Posted a while back about engine puking coolant out and suspected a head gasket. Car was running great except that it would empty half the radiator during a 5 minute ride around the block. Exhaust gas smell in radiator.

Today I tried to start the car and it wouldn't turn over although plenty of juice and the starter was trying. Started pulling plugs and when I got to Number 8, it was tight. When I pulled it, I heard some water drip down. Plug definitely has antifreeze/water on it and is very clean. Number 7 and 6 look dark grey with black on the side electrode, number 5 is brown and the rest are light grey to tan.

What else should I check other than draining all the fluids and installing new gaskets? This is my first time pulling the heads.

[ 12-16-2003, 09:26 PM: Message edited by: 69CamaroSS ]

Spin the engine a few more times with the plugs out so you can get the rest of the water out. Then check the compression with tester. See if that cylinder is low.

If you do change the head gasket, get a reliable straight edge and check that the deck surface and the heads are flat. I would be more worried about the heads. Also read the gasket. They often tell the whole story.

That 600 CFM carb is way too small for that combo. Use a 750 CFM Holley, Vac. or mechanical secondaries.

Did a cranking compression test on the engine this morning. Wasn't able to warm it up first, so the following are cold numbers. Also, I couldn't get the compression tester on #1 or 2.
# psi
3 170
4 170
5 170
6 165
7 165
8 180

#8 was the cylinder that leaked antifreeze when I pulled the plug. Any idea why it would have higher numbers?

I'm pulling the engine this evening and will probably get around to pulling the heads once I find some bolts for my engine stand!

Ok, I finally took a day of vacation and got the engine out last night. I think I'll use this as my Christmas card this year. smile.gif

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/torqz/detail?.dir=/TFS+Heads&.dnm=Christmas+Present2.jpg

The #8 exhaust port is really nasty looking! Haven't pulled the head off yet, but here's what it looks like from the outside! What is that stuff?

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/torqz/detail?.dir=/TFS+Heads&.dnm=Crud.jpg

Just a guess but it looks like a little galvanic action aluminum corrosion crap???

pdq67

PDQ is right it is corrosion on the aluminum. looks like the car hadn't been started for a while and had coolant sitting there. I think your sompression numbers look fine, number 8 could be a little higher becaue the liquid in the cylinder is filling all the little voids (same idea as putting a little oil in the cylinder to see if it's the rings causing low compression). As mentioned above check the deack and head to make sure they're true. Look very close for crack around #8 and the head. If everything looks good, pop a new set of gaskets on it. The head gasket may tell the whole story once you lift the head off.

Finally pulled the heads and need to know what you guys think.

Pics are here... Engine Pics (http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mdp@sbcglobal.net/album?.dir=/Engine&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mdp@sbcglobal.net/my_photos)

It's not obvious to me where the water was coming from, although it looks like it was probably coming from the ouside edge. The metal part of the gasket was split, but I'm not sure whether it did this when I pulled it off. Any thoughts?

What do you guys make of the pistons and the combustion chambers in these pics? Look awfully black to me.

From what I can see in the pictures, it is impssible to really tell what the problem is/was. You can see where the water came from but, you can't see if the head is warped, etc...

You are the only one that knows if you ever overheated the car. Did you retorque the heads after a heat cycle or two? If you never over heated it I would clean up the mating surface, check the heads with a straight edge, pop some new gaskets on it and go.

The carbon on the pistons (notice how much cleaner the leaky cylinder is) is pretty much the norm for todays gas (IMO). If you are running on the rich side that will only add to it. I have been running an Amsoil fuel additive (Performance Enhancer) that is supposed to keep the valves and combustion chambers clean. Last time I pulled the engine apart it had very little carbon. I will be pulling it out again in the next few weeks, I will be sold on the stuff if there is still no carbon (or very little).