When you haven’t done it for 40 years....

[Mark Maras]

 One possibility is back in the days of 327s,  many old timers were still using non-detergent oil. If you didn't change the oil frequently, a massive amount of sludge would build up. I've seen it so thick that the head bolts were completely covered.

[Richard McDonel]

Mark,

Bingo!  I think you nailed it.  Long time since I've been offered the choice of detergent and non-detergent. 

You mention head bolts covered with the stuff.  Mine were almost that bad.  I could see them, but had to scrape the sludge off  to get the socket to fit.  

BTW, my 240 is up and running, so I hope I won't be banished from this site for apostasy.  The 327 is for my newest project, the restoration of a 1965 Grant King-built oval-track sprint car.

Cheers

[zKars]

Final chapter for now.

Had to clean the carbs more thoroughly than I initially hoped. The jet tubes were not moving on their own, so couldn’t set richness or chokes. It was massively lean, would bog terribly just blipping the throttle, so I took them off last night and cleaned them up. One jet tube had to be pin punched with a ball peen hammer to move it. No damage, after cleaning and lubing, they now work just fine. 

I drove it quite nicely into its parking spot in my yard under its own power. Clutch felt perfectly fine. Would have loved to take it around the block and get it in second, but with no brakes, no way. The master has a layer of probably the stickiest black goo in the reservoirs I have ever seen. Will have to soak for ever. It has the nice early “Front in the front” master, would like to keep it.

The clutch slave soft line was plugged with crud. Couldn’t bleed the clutch initially, so I suspect the rest of the brake system needs more cleaning and work than I’m prepared to do this round. I have “peachy” to get ready by Christmas and there’s a storm-a-comin’ this weekend that will snow in the fleet for the winter. 

Thanks to Jitensha (Kevin) for helping with the car rodeo today and doing a great job of wheel chock placing when needed.