i have an 87 iroc 5.0 tpi... i recently got it running and it has been doing well with the exception of idling kind of fast. well, i just went outside and started it up and it immediately started ticking really loud. it was also pretty much pouring water out of the exhaust. i checked the oil and it seemed ok. i checked the coolant in the radiator and it was really foamy... i have never seen that before. i have only driven the car around the block a few times here and there, and i have not been hot rodding it. do you think i have blown a head gasket?? or intake manifold leaking?? i really like this car and don't want to let it beat me... but it is starting to wear on me. just when i think i am gaining on it something like this happens. please let me know what you think is going on with my time/money pit.

 

you could do several things to check for a bad head gasket, if you suspect it. you could use one of those pressure testers that you put on the radiator. if a head gasket is bad, it will show up on the gauge. you could do a compression test, or a leak down test.

 

i just wanted to add that this was not condensation.. it has blown a little water out every now and then since i bought the car. i always chalked that up to condensation. this was pretty much pouring out.

 

i just wanted to add this in case it matters.. just before it started doing this i pulled the #1 plug and had my wife bump the starter so i could find tdc. i soon realized that i needed to put it back together until one of my buddies could help me... it's a two person job and i didn't want my wife to have to sit out there very long.. so i gave up for now. maybe it is a coincidence but it was running fine just before that and starting running like crap just after.

 

i kind of feel like i'm talking to myself, but here it goes... i went out and started the car while i was on lunch today and the loud ticking went away. it acted like it was going to die but then picked up and seemed to be running ok. it was still pouring water out of the exhaust and the radiator level was really low and still foamy. what gets me is that the water coming out of the exhaust doesn;t seem like there is antifreeze in it, and yes, the car did have antifreeze in it.. not just water. it doesn't smell or look like it to me... but there is definately something wrong with it. i guess i will start tearing the p.o.s. apart this weekend.

 

if your coolant level is dropping there is only a few places it can go to
oil pan
tranny
cylinders
passenger side floor
or on the ground

 

The water from your exhaust is most likely condensation.

 

nope. there is no way that can be condensation. there is A LOT! i have seen condensation come from the exhaust on this car before... and this ain't it. after running the car for maybe a minute there are two big spots of water behind the car... each one maybe 2 feet long and 10 inches wide. and when the car is turned off water is still dripping from the tail pipes. believe me... the last thing i want to do is tear into this engine if i do not have to. but i really think it is going to have to happen.

 

check for rust on either side of your block. if its rusted most likely a head gasket. But before u get to pullin off the head to make 100% sure take out you plugs, fill it full of coolant, leave the radiator cap off, get a blow gun and stick it in your spark plug holes, check all cylinders, if it bubbles into the radiator it is for sure a head gasket.

 

thanks lb9iroc... i will have to give that a try.

 

and good luck. a head gasket is a big job... to a shop, its not hard but is time consuming, like everything else.

 

yeah, i know it's a big job.. that is why this thing has me so p!$$ed off. i thought i was REALLY close to having it on the road and then this happens.

 

Well now would be a good time to upgrade the engine!

 

i wouldn't mind dropping in a 5.7 but i really think i want to stick with the tpi... know where i can get one cheap??

 

so if i find a 350 block can i transfer my heads and tpi setup over to it with no problems?? will the injectors be big enough? would the ecm work correctly? what about a 383?? what are some things that i should be cautious about or be looking for? i may just stick with the 5.0, but i guess it doesn't hurt to explore other options.

 

i was thinking about something similar to this. i have a 350 block and was wondering if i could build an LT1 set up on it.

anyone know if it would be possible?

 

well that anoying ticking sound is VALVE SEALS lol have fn with that one :P but hey if its a head gasket atleast u have the heads off myswell check it out hope that helps. I just had to do a valve job on my 88 Fire Bird i didnt find it to bad i borrowed the tool to fill the cylinder full of compression at a 115psi so the valve stayed up and then i just took the valve keeprs off and released tention off the spring put the new seal back on n good to go (The short of it).