81 Vette Blown Heads "HELP"
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
81 Vette Blown Heads "HELP"
Just got a new Vette and it has Milky oil and radiator is over
flowing. Looks like my heads are gone. I want to buy some
rebuilt ones. Can some one give me some guidance on what
will fit my Vette as well as what are some good products out
there? Also what should I be looking at to drop on getting
them swapped out? What should I look out for when
replacing them? Is my Engine done since it has water in the
oil?
flowing. Looks like my heads are gone. I want to buy some
rebuilt ones. Can some one give me some guidance on what
will fit my Vette as well as what are some good products out
there? Also what should I be looking at to drop on getting
them swapped out? What should I look out for when
replacing them? Is my Engine done since it has water in the
oil?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
By blown, your heads prob aren't shot, just the head gasket.
If you have some wrenching skills, you can dig down and replace them for $50-100 PLUS and oil change/Rad flush & refill.
OR
use this misfortune to justify a head upgrade.
Your budget will decide........................
If you have some wrenching skills, you can dig down and replace them for $50-100 PLUS and oil change/Rad flush & refill.
OR
use this misfortune to justify a head upgrade.
Your budget will decide........................
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 8
From: Enid Oklahoma
Just got a new Vette and it has Milky oil and radiator is over
flowing. Looks like my heads are gone. I want to buy some
rebuilt ones. Can some one give me some guidance on what
will fit my Vette as well as what are some good products out
there? Also what should I be looking at to drop on getting
them swapped out? What should I look out for when
replacing them? Is my Engine done since it has water in the
oil?
flowing. Looks like my heads are gone. I want to buy some
rebuilt ones. Can some one give me some guidance on what
will fit my Vette as well as what are some good products out
there? Also what should I be looking at to drop on getting
them swapped out? What should I look out for when
replacing them? Is my Engine done since it has water in the
oil?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
Thanks guys. Im hoping its just a gasket but I should know more this weekend. Im going to take the heads into the shop and get them magnafluxed. If they are ok Ill throw them back and flush everything out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
The head(s) could be warped from overheating. Have them checked for straightness as well. If warped a plaining of the head can usually straighten them out and doesn't cost much. If they're warped and you just replace the headgasket its going to blow again and you'll be right back where you started.
Last edited by Priya; Feb 8, 2010 at 02:17 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Hoping for the best. If not, time to install some nice aluminum heads.BYW, did the car overheat before this happened? Maybe something else caused this to happen. Like previously posted, find the root cause or plan to repeat the repair.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
I bought the car as is for a fair price. Car belonged to an older man who had it sitting for the past few months. He didnt bother to get it checked and just wants it out of the drive way. He stated he started it up and coolant came out from the over flow tank and the car started running rough.
The engine bay and interior are in WONDERFUL shape. Oil looked Milky so I thought it might be a head gasket as there is water in the oil as well as milky fluid in the radiator.
I will be ripping it apart this weekend as well as giving it a good tune up. This is my first Vette and Im super excited to get her on the road but I just have to make sure everything checks out ok. I dont want to have to take her apart again and again.
The engine bay and interior are in WONDERFUL shape. Oil looked Milky so I thought it might be a head gasket as there is water in the oil as well as milky fluid in the radiator.
I will be ripping it apart this weekend as well as giving it a good tune up. This is my first Vette and Im super excited to get her on the road but I just have to make sure everything checks out ok. I dont want to have to take her apart again and again.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
Im not sure. He stated it was driving until a few months ago. He had a fresh coolant puddle from where he stated it overflowed. Im keeping my fingers crossed and hoping its just a gasket. I will post pictures when I get it in my garage.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
Gaskets were bad and major build up in old heads. Here are a few pictures. I replaced the heads and all gaskets also the bracket on my exhaust manifold came off "got it rewelded back on" Now if I can only start the car. Doesnt fire! Turn over but nothing. Gonna check the distro when I get home.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL809.../382864471.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL809.../382864473.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL809.../382864489.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL809.../382864485.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL809.../382864492.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL809.../382864471.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL809.../382864473.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL809.../382864489.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL809.../382864485.jpg
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL809.../382864492.jpg
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
My thought is Blown head gasket, the major deposits in the cooling ports of the heads, Flat lobe on the cam means you have had cam shavings and water circulating through the oil in the engine. I really think a rebuild is probably in order. Just wondering what the cooling ports in the block look like and if the obstruction could have caused the overheating that warped the heads and blew the gaskets.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
I took the heads to a machine shop and they said one of the valves wasn't holding pressure. Would that cause the lobe to go bad? The heads came back ok and they are resurfacing them now and reseating everything.
All already drained the engine and flushed the radiator. Anything I should look for before I put my heads and new cam back on?
All already drained the engine and flushed the radiator. Anything I should look for before I put my heads and new cam back on?