65 326ho

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Terry Petty

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Hi-new to the forum. Just purchased a 65 Lemans with a 326 4bbl and dual exhaust, it runs, but I have some things to fix before I license/drive it. But planning ahead the old owner did say he had trouble with octane and pinging. It has 39,285 original miles on it and sounds good. I have some questions.

1. Is there any way to tell if this is a legit 326HO 285HP?
And if it is....
It must have 10.5:1 compression?

2. Did those come with the plastic or nylon upper timing gear teeth?

3. What cam might I install to make it less "octane sensitive"? It has a non-original T350 and a non-original 3.55 posi rear end.

4. Are the valve seats in those sensitive to unleaded fuel?

5. Are the head gaskets prone to fail?

6. Looking for the build sheet, looked at the back seat upper and lower to no avail.

I'm considering a cam change and a valve job, maybe headers or ram air D port manifolds with better pipes/mufflers. Not open to engine swap at this time.

Thanks for reading and all responses appreciated.
 
1. Is there any way to tell if this is a legit 326HO 285HP? You will find the engine code on a pad located on the block in front of the passenger side cylinder head. Look up the code on this site. http://www.wallaceracing.com/engine.htm

2. Did those come with the plastic or nylon upper timing gear teeth? The original would have a nylon coating. You really think you still have the original?

3. What cam might I install to make it less "octane sensitive"? It has a non-original T350 and a non-original 3.55 posi rear end. I have a 11:1 compression on a 69 small block corvette and no pinging on 93 octane.

4. Are the valve seats in those sensitive to unleaded fuel? NO they are not. Unless you are towing a heavy trailer or constantly going up moutains there is no real world evidence of an issue.

5. Are the head gaskets prone to fail? No why would you think that?

Have you done a compression test and found you have burnt valves? Good luck with you car!
 
1. I'll check the engine code, thanks that's good info.
2. I don't know if it's original but at 39K it might be, but thanks for telling me the original has nylon.
3. 91 only here. I can get racing gas but not my preference just want to pull up to the local pumps and get the 91.
4. Thanks, didn't think they were.
5. Because my 65 sport lemans 326 HO blew a head gasket at 55K in '73, this one has had lots more time to rust internally. No, have not done compression test no reason to suspect burnt valves. I have my own valve grinders and if I do head gaskets and cam I'll do valves and springs. Not sure what kind of valve seals this thing has but I'm thinking they are hard by now and probably carbon in the heads.

I plan on installing a good timing chain/gears at the least maybe retard the cam 4'. I will curve the dist regardless, If I don't replace the cam I will likely leave the heads on for now and just do valve seals, and put heavier dist springs in to delay the advance as needed to stop ping. I'm led to believe that 36' total timing is best for these engines so if I can do that and keep the base timing low enough so the starter don't drag that's the plan but don't know if that's possible with the old points style dist. HEI might be in the future but like the stock look.
 
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Not sure where you are but on another forum concerning Chevy a guy from Denver Colorado mentioned the 91 max available and leaving total timing more towards 32 degrees. He also is dealing with thinner air. Use the Mr Gasket spring and weight kit, try leaving the stock weights in and install the bronze distributor bushing that limits advance. The original nylon one is either gone or cracked.
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Is there a "sellers" or "wanted" section on this forum? I'm thinking a set of 250HP 2bbl 70 cc #62 heads would be good to bring my compression down to around 9.3:1.

#76 and #77 389 heads with 70cc have slightly larger valves, 1.92" and 1.66", but not sure if they would create interference with the cylinder walls. I see a 67 326HO uses these larger size valves, but at a different valve angle. But I believe the 67 and up also space the valves wider so I'm wondering if the 76's and 77's will clear on a 326.
 
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