New crate engine is now a steam engine....bad problem...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
I'm guessing the builder didn't:
put enough sealer on some of the blind head bolts
properly torque a head bolthead gasket
OR:
the head gasket failed around #6
poor metalurgy on the block or heads resulted in fatique/failure of the block or cyl head.
Was the block bored oversize? If so, how much? .030, .040, .060?
put enough sealer on some of the blind head bolts
properly torque a head bolthead gasket
OR:
the head gasket failed around #6
poor metalurgy on the block or heads resulted in fatique/failure of the block or cyl head.
Was the block bored oversize? If so, how much? .030, .040, .060?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 0
From: Madison Ms
Just got off the phone with Clarence again and he said yea, it looks like either a blown gasket by #6 or cracked head. I said "ya think". duh....
Emailed him some of the pics and after looking at them he said whole tight, I have to show these to some of the "guys". Will call back....
Next......
Emailed him some of the pics and after looking at them he said whole tight, I have to show these to some of the "guys". Will call back....
Next......
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 0
From: Madison Ms
Something that concerns attention....maybe nothing but I wanted y'alls input....Clarence got off the phone quick with me when I pointed this out to him in the pics I sent....
Look at the middle of portion of the gasket and their is a void underneath it. No way this could seal off, but not sure if it matters as this is a welded up port. Now look at the undershot of the intake.
Look at the middle of portion of the gasket and their is a void underneath it. No way this could seal off, but not sure if it matters as this is a welded up port. Now look at the undershot of the intake.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Originally Posted by MsVetteMan
Something that concerns attention....maybe nothing but I wanted y'alls input....Clarence got off the phone quick with me when I pointed this out to him in the pics I sent....
Look at the middle of portion of the gasket and their is a void underneath it. No way this could seal off, but not sure if it matters as this is a welded up port. Now look at the undershot of the intake.
Look at the middle of portion of the gasket and their is a void underneath it. No way this could seal off, but not sure if it matters as this is a welded up port. Now look at the undershot of the intake.
Is it possible that they did NOT install vortec cyl heads? The gasket is right for vortec heads. What is the casting number on the cyl heads?
I note the intake manifold and intake gaskets appear to be vortec but the cylinder heads are suspect.
So, perhaps bad/wrong cylinder heads used by builder...
Last edited by TedH; Mar 6, 2006 at 03:46 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 0
From: Madison Ms
Well old Clarence just called me back again (at least I have there attention) and said on the the next step. He showed the pics to the "guys" and they said the gasket were fine. I pretty sure they are gm vortec heads, but I'll get the cast number to double check. The valve covers bolt thru the center.
Basically I now have to pull the head on the pass. side and report my findings. Asked the ole boy about "my time", and he said the do not warranty labor on self installs. If a shop with certified mechanics had put the motor in, then they would.
Now me and ole Clarence have been getting along so far, but I'm about to get aggravated. Soon he will find out about this thread, but it's to early yet, so I'll bite my tongue a bit longer.
Basically I now have to pull the head on the pass. side and report my findings. Asked the ole boy about "my time", and he said the do not warranty labor on self installs. If a shop with certified mechanics had put the motor in, then they would.
Now me and ole Clarence have been getting along so far, but I'm about to get aggravated. Soon he will find out about this thread, but it's to early yet, so I'll bite my tongue a bit longer.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
All of the intake passages are clean except for #6. It's got the milkshake in it. They appear to be Vortecs since they have the 4 mounting bolt holes. I also remember the valve covers are center bolt. Obviously be able to tell the root cause if the heads were to come off. I'll bet they tell you to send it back for replacement though. And just think, you get to install it all over again!!
Brett
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Originally Posted by Brettmc
All of the intake passages are clean except for #6. It's got the milkshake in it. They appear to be Vortecs since they have the 4 mounting bolt holes. I also remember the valve covers are center bolt. Obviously be able to tell the root cause if the heads were to come off. I'll bet they tell you to send it back for replacement though. And just think, you get to install it all over again!!
Brett
Brett
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Originally Posted by MsVetteMan
Hey Brett, I rather swap the head than and change a gasket than pull that dayum motor out again!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 10
From: Scottsboro Alabama
Originally Posted by MsVetteMan
Asked the ole boy about "my time", and he said the do not warranty labor on self installs. If a shop with certified mechanics had put the motor in, then they would.
Nice loophole!!
Call ole Clarence back and ask him if he would like a 355 ci blueprint sbc shoved up his azz. Thanks to him it's already pre-lubed with a mixture of oil and water.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Lurkerville
If you ask me I would venture to say its the wrong intake gaskets. When I took the manifold off a 97 LT1, I seam to recall that center port on the head blocked off by the intake but sealed with the gasket.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Originally Posted by My White 79
If you ask me I would venture to say its the wrong intake gaskets. When I took the manifold off a 97 LT1, I seam to recall that center port on the head blocked off by the intake but sealed with the gasket.
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...3&autoview=sku
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
Originally Posted by MsVetteMan
Well old Clarence just called me back again (at least I have there attention) and said on the the next step. He showed the pics to the "guys" and they said the gasket were fine. I pretty sure they are gm vortec heads, but I'll get the cast number to double check. The valve covers bolt thru the center.
Basically I now have to pull the head on the pass. side and report my findings. Asked the ole boy about "my time", and he said the do not warranty labor on self installs. If a shop with certified mechanics had put the motor in, then they would.
Now me and ole Clarence have been getting along so far, but I'm about to get aggravated. Soon he will find out about this thread, but it's to early yet, so I'll bite my tongue a bit longer.
Basically I now have to pull the head on the pass. side and report my findings. Asked the ole boy about "my time", and he said the do not warranty labor on self installs. If a shop with certified mechanics had put the motor in, then they would.
Now me and ole Clarence have been getting along so far, but I'm about to get aggravated. Soon he will find out about this thread, but it's to early yet, so I'll bite my tongue a bit longer.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by Older Than Dirt
Call ole Clarence back and ask him if he would like a 355 ci blueprint sbc shoved up his azz. Thanks to him it's already pre-lubed with a mixture of oil and water.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Lurkerville
Originally Posted by TedH
That is what I would've thought also until I spied a photo of a vortec intake gasket on the Summit web site:
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...3&autoview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...3&autoview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...4&autoview=sku
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Originally Posted by My White 79
True but listed also is
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...4&autoview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...4&autoview=sku