So a few weeks ago, on the way home from the shop that drilled out a bolt (after a week of trying myself), I noticed that my fan relay switch wire was disconnected because the temps were gradually going up. Nothing serious, I figured I'd re-connect it once I got home... Just then, I hit major traffic. About a 1/2 mile from my home, the temps go way high and the car stalls. The next day, I notice that the battery was drained, and after a new one, the car fires right up. no noticable problems...

Then the next day, it is running rich it seems. For some reason, the car won't start one night after work. Next day it does. Then later that day it won't start again. It appeared that my new pump (which was installed when they drilled out the bolt) was pushing 7psi and was too much for my q-jet. I pull it off and notice something stuck in one of the idle passages in the base. TIME TO GET A HOLLEY!

I figure no problem. I've changed the whole exhaust, the intake, the rear end, the engine... installing a new carb should be easy! Well, after weeks of finding fittings that will clear the EGR valve and waiting for brackets to use with the 700R4, among a few dozen other little things, I get the car running... sort of.

It runs, but idles somewhat high (need a stiffer return spring) and very rich. So I change from 72 jets to 68 and it runs better... with the exception of the white smoke out my tail pipe!

It is so much water that it leaves two puddles under the pipes. It also appears, that even though my old plugs were black with carbon, and my O2 sensor wasn't much cleaner, the air/fuel gauge is reading lean. And while I have to re-check, I think I also saw a small puddle of green liquid under the y-pipe. It could have been there before I pulled the car there, but I don't thing so.

How can I check to see if the head gasket is blown? I seem to recall checking the pH of the antifreexe in the radiator... Also, how can you tell which side of the engine is bad? I just built this damn thing 10 months ago... I am getting a little tired of pulling the engine and stuff.

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1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in... K&N filter... 93 octane...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

I saw water on the plug and that was the tip off for me. I also ran a compression test and that more or less confirmed which hole had gone south.

 

Like jcb said, a compression test will tell the tale, at least as far as exchanging water & combustion. It is possible for a head gasket to fail in ways that don't involve combustion, but that is less common.

A rich condition will produce steamy exhaust when cold since water is a product of the process (carbon dioxide would be the only other product if the fuel and the process were perfect). There can be a great deal of water that condenses in the exgaust. And small leaks are always a possibility when changing an intake. So, your symptoms don't point very conclusively toward a head gasket. Don't give up hope yet!

Also, keep in mind that when the head gasket fails between a cylinder and the water jacket, there's a whole lot more pressure in the cyl than the water. So if a head gasket is bad enough to cause large amounts of white steam ther will usually also be large amounts of exhaust in the coolant; it will be foamy and have too much pressure, and will smell like exhaust. Again, a bad intake gasket can leak coolant into an intake runner and produce white smoke.

Does the car's exhaust smell sweet? If not, it's not coolant, and the head gaskets are OK.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."

 

Actually, the exhaust smeeled like gas. I knew I was running rich and origionally thought it was gas dripping out the tail pipes. Of course, I cannot smell too much of anything with this cold...

I keep trying to convince myself that it IS just condensation in the exhaust pipe and not a blown gasket. Another fear would be a cracked block. It was bored 0.030" over by a guy I trust.

 

I don't think you'll get puddles from a blown head gasket, just white smoke...
The puddles are probably just condensation.

Like they said earlier do a compression test or check your plugs for any sign of water if it's a bad one....

 

Well, I really didn't see water on the old plugs, just black gunk. And hopefully, that is the LAST time I have to change those damn plugs... And I hear LS1's are worse! Once I get it up and running, I'll let a mechanic do any compression tests.