[jhein]

The engine in my car is a WS code block, not numbers matching. #12 heads. The crank, rods and valves, springs are all factory original parts. The block is 60 over. It was rebuilt just before I got it. They used all Melling parts. Runs good.

Here's the question. With all those 50 year old parts in there it makes me a little nervous. Would it be wise to redo the motor with a new rotating assembly and valvetrain, or is it fine as is?

My driving habits with it are cruising with some < 5000 RPM (4500 is what I shoot for) shifts thrown in there from time to time, but no real thrashing it.

If I have to rebuild the motor at some point that wouldn't bother me too much, but, what I don't want to do is break something irreplaceable like the block or heads.

The idea of a stroker kit, roller cam, all new valvetrain is kind of tempting.

[tom s]

heads are avail,blocks not so much.Tom

[wbnapier]

To me, it's part of the fun of the hobby. If you have the $, want to do it, go for it.

[Formulajones]

Hard to say, I race my stuff pretty frequently with correct "numbers" parts in the cars. My bird with it's YZ block and 12 heads is one of them, the 69Z with it's DZ block and all the parts is another. But they don't have 50 year old parts inside any of them either (other than crankshafts), and I'm pretty comfortable with the builds that I won't (and never have had) any problems.

But, if it's really a concern for you, it's not that big of a deal to build something specific with all the aftermarket support out there for Pontiacs, including blocks. All it takes in money.

I will say though, the Z does make me a little uncomfortable, with those blocks fetching upwards of $4000 or more, the correct 1178 cranks aren't falling off trees anymore and grab $1500 for a good one that hasn't been turned. To top it off it's my wife's daily. I've seriously been thinking about bagging that engine for a later restoration to keep the miles and abuse off of it, and running something else in it as long as we're using it like we do. Been 5 years and haven't done it yet though, lol.

[Stuart]

For your intended use I'd leave it alone. The chances of a catastrophic failure are pretty minimal.

[Formulajones]

I agree with Stuart, doesn't really sound like you're running it that hard.

I tend to abuse mine like this as frequently as I can

https://youtu.be/er1z7PpqsnY

[71GP76TA]

Leave it alone...

[weranc55]

Yup I’d leave it alone.

[necdb3]

At 60 over, it's not original inside at least once maybe twice to be that far over. I'd leave it be.

[Aus78Formula]

If you blow it up, use that opportunity to rebuild it.

[77 Canamman]

Your 50 year old parts are better than the brand new Chinese parts. Leave it be and address as needed.

[weranc55]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

Your 50 year old parts are better than the brand new Chinese parts. Leave it be and address as needed.

I agree. I know plenty of people who’ve had motors done in the last few years and have either cam, lifter or other problems because of cheap parts.

[jhein]

Well, that seems to be a very strong consensus to leave it alone. Yeah, I know that at 60 over that's probably the end of the line for the block anyway. So I'll just run it and be happy.

Thanks folks!

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by jhein

Well, that seems to be a very strong consensus to leave it alone. Yeah, I know that at 60 over that's probably the end of the line for the block anyway. So I'll just run it and be happy.

Thanks folks!

When and if the time comes, you can always sleeve it if you want it to continue its life beyond being a good quality boat anchor

[bird72]

Another leave it alone here. But last two builds I went forged rods and pistons, so I would go that route again on a build.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

When and if the time comes, you can always sleeve it ...

Bingo.

In your situtation ,if it needed it, I wouldn't hesitate to forego the cost of sleeving it to keep a correct block there..

[tdavidl]

i went the other way...mine is the original numbers matching engine that had 130k miles on it, nothing ever done to it other the routine maint stuff as far as i know...like you, the more miles i added the more i worried that the one day i'd punch it hard and something internal would break lose & smoke the entire engine...so i had it rebuilt by a well known pontiac rebuilder and racer...i suppose it made me feel better about punching it now with a "new" engine and ease my worries about something internal breaking loose...a side benefit was it was rebuilt to RAIII specs :-)

[jhein]

Yeah, sleeving would be the way to go. Less expensive than a correct block, which I probably couldn't find anyway. I don't know what the limitations of sleeving are for any given block, especially if you had to do all 8 cylinders.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by jhein

Yeah, sleeving would be the way to go. Less expensive than a correct block, which I probably couldn't find anyway. I don't know what the limitations of sleeving are for any given block, especially if you had to do all 8 cylinders.

there's not alot that cannot be done these days;
Have you watched any of the Haggerty engine rebuild videos?
Some of the more unusual builds that I have seen were the most fascinating ones.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by tdavidl

i went the other way...mine is the original numbers matching engine that had 130k miles on it, nothing ever done to it other the routine maint stuff as far as i know...like you, the more miles i added the more i worried that the one day i'd punch it hard and something internal would break lose & smoke the entire engine...so i had it rebuilt by a well known pontiac rebuilder and racer...i suppose it made me feel better about punching it now with a "new" engine and ease my worries about something internal breaking loose...a side benefit was it was rebuilt to RAIII specs :-)

Sounds like you have a nice fresh motor now. The thing is mine is too. I have just under 1000 miles on it since the rebuild, I was just worried about the rods, bolts and valvetrain being so old. Especially as mentioned at 60 over this motor is on it's second or third life so I assume it has a fair number of miles on all those parts.

Nice looking Formula, BTW. Love that color.