1987 V3500 Engine update

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Fr8dog

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2024
Posts
5
Reaction score
9
Location
Utah
First Name
Jeffrey
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V3500
Engine Size
350
I recently purchased an 87 V3500 C&C truck on an auction last month. Had to drive from southern utah to northeast Oregon to go pick it up. Seller said motor was seized from running diesel fuel in it. When I got the time, I put a breaker bar on the balancer and I could turn the motor easily. I checked the oil and noticed it appeared to be over-filled by 100% or more on the dipstick. (Yeah not good) So i get my diesel oil drain pan and drain the oil out of the engine. Unfortunately, the first 4-5 quarts that came out first was orange dex coolant, then 4-5 quarts of very dirty oil. Pulled the oil filter and it didn’t look too bad. Refilled crankcase with some old 15w/40 i’ve had laying on a shelf for 20 years. I then pulled all the plugs and cranked the motor over, after replacing bad starter. It seems water is coming out of #5,7 and #8 cylinders. During the cranking the oil pressure showed about 50-60 psi and no major bad noises were heard. I’m hoping this is just blown head gaskets from a hydro-lock situation. Will be pulling the heads to investigate.

If the block isn’t salvageable, i’m looking at a Smeding 383 short block and then I’ll build it with some new vortec heads to give the old girl a new lease on life. Truck is a 49 state heavy emissions 350 and I believe was the last year a 350 could get a Q-Jet.

Updates to follow.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3045.jpeg
    IMG_3045.jpeg
    148.1 KB · Views: 7
  • IMG_2745.png
    IMG_2745.png
    473 KB · Views: 5
  • IMG_2742.png
    IMG_2742.png
    436 KB · Views: 5
  • IMG_2744.png
    IMG_2744.png
    458.5 KB · Views: 5
Last edited:

Redfish

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2021
Posts
2,586
Reaction score
13,953
Location
Prairieville, LA
First Name
Andrew
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V1500
Engine Size
350/5.7
Please tell me about that winch. Looks like a Ramsey...

And yes, 1987 was the first year for TBI but I am not sure about the 3500 trucks. I didn't know a carburetor was still an option for '87 but I am happy to learn something new.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
43,892
Posts
945,137
Members
35,925
Latest member
Bruce K P
Top