Hey guys, I'm sorry if I might be repeated myself to some, but I have a few more questions. I was presented two problems. First, a heavy amount of coolant in my engine oil (heavy amounts of sludge all of the place too), and second, a consistent ticking noise that increases and decreases when RPM levels change. I have therefore pulled the intake manifold and cylinder heads. What I found was that the rockers were very loose on a few valves. I deduced the ticking noise was because the valves haven't been adjusted in a long time, and so now they're very loose and consequently ticking when they operate. I also found that even though the head gaskets looked ok, the intake manifold gaskets were horrific.

I am going to replace the intake manifold gaskets, head gaskets, spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor, pvc valve and filter, air filter, fuel filter. Then I'm going to hardcore clean the heads and manifolds, put everything back together, make sure I adjust the valves correctly, clean out the oil pan, change the oil and oil filter, change my coolant since I flushed it out, and then get timing and choke adjusted.

Here are my questions: Does a head gasket need to be visibly broken for it to be faulty? And would intake manifold gaskets that are in really bad shape cause coolant to leak into my oil? Also, would the unadjusted valves cause the car to run rough and feel as if it might stall out?

Thanks a lot guys. I'm 18, so this is my first time ever working a car like this... And I'm doing it pretty much alone. I know its pretty intense but it's coming along smoothly, I just wanted to verify some things and I'm looking towards you guys for some advice.

You all rock.

-Gerard

 

Head gaskets don't fail all that often in such a way as to let water into the oil, without also failing in other more dramatic ways.

Yes the intake gaskets can let water into the oil, if they're wasted. Heppens alot actually. Notice that the water ports are immediately adjacent to the crankcase. If the water ports leak across the bottom, the coolant goes straight into the oil.

Yes poorly adjusted valves can make a car run like hammered elephant plop.

Since you've found a bucn of stuff that's for sure wrong with your car, it might be a good idea to fix what you've found, put it back together, and see if it works better. Alternatively you could go ahead and just yank the heads and change out those gaskets too, but it's more likely that you don't need to. Your call.

 

cleaning the heads: you can get them hottanked by a machine shop, that'll get 'em SPARKLING clean. Going rate for that is ~$40. Maybe see if you can get your intake manifold done at the same time...

I think sofa covered it all there. Looks like a big job ahead of you. 18yrs old and you know all the terminology there, without dad/uncle/grandpa helping, that's pretty good!

do you have a haynes/chilton or other to help? done this stuff before? Just make sure you take off your rockers before you try and remove the heads. Or back them off a lot. Also, remove all the head bolts before you start prying, 17 per head IIRC? Use RTV on the intake manifold gaskets around the water jackets. I like the rubber china wall seals, but I think i'm the only one, everyone else tosses them and uses RTV.

 

Haha whoa guys. Yes, educated. I researched, etc. and Haynes is my best friend. Heads are already off. Intake manifold is already off. Everything is already finished... I'm halfway there, just need to start repacing stuff. Grandfather is useless (very foreign, layed bricks for living) and dad has very little time for my car...So I'm on my own. I'm doing pretty well, done everything just as you all would expect me do. Pushrods and rockers are out, hoses and wiring is labeled...Everything is perfectly fine...Just had those couple of questions and you guys did very well to reassure what I was thinking. Sonix I'll definitely take into consideration your cleaning suggestions. But other than that..Everythings taken apart and off and I'm just gonna replace the gaskets and start putting things back together.

Thanks for all the support.