blew a head gasket today...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,699
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From: Westampton NJ
Re: blew a head gasket today... (Aaron-74)
:eek: Wow! Sorry...I blew head gasket(s) due to not getting the steel shim sealed exactly right. So, I'm putting the nice .041 FelPro composition gaskets (1003's) on this weekend. Good luck, it's not a bad repair as long as the gasket is the only thing blown.
Race Director
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From: Living in the Hartland
Re: blew a head gasket today... (Aaron-74)
Aaron
On first read I thought you meant you pulled the plug wire apart and blew a head gasket in your head. On second thought I bet you did! :)
On first read I thought you meant you pulled the plug wire apart and blew a head gasket in your head. On second thought I bet you did! :)
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Le Mans Master
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From: Brazos TX
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Re: blew a head gasket today... (Aaron-74)
Ooo, that's a bummer. Fortunately that is easy to fix. That is a one day job. Are you using steel shim gaskets? You may want to consider using composition types. Fel-pro makes a thin .018 or .022 composition gasket. I would check to be sure its the gasket and not a cracked cylinder head.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
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Re: blew a head gasket today... (Twin_Turbo)
let me guess, car is in school parking lot, bunch of friends gather around, you crank it up, mash the throttle, 6000+ rpm's and now the gasket is awol
I'm using the composite gaskets from fel-pro.
I don't think the head is cracked and if it is, i'm screwed...
Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: La Jolla California
Re: blew a head gasket today... (Aaron-74)
I threw belts on the highway and over heat alot...like, needle pegged passed 260. I've done it about 5 times.
I'm using the composite gaskets from fel-pro.
I don't think the head is cracked and if it is, i'm screwed...
I'm using the composite gaskets from fel-pro.
I don't think the head is cracked and if it is, i'm screwed...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Carlisle PA
Re: blew a head gasket today... (Aaron-74)
Your lucky you didn't attempt to start the engine in that condition. If it was dumping water that quickly into the cylinder, I would think it would of hydralic'd upon startup. Then you'd be in alot more poopie then just a head gasket change. :cheers: Good Luck!!!!!
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Drifting
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Re: blew a head gasket today... (Jvette73)
The heads are brand new. I rebuilt them last year. Had them decked, ported, bronze guides, checked for cracks...I won aVICA metal for them (auto shop project) I can tell you anything messure on those heads. From the valve cover hole size to the thickness of the deck.
LS7- I had been trying to start the car ALL DAY!! I wouldn't start in the morning. And I've been fowling plugs a lot lately. So, I figured that was what it was. So...well..you know.
Usually when I over heat I'm going down the highway @ 70mph. There's not much room on the shoulders here, so when I notice the temp up I get the next off ramp, shut down and coast as far as I need to. Usualy I don't even get above 160. That's RARE! and when I do I put more water in the radiator (now I know where it's all been going :smash: ).....
LS7- I had been trying to start the car ALL DAY!! I wouldn't start in the morning. And I've been fowling plugs a lot lately. So, I figured that was what it was. So...well..you know.
Usually when I over heat I'm going down the highway @ 70mph. There's not much room on the shoulders here, so when I notice the temp up I get the next off ramp, shut down and coast as far as I need to. Usualy I don't even get above 160. That's RARE! and when I do I put more water in the radiator (now I know where it's all been going :smash: ).....
Safety Car
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From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: blew a head gasket today... (Aaron-74)
Aaron...
I'm confused what you were thinking in the first place. I wouldn't drive any car the first time after it pegged the water temperature needle without figuring out what is wrong... little less 3-4 more times pegging it again & dumping the belts while at it.
I'm confused what you were thinking in the first place. I wouldn't drive any car the first time after it pegged the water temperature needle without figuring out what is wrong... little less 3-4 more times pegging it again & dumping the belts while at it.
