Head gaskets ?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 143
Likes: 25
Head gaskets ?
Well... looking like something internal now. Smell of coolant and sludge on oil cap . I suspect at least the drivers side gasket . that side misses the most and sounds like somebody stuck a horn in the tail pipe ? Not looking good.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
It always helps to put the YEAR OF THE CAR in your post. There are differences that help us help you.
Start off by pulling #7 plug if your suspecting the driver's side. Look a the plug...your looking to see if this looks very clean....compare to #3 or #5. If it is very clean you have a head gasket issue as hinted by your find of sludge on the radiator cap. Any coolant in the oil? When the car is running, are you getting white smoke out the exhaust pipes.
You can pull #8 plug and check for the same thing. Looking at the front of the car in the picture, I am guessing your have a LT1. Plug #8 is a B***h to get out because of the lack of clearance.
History on Chevy head gaskets indicates that they will most often blow out on #7 and/or #8.
Start off by pulling #7 plug if your suspecting the driver's side. Look a the plug...your looking to see if this looks very clean....compare to #3 or #5. If it is very clean you have a head gasket issue as hinted by your find of sludge on the radiator cap. Any coolant in the oil? When the car is running, are you getting white smoke out the exhaust pipes.
You can pull #8 plug and check for the same thing. Looking at the front of the car in the picture, I am guessing your have a LT1. Plug #8 is a B***h to get out because of the lack of clearance.
History on Chevy head gaskets indicates that they will most often blow out on #7 and/or #8.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 706
Likes: 47
From: Denver Colorado
I know its a pain but, might as well pull all the plugs and do a full compression test while you are at it. That way you can look at all the plugs in order and look at your full cylinder compression picture. You do not want to pull the front end hardware and intake twice if you have issues with both heads.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 654
Likes: 18
From: Linthicum MD
Just got done taking care of a busted head gasket on the passenger side, cylinder #8. In the process, I sent my AFRs to Lloyd Elliot and had them ported. The car def has top end now.
Since you will have the motor tore down, time for a H/C swap. Well, it's an excuse anyway.
Since you will have the motor tore down, time for a H/C swap. Well, it's an excuse anyway.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 143
Likes: 25
Started messing around with car here and there. right now having a major issue with the drivers side knock sensor. Have a 22 mm socket, but hell of a time trying to remove it. Is there another way to drain the coolant , with out removing the knock sensors ?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 89
From: Kingwood Texas
I didn't remove the knock sensors when I did mine I drained as much as I could with the radiator drain valve then covered the opti good with a trash bag and towels before removing the heads, once I got the heads off I used a siphon pump to drain the rest of the fluid.
Last edited by MRPVette; Jan 27, 2016 at 07:14 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
I would take out the sensors you will not believe all the crap that can be in there. I just put in new they are cheap enough. and need the proper dope and tourque 14 lb I believe and the new ones come with dope.
