Saturday, March 15, 2014
How to Identify GM Small Blocks
In 1955, the Chevrolet division of General Motors developed the companys first small block V-8 engine. The initial 1955 265-cubic-inch V-8 motor produced 180 horsepower and quickly became popular among consumers. Further developments to the engine included increased displacement, fuel injection, enhanced cylinder head designs and intake configurations. Due to the wide variety of applications of this engine, identifying your particular small block Chevy is important when ordering replacement parts or gaining specifications information
Instructions
- 1
Open the vehicles hood and examine the engine compartment from the passenger side.
2Find the engine code stamped on the upper portion of the engine block, below the cylinder head, near the mounting bracket for the alternator. The engine code consists of eight numbers and letters that will provide pertinent information about the engine.
3Write the engine code down on a piece of paper.
4Examine the first letter in the code. The first letter determines the manufacturing plants location. The second, third, fourth and fifth number positions in the code signify the day and month of manufacture.
5Examine the remaining two or three-letter block of code. The block of letters at the end of the code represent the engines displacement, horsepower rating, specific vehicle application and fuel induction type.
6Decode the first letter of the code using an online Chevy Engine Code Information Web page. Scroll down and click on the appropriate code suffix link, under the "Small Block Engine Suffix Code Menu" heading.
7Locate the matching suffix code on the Web page to gain specific information concerning the engine. You also have the option of contacting the service department at a local Chevrolet dealer. Ask the service department representative to provide information regarding the engine code.
Friday, October 18, 2013
How to Remove a Timing Cover on a Small Block Chevy
Underneath the timing cover of a small-block Chevrolet engine sits the timing chain and gears. Most often this cover is removed in order to replace the timing chain, but it is also part of the disassembly when rebuilding a small Chevy V8. Though the timing cover sits on the front of the motor, it is obscured by other engine components mounted in front. To remove the timing cover, these obstacles must be removed first.
Instructions
- 1
Drain the engine coolant and engine oil. On some Chevy models, the oil pan will also need to be removed in order to take off the timing cover.
2Remove the bottom radiator hose by loosening the screw clamp with a flat screwdriver, draining the coolant into the waste bucket. The bottom hose is the one that hooks to the water pump. If the top hose and radiator are in the way, they will need to be removed as well.
3Take off the cooling fan and then remove the drive belts.
4Remove the water pump. Allow the excess fluid to drain from the block into the waste bucket.
5Remove the harmonic balancer with a harmonic balance puller. Do not pull on the edges of the harmonic balancer or it will separate the rubber from the metal housing.
6Take off any additional brackets that may be in the way.
7Disconnect the engine mounts if the engine needs to be raised in order to access the timing cover.
8Remove the bolts on the timing cover and pull the cover loose. If you did not take off the oil pan, then open the timing cover slightly and tilt it back. Cut the front oil seal off evenly with the engine. Remove the cover.
