Wife's 77 Monza. "The Black Dragon" as she calls it.

[imiceman44]

I was wondering if, being an 02, they may have already swapped to the 0411 ecm.
But, I actually don't have it yet. Currently sitting in my truck about to head to his place and pick it up lol.
That'd be awesome, but I'm betting not.

If not, I'm going to look into what it would take, see if it's worth it.

I am telling you.
It's not a guess.
Vans continued on till 2002 while the trucks switched in 2000.
If it's a 5.7 it's the same.
They also changed the front end at the same time and this one definitely is the older version

 

[shady]

I knew it had the 350 vortec, already said that lol.
But, Chevy does weird chit, AMD it was possible that they may have used the LS style ecm since it's a change over year and the LS ecm had been out a few years. That's the part I'm wondering.

Probably not, but a dude can hope.

 

[shady]

Oohhh...

LS style

Normal 350 vortec style


Mine

 

[Blue85]

Rockauto shows 5.7 as the only engine, but either PCM is possible (not that they're always right). Theoretically, the newer ECM could run that older engine, but to invest in the firmware/tune for a small number of vehicles seems unlikely. You do run into some weird stuff in changeover years, though.

 

[shady]

Yep..

 

[shady]

Well.... Think I know why the rod got bent/sideways

Buddy must have used the wrong bolt when he changed the intake.
This is looking straight down the hole

Can't find the rod piece, so intake comes off I guess.
I'll use shorter bolts.

Won't be ready for the vortec swap till next fall/winter

 

[shady]

Loaded up the monza to take it to the shop.

In the process of winching it up, I heard something, and found that the angle of the trailer and ramps was wrong...

Chewed up the pinch rail on the bottom of the rocker. About 6-7 inches of it.
Only pic my wife took. I was too busy to think of it.


I raised the front of the trailer as far as the jack would take it. Had the truck in 4low and the e brake on.
Went on the rest of the way with no further damage, and the angles at the shop were WAY better, so no problem there..

 

[USSkoval]

Dang, I wish I could find a parts van like that. Yours is an LS with the better grille, bumpers and a whole bunch more than my base '00 Van.

 

[shady]

Nope. 5.7 vortec.

 

[shady]

Last year of the 350 so it has the LS computer

 

[shady]

You want the rest after I pull the engine trans and wheels? I can probably find roller wheels if you don't have any.
$250 and it's all yours lol.


Oh, I'm stealing the front seats too.

 

[shady]

Or I can pull all the pieces you want and I'll scrap the rest.

 

[USSkoval]

Lol, I meant the "LS" trim level.

I'd love to get the grille, lights, front bumper and the front dome light that presumably has map lights. If I knew I was going to have the time to get the whole thing, I'd take you up on it. But I've usually got a company trailer that I have to haul around.

My van is a base (non-LS)

 

[shady]

Ah lol.forgot about trims levels

I can pull anything you want and store it.
I can get pics inside
Had a brand new windshield put in before he sold it too .

 

[shady]

We kinda got lucky lol.
Took the intake off to find the missing half of the pushrod.... And it wasn't there

Notice what else imst there.... Immediately after pulling the intake.
Antifreeze.
This is what it looked like when I popped the water neck.

I popped off the radiator cap before we drove it home...
Must have had a huge air pocket, or was eating it.

Anyway...... Found the half a rod.

 

[shady]

The engine block is a 1975 350 out of a C20 or 30.

And double hump heads
Those aught to fetch a good price.


Quick question...... What do you suppose the numbers on each cylinder are..?
I thought ring gaps, but that'd put one of the rings at .035" which seems a little too gappy lol.

 

[shady]

Forgot the only pic I actually remembered took of her working on it.

When we got there I started getting the carb off, and water hoses. While she took intake bolts out, plug wires off, and the distributor hold down off.

One of the pushrods she bought was missing from the box, so we had to get another one ordered quick.
Have the gaskets and all ready. Just have to get all the preload on the lifters done and put it back together..

 

[76zimmer]

Those 291’s are good iron castings back in the 60’s-70’s, with 1.94/1.50 valves, but I think they’ll only bring a couple hundred unless you find a numbers marching guy looking for them. Looks like a June 7 67 casting date.
Looks pretty good inside!

I’m guessing those numbers are top ring, 2nd ring, and oil ring gaps.

 

[shady]

I thought that on the gaps too, but the oil ring one should be smaller I'd think

The pre April 291's were the 2.02 valves. We have one February, one June. So I don't know if we have one of each, or the cutoff wasn't exact in April. Or what.
Supposedly June is when they got accessory holes, but neither of these have them.

Everything I found on a quick search had used ones going for $600-700 a pair, and singles going for $300-400. In much worse condition.
If I got $500 out of the pair I'd be tickled.
That'd get her more money for other things like bushings and such.
Might get the cheapest set of heads I can scrape up and sell the engine with them on it for another $500. Might even know when I can find some close toy shop

 

[76zimmer]

Those castings were used for many applications, with factory hp determining whether they got 1.94’s or 2.02’s, same as all double hump heads. 68 model year engines had the head mounted alternator and other equipment.
The oil rings should be smaller, but mine is just a guess on those numbers. .035 for the top ring would be way too much.