What do you guys think happened?

97stanger · Sep 21, 2011

Well, I brought my car to a show last weekend and it just didnt have the power it should, it also seemed to be popping out of the exhaust. So, first instinct was to check the plugs. I go to check the driver side front plug and there is coolant completely up to the top of the plug in the chamber. I checked all of the other plugs and the passenger side was completely fine, and 3 of the 4 plugs on the driver side were completely flooded with coolant. My first thought was that I blew a head gasket. My dad and I checked it out some more...we didnt notice any smoke coming from the exhaust, we dropped the oil and there was no separation from oil with any other fluid...called around and my tuner thinks I just blew an intake gasket. He said that a blown head gasket wouldnt have enough pressure to fill the entire chamber with coolant.

Now the only problem is taking two plugs out, we accidentally pulled out two of the timeserts with the plugs. We are going to re-tap the heads just to be safe, but it didnt seem to cause any harm. I'm going to start with replacing the intake gasket and hopefully thats all it is....what do ya guys think?

Steven · Sep 21, 2011

I'm with the intake gasket. Unless the cars running like tar and theres white gunk in the oil, swap out the intake gaskets real quick first. They are a whole hell of alot easier to change than a head gasket. Start with the cheapest/easiest first

duff daddy · Sep 21, 2011

Go with a time-sert and you should be ok. Why did you heli-coil the heads to begin with. They a late cast with the low thread count?

vermilion · Sep 22, 2011

your heads and intake has been ported. i'll agree with the concensus on intake gasket. you could have a stress cracked water jacket on the intake or head from being ported.

97stanger · Sep 22, 2011

yes, my heads only had like 3 threads for the plugs and I'm running a decent amount of boost so I went with the timeserts for that reason.

I sure hope its only the intake gasket, that can be done in a day. And yeah, My eddie vic is port matched to the heads....hopefully its not a stress crack on either, but I'll inspect them the best I can.

mustangspartan · Sep 22, 2011

Wait your running heli-coil

NO never esp on boost.. Retap and get those step downs if you need to. My buddies 96 had a coolant problem the same as yours we had to redo the intake we also put spray on gasket also to help out. But then again this was a N/A car with no boost and he was getting a new edge engine already. If you got the money get rid of all the factory stuff and get either that nice trick flow or something made from a real metal, there is to much flexing with the plastic and heat for me to ever want to keep it on anything but a N/A vehicle.. (sorry i dont know what your running for your intake so if im off just ignore that last line)

97stanger · Sep 22, 2011

all I did was run a longer threaded timesert which was put into the heads (guys running 20+ psi all do this) if they have the older heads which have like three threads for the plugs, which I have. BTW, I'm running an Edelbrock Vic Jr manifold

vermilion · Sep 22, 2011

if it isnt stripped, im not reaming it.

97stanger · Sep 22, 2011

I took a picture of my timesert, but photobucket isnt working. It looks perfectly fine. I have a buddy that has a timesert tool and he's bringing it over on Saturday so we can tap the two head threads again, and check these ones out. If he thinks they are fine than I'm just going to reinstall them with new jb-weld, put some antiseize on the plugs and get this intake off to see whats going on with the gaskets

945.0 · Sep 22, 2011

sounds like intake for sure. and when a shop ports heads there supposed to pressure test them to make sure no leaks. good luck

97stanger · Sep 22, 2011

thanks man

is there a way to get these fuel rails/lines off the manifold without getting fuel everywhere?

mustangspartan · Sep 23, 2011

Take out the pump relay turn it over a few times and make sure it dont start. You should have the schrader valve on there still double check that quick and you should be fine.

vermilion · Sep 23, 2011

It will spill but evaporates in minutes. When you unplugg injectors use disposable rags.

97stanger · Sep 23, 2011

I'm running edelbrock rails with all ss lines, I'm not sure if my setup has a schrader valve...

vermilion · Sep 23, 2011

If it sat over night and hasnt pressurized, our return system still functions.

fastbanshee1999 · Sep 23, 2011

mustangspartan said:
Take out the pump relay turn it over a few times and make sure it dont start. You should have the schrader valve on there still double check that quick and you should be fine.

+1. pull the fuel pump relay and start the car when your ready to work on it. let it idle until it dies and crank it a few more times. should get most of the fuel out of the lines.