i have an 86 iroc with the vortec heads which i put on myself with the help of my cousin. we did everything as close to the book as possible. for some reason when we test drove the car it over heated. one of the intake gaskets went out because of this. btw it was barely bubbling coolant and we shut it off right away. at first i thought the heads were bad or had a crack in them. but it turned out to be just the intake gaskets. then the coolant got in the cylinders and mixed with the oil. then we changed the oil, coolant, and intake gaskets. so we ran the car and it was running good, no smoke. and now it stopped running. i took out the spark plugs and they were all moist with oil. could it be possible that some of the oil and left over coolant mixed and got in the cylinders? i am doing the oil change right now and there seems to be alittle coolant coming out still. but even if i change the oil and get the coolant out, am i going to need to open up the heads and get any oil/coolant in the cylinders out or is there an easier way, or will it slide back into the oil pan?

 

Did you buy a vortec intake? did you replace the head gaskets?

 

yes i replaced them all it used to throw white smoke out the exhaust and a lot of coolant was coming out. after i changed all the gaskets it ran fine. i had a couple of roller rockers backwards, by the bearing that goes to the rocker stud has a seat in it for the locks it was upside down. then after that the car wouldnt start. thats when i checked the plugs and they were all soaked with oil. when i took out the oil plug, the oil seemed really watery still. at first it was like two streams coming out, one big one looked more like oil, and a small one which looked like oil but watery. then at the end it was dripping pretty fast, and not a smooth stream like normal. now i got new oil, filter and spark plugs. im going to try and change them see if it runs. im hoping the cylinders are not flooded still, i let it sit for a few days. maybe any coolant left seeped down and out of the pan

 

the cylinders were dry, the car just didnt turn on anymore after i flipped the rocker bearings that were on backwards. im getting spark, timing is on, the car ran fine just before i took the valve cover off to get the rockers on right after that it just wont turn on, or it will but only if your holding the gas, and it sounds awful like its not running on all 8 cylinders, and the engine shakes alot

 

Wrong heads.you made a bad choice. First off, the oil in coolant in the oil. You may have a cracked block (internally). you can probably try some copper silicon silicate (Autozone) to stop the coolant from leaking into the oil. Oil soaked spark plugs mean that oil is getting into the cylinders. Now with this said,you are getting all the leaks (oil and coolant) from the head gaskets. Before you put on the wrong heads (vortec), did you get the block or the heads magna fluxed to check for cracks? Did you get your block and heads resurfaced? The heads are most important and are more than likely the culprate. you have oil galleys that run throughjthe heads. Also the oil flows from the lifters and up the pushrods, then pours over the rockers and then fall off the sides of the heads and into the oil pan. Why didnt you double check your work? hHow can you not notice that the rockers were installed incorrectly? You should of seen it when adjusting the valve lash. Eitherway, I would reconsider the heads. I fyour going to use them, then have them checked to see if they are warped. since the rockers where installed backwords, I would remove those push rods and roll them on a flat surface just to make sure that they are not bent. As for the car not turning on agian, I dont know man. Fisrt of all, you need to get those leaks undercontro. find out whats causing the leak first because you cant really turn on your car if oil keeps fouling your spark plugs. Soory bro but you must work more than you thought if you need your car running properly. Peace. Also check to see if your aluminum intake manifold (TPI Base) is not cracked. If you have a crack just under where the upper radiator hose elbow connects then the sillicone sillacate could help seal it up so that no more radiator juel leaks into the oil.

 

check your timing, you might of bumped it or it was loose or something. try turning it counter/ clockwise and see if that changes the shaking and the idle

 

well i checked the new spark plugs after trying but no oil on them or anything. seemed dry. like i said the car was running fine before i did anything to do it. im thinking something stopped working but cant find where. the timing is on right because it turns on, but i have to be holding the gas and it misfires, at that point i cant advance or retard it because it wont even start. i checked spark and theres spark all around. im using ac delco r43ts with .035 gap. just bought new wires. and it just misfires. im talking about, i turn on the car, idles good, i go and put it in my driveway because of a noise on the passenger head, kind of like an exhaust leak, i open up the valve cover and make sure rockers are tight. put the valve cover back on, and then the car kind of starts but misfires a lot and have to hold the gas for it to stay on. i check the spark plugs, some have a little oil/water. i notice a couple of rockers arent on right. i put them on correctly, check the timing once more, turn it on, still nothing. i get new plugs,oil, filter and wires, go once more with the timing dead on, and still nothing. only misfiring with foot on gas. if i let go of the gas the car turns off.

 

im thinking if maybe it could be some injectors went bad, or ecu?

 

Did you adjust the rockers right after you had them back off again? To tight and it will not run!! Coolant in the oil is a big problem. You need to to a leakdown test, compression test and pressure test the coolant system!!

 

yeah they might be too tight so ill get to adjustin valve lash, i didnt think it wouldnt run if it was on too tight. ill let you guys know what happens after

 

YES!!!!!! the rockers were the problem!!! i got em on right and now it runs smooth no backfire any more hahahhah. i mght need a new exhaust gasket though, it looks like the headers must have been loose a little i forgot to tighten them and blew the exhaust gasket, but thats the least of my woriies. thanks everyone especially ny87 iroc btw thinkin of changing differential for a stronger one what would be a good choice?

 

No problem, glad shes running again!!

 

If you've truly got vortec heads (and matching vortec base) you should run the long tip plugs in them. They'll shroud the standard plugs you've got installed now.

 

Its workin? Good deal Bro. Now have fun ! Peace.