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VETTEFINDERS.COM 1979 PROJECT CORVETTE

Part corvette.18

July 12, 2003

We were on vaction for a couple weeks and didn't get anything done on the 79 project, but now we're back with a mission. Get the 79's body back on the frame and out of the garage! Chris separated the engine from the transmission and put the engine on a stand so it would be easier to disassemble. The exterior of the engine is really rusty!

Our intent here with the engine is to replace the cam "while we're at it". We removed the valve covers, water pump, and intake at this point. Whew, RUSTY!

Finally, something that was in BETTER shape than we expected. The lifter valley was clean! The area on top of the intake gaskets is dirty from all the junk on top of the motor, but the inside of the engine looks very clean. Only one small ares of carbon and that is right where the carb warmer pipe is. For comparison, check this shot of Chris' 78 engine that only had 50,000 miles on it. By the way, the car ran very strong before we disassembled it, but again, if we went this far, we may as well do a few cheap upgrades. Cam, headers, aluminum intake, exhaust, and possible port the heads.

After removing the harmonic balancer and the timing cover, we found that the timing chain had a heck of a lot of slack. Our L48 engine still has the stock "plastic" cam gear. We will definately be getting a new timing chain set. This chain and gears is on its last legs. One thing we noted during this disassembly is that it looks like either the previous owners took great care in keeping everything original (which I doubt from the condition of the car), or most of this car has not been touched. It is uncommon for a vette of this era to still have all of the sparkplug shielding, and routing clips still correctly in tact. Rusty, but in tact. Maybe we should start calling our 79 a "survivor"?

Part corvette.18


KONI NA	Van Steel	Revivation	Caledonia