Internal engine pic 71 Impala

[Gonz]

I needed to replace the valve cover gaskets on my car so i thought I would snap a pic for you guys. It's the original 350 with 84k miles. The previous owner bought the car new and used Quaker State exclusively until I got the car in 2007. I"ve continued using Quaker state until a couple weeks ago. I switched over to Rotella 10w30. It's far from spotless, but i think considering the quality of the oils of yesteryear its not too bad.

 

[jmsjags]

i bet you could really clean it up with an OCI of ultra

 

[ChiTDI]

Be interesting to compare that shot after a couple years of Rotella and some driving. 84k on a 1971, you know it sat for months. I agree with you though, the oils are now better and you'll benefit from them.

 

[Trav]

Looks great really!
I wouldn't do anything else but what you are doing.

 

[oggb]

Heck yeah - looks fine. Rotella won't hurt it a bit.

 

[Johnny]

Looks great for an old cast iron Chevy. Modern oils will clean it some, but I doubt it will remove much of the varnish, which is very little. Nice ride.

 

[beast3300]

The Chevy 350 are a carbon monster. I get alot of them in with VC leaks because the oil drainage ports fill up with goo and the oil pools.

Run T5 and don't look back for that motor.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Looks great really!
I wouldn't do anything else but what you are doing.


+1

 

[Gonz]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I haven't really decided if i want to stick with Rotella or go with Mobil1 high mileage. The M1 is tempting since it's still SL rated.

 

[oilboy123]

Looks pretty clean considering in ten years it will be half a century old.....

 

[spasm3]

If you've ever seen what the typical 70's engine looked like after 80k on 70's oils , that head looks great!!! minimal sludge, and varnish! not bad at all!!

 

[ChiTDI]

The himileage M1 is a real good choice IMHO.
That would be my preference, log the miles and let us know what goes.

 

[demarpaint]

Not bad!

 

[geissjr]

Looks like QS has been doing a nice job. Rotella will do fine as well. Good luck.

 

[84zmyfavorite]

Heck Yah! I love it when you buy a used car and it has been taken well care of. I have Quaker State 10w-40 in my beloved 2001 SilverStone Metallic Jeep Cherokee. I would keep on using that for sure. I think with that year and motor I would run a straight 30 or 10w-40.....

 

[mechtech2]

I notice a crack [or hair ]on the second from left rocker. It also may have a small accompanying crack on the opposite side.

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
I notice a crack [or hair ]on the second from left rocker. It also may have a small accompanying crack on the opposite side.


Saw that too...but thought "rag lint"...worth looking at closer to be sure...

Still, very nice looking heads for a car that ran on 70s oil...my 1977 Olds 350 had a lot more carbon with similar mileage...and that was with a 3K OCI at the time...If it had survived, I wonder if the newer oils would have cleaned it up...

 

[steve20]

I do not think there is any such thing as a cracked rocker arm--I've never seen/heard/dreamed of one

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: steve20
I do not think there is any such thing as a cracked rocker arm--I've never seen/heard/dreamed of one

Huh? am I not reading this properly?

 

[crazyoildude]

I have seen this happen before usually the push rod comes out and hits the rocker in a really bad way as you see in the picture another reason could be on an interferance engine the timing belt or chain broke and a piston hit the valve at the same time the push rod was in the lift position opening it. The chevy 350 is not an interferrance engine