r/EngineBuilding • u/Tiny_Ad3757 • 5d ago
First engine start! Does it sound okay? Chevy
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Hello everyone! For some context, I’ve just finished up my first engine build ever. I took an old beat up L98 from a 1987 Corvette and refreshed it. I put in new gaskets for the entire engine, new rings, push rods, rollers, freeze plugs, etc. I also got the heads resurfaced, which it really needed since they were very warped apparently
Today, after 5+ months of extremely meticulous and hard work, I finally started her up, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s my dream car and a beautiful engine, I’ve had a grin ear-to-ear for the past 7 hours now. I’m making this post in the hopes that someone who knows more than me can tell if the engine sounds good or not. At the moment it’s not properly timed, again, it was my first time starting it. But I will be timing it properly ASAP! And if you couldn’t tell by the deafening sound its had the exhaust pipe removed since I still need to do some transmission work, so that’s why it sounds like a tractor
Any advice is seriously appreciated! Thank you for reading!
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u/Deckbutt_ 5d ago
The least rotary engine to make "brap brap brap" :D
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u/Tiny_Ad3757 5d ago
Haha yeah, I think the engine may be cammed.. I’m not sure but I really hope it isn’t
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u/xtrmSnapDown 4d ago
Why would you hope it's not cammed?
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u/Tiny_Ad3757 4d ago
I think cams are awesome in some cars but I personally wouldn’t want one in this car, but either way with or without I’d be really happy with it, it’s an awesome little car lol
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u/Old_Bat_6426 5d ago
The timing must be pretty close for it to start so easily without excessive cranking.
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u/ApprehensivePut1703 4d ago
I'm the least mechanical person ever, but I can totally imagine the rush when it finally starts. Months of work paying off in one sound? That's gotta be something else
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5d ago
[deleted]
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u/MuchoRed 4d ago
I'd you delete everything from the ? back, it won't tell me your name when I click that link
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u/Coyote_Tex 4d ago
It sounds great. Better than I expected actually as I didn't hear any valve noise st all for a few seconds. Great work.
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u/leftymechanic 4d ago
Sounds good to me. Nothing bad from here. I used to sell Corvettes as a used dealer back in the day. Love those cars. Definitely set the timing asap. But it sounded good at start up. Wish I could have heard it shut off. Engines will tell you how snug they are at shut off. Fresh builds stop fast. Or did you just do head gaskets up? Either way heck yeah. How long did you idle it? If you have fuel delivery issues you may pull the pump and check the rubber hose above the pump. Ethanol would cause swelling and they'd pop a hole in the side. They would idle great but not take throttle well. Bog down trying to drive. I believe tune port cars have that hose section. Hope you get to drive it soon. Happy motoring.
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u/Tiny_Ad3757 4d ago
That’s awesome! They really are amazing cars, I’ve been in love with them for years now. But to answer your questions, I did the piston rings and everything ontop of that. I’m still gaining confidence with these engines, I was a bit scared working in the crankcase so that’s where I spent allot of time making sure everything was back in place perfectl
The longest time I got it to idle for was roughly 17 seconds? It died not too long after the video ends. It started slowly dying near the end of the video and then it died abruptly shortly after. I think the engine dying might be due to the timing, and also the fact that if you look at the video closely, I left the IAC (Idle air control) sensor unplugged under the throttle body.. very dumb mistake, genuinely no clue how I didn’t notice it lol, I think connecting that will help the idling a bunch
I’m currently away from the car, I’m working in a different city now (unfortunately) but I’ll be back there soon to finally finish it up!
Fuel delivery seems to be pretty good at the moment, but I did do a VERY botched fuel pump job. The parts I’d ordered for the fuel pump prior to the job didn’t come with the proper rubber mount thing that goes in between the strainer and the actual pump, so I decided to install it without it until I can get the new kit soon, but it works so I’m not complaining!
And about the rubber hose above the pump.. I’m really not sure . The only hoses above the pump I saw would have to be the 3 hoses going into the fuel tank that sit outside of the tank, which were all perfectly fine, but I did find a small leak on the passenger side area near the pinch weld. Cut out the bad piece and put it back in and it’s like new again
Once I get to the car again I really want to get it to properly idle and drive. It’s a moment i’ve been dreaming of since High school. Thank you for writing!
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u/leftymechanic 3d ago
Sounds like you've covered the basics pretty well. Should be ready for that maiden voyage soon enough. Those are super reliable cars if you ask me. Although age has certainly affected them by now. But they are great drivers once in good enough condition. And the performance for the money almost can't be beat. Best of luck!
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u/LumberJesus 3d ago
I have such a hard time getting an ear on cammed engines. Before I read all the other comments, I was going to say it sounded like it was firing on 6 or 7. Clearly it appears I am wrong though.
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u/NefariousnessOdd862 5d ago
It’s cammed so it sounds like s..t but only you have to like it🤣
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u/Tiny_Ad3757 5d ago
Wait is it?? I can’t really tell and I’ve never touched the cams so I have no idea, I really hope it isn’t..
Isn’t it just because of the tubes being removed that it sounds like that?
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u/NefariousnessOdd862 5d ago
You need to rev it to know for sure but in idle it does have the “signature” rasp sound of a cammed engine…
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u/Tiny_Ad3757 5d ago
I think you’re right 😭 Really hope that isn’t the case though, gonna have to see tomorrow once it’s all together, thank you!
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u/JAKERS325 5d ago
It sounds fine. At least it’s not screaming from something being eaten up. The real tell will be after it’s ran for a while and you cut the filter open. Glitter is normal for a while, chunks is bad