Grandfather's 68 SS Camaro.

[JRC99]

(I'm probably gonna rant a bit so this might sound harsh- please understand I'm simply venting)

If that's the case, this pile is just going to sit for ten more years. I'm tired of cars at this point. I can't afford a rebuild. I can't *really* afford a cam and lifters but it sounds a lot less (immediately) expensive than a full rebuild.

I don't have the knowledge, the money, or the energy and patience to tear it apart further. I'm sick of every car I'm working on turning into a million more projects. I know they're old. I know it's never easy, I know that's just how it goes, but it wears me down. I also am coming to realize I'm not my grandfather and I (at least feel like I) have no business messing with this crap.

(I'm also in a crappy mood because I just found out the tailgate I bought for my Ram was only rust free because it's already been filled with bondo. So between that and just an overall crappy day, I'm over it all)

Again, I don't want to seem like I'm lashing out- y'all are right, it does probably need to come out and be fully redone- but I'm exhausted. And then I look back and realize how downright simple most of the issues it's had are to people with knowledge and experience, and I feel like a dweeb making mountains out of molehills. Feels like almost anyone else would have had this car running like a swiss watch 10 years ago

I don't know, I'm rambling and I'm tired. I guess frustrated is the best word.

The amusing part? This rant means nothing- in two days I'll be optimistic again.

[Too Many Projects]

You have every right to be frustrated and angry over this. You were looking for a car you could drive and remember your Grandfather in. Instead you got an all too common issue with a bad cam.

What part of Michigan are you in ?? If on the mainland, there are MANY people who would probably be willing to come help you remove the engine, pull the pan and bearing caps to see what it really needs. If you can get by with just replacing the bearings/oil pump and the cam and lifters, it would be a lower cost to do than plan a full rebuild. If I recall, wasn't this a fresh build ?

You don't have to do this alone. Having experienced help will take a big load off your chest and they can help you make informed decisions as to a new cam whatever parts it needs. Then you can take the time you need to pull them all together and have them help reassemble and break it in. I don't mean to be rude to Rally, but I would never take his advise on how to go about that. I'm happy for him that it works, but it doesn't seem to be the normal for the rest of us.

[JRC99]

Originally Posted by Too Many Projects

You have every right to be frustrated and angry over this. You were looking for a car you could drive and remember your Grandfather in. Instead you got an all too common issue with a bad cam.

What part of Michigan are you in ?? If on the mainland, there are MANY people who would probably be willing to come help you remove the engine, pull the pan and bearing caps to see what it really needs. If you can get by with just replacing the bearings/oil pump and the cam and lifters, it would be a lower cost to do than plan a full rebuild. If I recall, wasn't this a fresh build ?

You don't have to do this alone. Having experienced help will take a big load off your chest and they can help you make informed decisions as to a new cam whatever parts it needs. Then you can take the time you need to pull them all together and have them help reassemble and break it in. I don't mean to be rude to Rally, but I would never take his advise on how to go about that. I'm happy for him that it works, but it doesn't seem to be the normal for the rest of us.

I appreciate that.

A couple things I want to make clear- this cam has been bad for a while, long before Pap passed away. I knew it most likely ate at least one lobe. I just wanted to fool myself into thinking I could 'send it' and unfortunately, those who do know better must break the bad news to me, admittedly to try to save me heart-ache in the long run (hence why I took a LONG time to type that rant, because I did not want to seem like I was bitter towards anyone simply offering good advice). The engine in it was actually built in the 80s, which is precisely why I personally take the blame for it eating the cam- it from what I remember was fine until we did an oil change a few years back and didn't know anything about flat tappets or zinc.
Actually, now that I think about it, the car's most used seasons were 2011 and 2014. I vaguely remember just the slightest, most vague lifter tick starting around 2014, (unless I'm thinking of the first couple weeks after the oil change going by a video I put on Youtube). Then the oil change in 2015. I know you're not supposed to go ages between oil changes so that didn't help but the car never had more than 100-200 miles put on it a year in the 19 years Pappaw had it (and most years it had exactly 0 put on). If I had to guess, the last change before 2015 was probably 2011. When did they scale down the zinc in the oils?

All the issues before that were timing and carb related- stuff dad and I don't really understand, and things Pappaw's body wouldn't let him spend hours on the car fixing anymore. But between I'd say 1987 and 2014 or 2015, the cam never made an odd sound. Until we did that oil change.

As far as help, that's another problem. Not to get too deep into the psychology of me (lol) but whenever someone helps me, the 'help' turns to me standing around watching while they do everything. I do not think that's fair to anyone and I need to learn how to jump in. I did not pull the intake- my good friend from South Carolina was up and he 'helped' do it. I'm currently talking to him, he's doing a rather good job of calming me down lol

Sure, I'll probably get to it eventually, I did always want to freshen up the block visually, it just sucks that it's more work than I fooled myself into thinking it was the other night.

[napa68]

Originally Posted by RALLY

RAT540 Blog-Engineer talking about Motor Oil.

Yeah, the guy in the video does NOT seem as insanely stupid as most people are on Automotive Forums and Bozoistheoilguy Forum. But, like them, he doesn’t even know, what he doesn’t know. So, he just assumes he has to use OEM products. He has absolutely no clue that OEM lubricating oils are typically among the worst performers available. No surprise there since a lot of people are just like him.

People like him and others, are NOT qualified and experienced Degreed Mechanical Engineers. They have NOTHING to back-up and prove what they say. They just spout off what they “assume” is correct.

On the other hand, I back-up and prove EVERYTHING I post here in my Blog, with hard Engineering Test Data, that comes directly from the Science of the Physics and Chemistry involved in my proprietary testing. No one can argue with Science, because Science is ALWAYS CORRECT. Therefore, my test results that I share with my readers, EXACTLY MATCH “Real World” experience.

Plus, here in my Blog, in my recommendations, I always emphasize what “IS BEST” for our vehicles, while everyone else is happy with whatever is “good enough” to get by with.

At the end of the day, people can embrace my Engineering Test Data, which is the ONLY reliable and accurate information available anywhere.

Or people can ignore my Engineering Test Data and continue to guess how various lubricating oils perform, with nothing to go on other than Oil Company FALSE Advertising and FRAUDULENT Claims.

I do not sell anything, so it does not matter to me what people decide. The smart people will make use of my Test Data for their own benefit.

The idiots will ignore my Test Data and continue to struggle. So, that is their loss, not mine.

Take care,

540 RAT

I am going to go out on a limb in this post. The OP is young and has inherited a car(s) from his Grandfather. He obviously is struggling to get his head wrapped around the mechanical aspects of an older car, to say nothing for a young man's budget, and the loss of a loved one.

The forum community has taken an interest in his questions and hurdles. That is what this, and other forums are all about. I take my hat off to L E E to reach out in the capacity that he has. Others have offered solid advice, along with sympathy to the OP's circumstance.

Then, the thread gets hijacked. As a result, we get posts like this. IMHO, start another thread RALLY. If you want to profess your knowledge to the forum (perhaps without the condescending tone)........have at it.

It is my opinion the OP and the members who have spent the time to help, deserve better than your post would suggest.