Well I tackled the motor and it was confirmed, acorns in the motor.I said it was in my previous post. https://board.moparts.org/ubbthread...speed-dana-s-match-n96.html#Post2696527. I cleaned out the cylinders, sprayed PB blaster and the motor spins fine. Do you think its safe to fire up?

Was it built by Squirrels?

Gopher Motors


Unless something got hammered in between a seat and valve or got bent when cranking it over previously

If it was a brand new rebuild I would say pull the heads , but that’s not the case so

When I got the car I turned it by hand, nothing forced. Im going to oil everything up and give it a shot.

I think I'd tear that one down and go through it before I tried to run it.

+1
Me too, a gasket kit is nothing and a clean up of any internal rust before it goes through the oiling system would make the engine last much longer if it is still good now, the rings would probably appreciate the reduction of acorn dust too

Based on the rust in the intake ports I think it's likely the cylinder bores also have rust.

or x 3 or one my wind up with a pile of scrap iron.

No way would I run it, that'll just create more damage. Tear it apart & rebuild it if you want it to be right.

That's nuts!

Seriously, though I would open it up and clean it out. If there is debris in the intake runners you know at least some of the pistons had an open intake valve and it got down in there, too.

Pull it apart and have a real look inside. How can you possibly believe the cam is going to be OK after seeing all that crap under the intake? What do you think your going to gain by hearing it run? I suspect you will cause a lot more harm then any good that can come from starting it.

Of course, its yours, start it if you feel lucky and feel the need. Next week you can post pictures of the cylinder wall and crank damage. Gene

I just pulled the 400 out of an old project truck. I removed one exhaust manifold and found an exhaust port filled with Decon. Those little critters ran all the way up the exhaust, through the muffler and into the head.

Years ago Chipmunks totally filled the aircleaner on my wife's car with dog food. Needless to say her car was running like a dog when she asked me to look at it. Arf arf.