Why would there be oil in the headers of a SCJ 428??

[N8Miller]

Ok, my dad has a 66 fairlane GTA with a 428. it now has a knocking sound coming from the engine and he said that there is oil in the header. The motor has been in the car for a few years--about 20--- and is now "missing with a knocking sound." Would it be possible to be a broken rod or piston? maybe a bad ring?
i dont know much about these old school motors, so anything that you can shed light on would be a help before i rip it apart in a few months.
I would rather just see it fixed quick, but i would also like to see the 428 rebuilt with a bit more agressive cam---but thats just the kid talking for his dad.

 

[D.Hearne]

Sounds to me like it's ready for a rebuild, or just possibly just a valve job. Oil in the headers could be from worn or broken rings, worn valve guides, broken valves, or maybe a few other causes that escape me now. If it had a broken rod, it would most likely not run or even start. I doubt it'll be a quick fix. just unbolting those headers is gonna take awhile , used to take me three hours to do that in a big block Mustang

 

[allcarfan]

Hey man...how do you like that xe274 cam...is it streetable (I dont have a computer)?


anyway...it could be a bad valve seal, a bad rod or bad ring...which could have led to scuffing of the cylinder walls. It really needs to be checked out. When does it smoke? On start up or when he hits the gas?

 

[N8Miller]

Hey man...how do you like that xe274 cam...is it streetable (I dont have a computer)?

The XE274 is very streetable. i like it alot. it really wakes up at 2500 rpms--just like Comp says.


As for the 428, is there anyway to tell when i pull the head off what is needed or what i need to replace or have rebuilt?

 

[D.Hearne]

If there's just worn valve guides, then you need a good machinist to look at them. If it doesn't have hardened seats and it's been fed a diet of unleaded, the exhaust valves will be recessed into the heads. HAve fun with those headers, better get a good assortment of small 7/16 end wrenches and limber up your hands, you'll need both.