that very well.
Daily drive my 1999 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 runs on 87 octane perfect.

Rick uses the Royal Purple HPS Hotrod oil 10w30 in his T-bucket.
 
BetsyRed63 said:
I appreciate the info, I have heard great things about Royal Purple, and was going to pick some up.
Hooked up a vacuum gauge to the full manifold on the carb real quick, and it was low, under 15.
Click to expand...
Intake manifold is what it is.
I would not worry about that much.
 
B&R Racing said:
I like Royal Purple products.
Stock is getting harder to find in Covid China Era.
I am using the Synthetic R.P XPR Racing 10w40 Now.
Its expensive though $16 a quart Summit Racingmy engine holds 10 quarts, but 12 quarts at a time, makes for $225 changes with filter. But it's my Street Race Hotrod pump gas 93 burner 520 Hp true.
Gas 93 octane is so expensive now at $4 per gallon.
Have about 700 miles on the engine in my 63 Gp.
Take it out to cruise local on country roads and highways.
Play and test Drag racing.
Burnouts get my Speed Thtills and it does that very well.
Daily drive my 1999 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 runs on 87 octane perfect.

Rick uses the Royal Purple HPS Hotrod oil 10w30 in his T-bucket.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a fun drive! My motor is really mild, not even sure what numbers it puts out, but it's fun to cruise.
I know the heads are restricting it a lot, but not sure I want to put much more into this motor.
 
BetsyRed63 said:
Sounds like a fun drive! My motor is really mild, not even sure what numbers it puts out, but it's fun to cruise.
I know the heads are restricting it a lot, but not sure I want to put much more into this motor.
Click to expand...
It's fun, it takes 1/2 gallon of gas to warm up the Pontiac 455.
180-200 F.
Has a 16 gallon Jaz fuel cell so with fill cap off easy to see in the Fuel level with a flashlight.
It always drops alot warming up.
Driving cruising it does good on the gas 16 mpg or so at 70-90 mph
Kick in the 1085 BLP 4150 Double pumper it makes you smile and hang on.
Think it get 1-2 miles per gallon then.
 
B&R Racing said:
It's fun, it takes 1/2 gallon of gas to warm up the Pontiac 455.
180-200 F.
Has a 16 gallon Jaz fuel cell so with fill cap off easy to see in the Fuel level with a flashlight.
It always drops alot warming up.
Driving cruising it does good on the gas 16 mpg or so at 70-90 mph
Kick in the 1085 BLP 4150 Double pumper it makes you smile and hang on.
Think it get 1-2 miles per gallon then.
Click to expand...

16 mpg seems really good, 1-2 mpg sounds like when it gets fun, and a little serious ha.
 
BetsyRed63 said:
16 mpg seems really good, 1-2 mpg sounds like when it gets fun, and a little serious ha.
Click to expand...
I want port another set of Pontiac Factory cast iron heads with huge combustion chambers 124 CC volume.
Original heads off the 76 455.
Be an 87 octane burner.
Haven't started yet. It's about 60-80 hours non stop work with the Valvejob.

Fine line Hotrod
Have to live and eat feed the family.
 
B&R Racing said:
I want port another set of Pontiac Factory cast iron heads with huge combustion chambers 124 CC volume.
Original heads off the 76 455.
Be an 87 octane burner.
Haven't started yet. It's about 60-80 hours non stop work with the Valvejob.

Fine line Hotrod
Have to live and eat feed the family.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's a lot of time. I'm a furniture maker, and leatherworker, and have to really search hard for time to work on the truck.
These iron heads had some port and valve work, nothing too serious though.
I bought the motor from a builder who had a customer that couldn't pay for it. When it's time to do it all again, I'll be a little more selective with everything.
LS is all the rage, but I'm not sure I'm up for that type of swap in this truck. My pockets probably aren't deep enough for that.
 
BetsyRed63 said:
Yeah, that's a lot of time. I'm a furniture maker, and leatherworker, and have to really search hard for time to work on the truck.
These iron heads had some port and valve work, nothing too serious though.
I bought the motor from a builder who had a customer that couldn't pay for it. When it's time to do it all again, I'll be a little more selective with everything.
LS is all the rage, but I'm not sure I'm up for that type of swap in this truck. My pockets probably aren't deep enough for that.
Click to expand...
There is alot of Driveability and power likely left in your 383 Sbc have to unlock it Tuning.
Grumpy has excellent Archives on Tuning with a Holley 4-bbl Carburetor.
Used his archives to get real close to optimal.
Swapping to a different style Holley 4bbl is a worthwhile try many instances.
 
B&R Racing said:
Its all theory involved tuning, have spend time reading then apply to your engine.
Click to expand...

I've been reading more and more on here lately. Recently switched back to a Holley, or Quick Fuel Brawler rather. Feel like I was fighting a losing battle tuning, which led me to the vacuum issue.

Had an Edelbrock on it before, and it was my first experience using one. I just couldn't ever get that thing dialed in. Bowls always dried out when I didn't start it for 2 days or longer. The Brawler fires up instantly no matter how many days it's been.
I'm not blaming the carb, it's probably 99.9% user error.
 
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