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Re: blew a head gasket today... (bgrice)
Yeah, I agree, that's a pretty dumb move. You practically asked for it :(
If my heater stops wotking I'm already getting nervous, now with the needle pegging, I'd have shut it down immediately
Marck
If my heater stops wotking I'm already getting nervous, now with the needle pegging, I'd have shut it down immediately
Marck
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
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Re: blew a head gasket today... (Twin_Turbo)
Hmm...well, if I'm so stupid. Why doesn't someone lend me 200.00$ So I can go buy a set of March deep grove pulleys and fix the problem of me throwing belts.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: La Jolla California
Re: blew a head gasket today... (Aaron-74)
You shouldn't need any special pulleys to keep from throwing belts - something else must be wrong. Double check your pulley alignment - you may need to shim something in or out. Also make sure you're not overtightening or leaving too much slack when you install new belts.
How often do you check your gauges while driving? I make it a habit to glance at oil pressure and water temp at least every 30 seconds. If I were having problems like you are (throwing belts, etc.) I would check them even more often. Once your temps start to climb, you should have more than enough time to get off the highway before anything bad happens - even in Houston traffic.
[Modified by Langadorf, 7:23 PM 1/18/2003]
How often do you check your gauges while driving? I make it a habit to glance at oil pressure and water temp at least every 30 seconds. If I were having problems like you are (throwing belts, etc.) I would check them even more often. Once your temps start to climb, you should have more than enough time to get off the highway before anything bad happens - even in Houston traffic.
[Modified by Langadorf, 7:23 PM 1/18/2003]
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Drifting
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Re: blew a head gasket today... (Langadorf)
Pulleys are plenty strait. So, that's fine. And I get them pretty tight. If I see vibration with the motors running I shut down and tighten it.
I watch the temp and oil pressure quite often. More than normal people. But, traveling down a highway, throw a belt and dont know it. I look at the gauges probably once every 2 or 3 minutes. And when you throw a belt don't know it for a minute or so, 60-70 seconds is plenty of time for coolant at 3,500-4,000 rpm to reach an extremely high level. Then I get to a point where it's SAFE for me and mostly my Corvette to actually get to a stop...Park it and change the belt. Shutting off your car at 70mph in traffic is EXTREMELY stupid.
I watch the temp and oil pressure quite often. More than normal people. But, traveling down a highway, throw a belt and dont know it. I look at the gauges probably once every 2 or 3 minutes. And when you throw a belt don't know it for a minute or so, 60-70 seconds is plenty of time for coolant at 3,500-4,000 rpm to reach an extremely high level. Then I get to a point where it's SAFE for me and mostly my Corvette to actually get to a stop...Park it and change the belt. Shutting off your car at 70mph in traffic is EXTREMELY stupid.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Westampton NJ
Re: blew a head gasket today... (Aaron-74)
Belts can be over-tightened too...You want approximately 1/4" of play for 6" of belt.
For example, say it's 12" from water pump pulley center to alternator pulley center. You therefore want 1/2" of flex in the belt. This is measured by placing a straight edge on both pulleys (down the belt) and then using a ruler to push the belt. If it's at the right tension, you should be able to push the belt down 1/2" from normal and not further without difficulty.
On another subject, an ammeter can be about the best way to find out if the crank-water pump-alternator belt is thrown. It instantaneously drops to full discharge when the belt is thrown since the alternator is no longer charging the battery. It is how I've noticed my belts thrown when it happened twice, still getting the engine shut down before 210 degrees.
:cheers:
For example, say it's 12" from water pump pulley center to alternator pulley center. You therefore want 1/2" of flex in the belt. This is measured by placing a straight edge on both pulleys (down the belt) and then using a ruler to push the belt. If it's at the right tension, you should be able to push the belt down 1/2" from normal and not further without difficulty.
On another subject, an ammeter can be about the best way to find out if the crank-water pump-alternator belt is thrown. It instantaneously drops to full discharge when the belt is thrown since the alternator is no longer charging the battery. It is how I've noticed my belts thrown when it happened twice, still getting the engine shut down before 210 degrees.
:cheers: