Head gasket leak
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From: Elm City, NC
Car: 87 IROC Z
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Head gasket leak
It looks like I've got a leaking head gasket, passenger side. It's in the back so it's a little hard to see. I can't see anywhere else it could be coming from. I think changing the gasket might be a little bit out of my league since pretty much the whole top of the engine has to come off. I've got a feeling a mechanic would charge more than the car is worth to do it. I've done a lot of work on this car, but the deepest I've got in the engine is changing the injectors, water pump, alternator, plugs and wires. How difficult is this task and can it be safely performed by an amateur? I'm not getting any coolant oil mix, it's just leaking down the back of the engine at the transmission.
Steve
Steve
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 12,213
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From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Head gasket leak
I would check the intake to head gaskets 1st. common problem.
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Re: Head gasket leak
It looks like I've got a leaking head gasket, passenger side. It's in the back so it's a little hard to see. I can't see anywhere else it could be coming from. I think changing the gasket might be a little bit out of my league since pretty much the whole top of the engine has to come off. I've got a feeling a mechanic would charge more than the car is worth to do it. I've done a lot of work on this car, but the deepest I've got in the engine is changing the injectors, water pump, alternator, plugs and wires. How difficult is this task and can it be safely performed by an amateur? I'm not getting any coolant oil mix, it's just leaking down the back of the engine at the transmission.
Steve
Steve
I'm from the school that if it's never been rebuilt, and you need to pop off the intake manifold, then pop off the heads as well and replace the head gasket. That also gives you a chance to replace the valve seals, lap the valves and give the engine a little more inspection
When you are done, head to the Outer Limits, make yourself a huge plate of their home cooking and have some of their sweet tea.
Thread Starter
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 306
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From: Elm City, NC
Car: 87 IROC Z
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Head gasket leak
Looks like I'm not the only one that lives in Conway.
The engine has 56000 miles on it. About a year ago I had the runners and intake ported. At that time the gaskets should have been replaced. However, the shop did a pretty sloppy job of re-assembly. Lot of loose bolts, wires not secured, etc. The heads weren't removed, just the intake. The heads are trick flow and were put on about 10 years ago, they only have about 15000 miles on them though. The problem is, I can't see back there well enough to see where the leak actually is. It looks like they used some type of sealant on the back of the intake. Looks like black caulk. Don't see any signs of leaking there.
The engine has 56000 miles on it. About a year ago I had the runners and intake ported. At that time the gaskets should have been replaced. However, the shop did a pretty sloppy job of re-assembly. Lot of loose bolts, wires not secured, etc. The heads weren't removed, just the intake. The heads are trick flow and were put on about 10 years ago, they only have about 15000 miles on them though. The problem is, I can't see back there well enough to see where the leak actually is. It looks like they used some type of sealant on the back of the intake. Looks like black caulk. Don't see any signs of leaking there. Supreme Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 2
Re: Head gasket leak
Looks like I'm not the only one that lives in Conway. The engine has 56000 miles on it. About a year ago I had the runners and intake ported. At that time the gaskets should have been replaced. However, the shop did a pretty sloppy job of re-assembly. Lot of loose bolts, wires not secured, etc. The heads weren't removed, just the intake. The heads are trick flow and were put on about 10 years ago, they only have about 15000 miles on them though. The problem is, I can't see back there well enough to see where the leak actually is. It looks like they used some type of sealant on the back of the intake. Looks like black caulk. Don't see any signs of leaking there.
The engine has 56000 miles on it. About a year ago I had the runners and intake ported. At that time the gaskets should have been replaced. However, the shop did a pretty sloppy job of re-assembly. Lot of loose bolts, wires not secured, etc. The heads weren't removed, just the intake. The heads are trick flow and were put on about 10 years ago, they only have about 15000 miles on them though. The problem is, I can't see back there well enough to see where the leak actually is. It looks like they used some type of sealant on the back of the intake. Looks like black caulk. Don't see any signs of leaking there.Anyway, intakes are on SBC's are notorious for leaking in the rear thus why there is rtv or silicon back there.
I'd still do as I suggested, it's time.
Sure it means disconencting the headers when removing the heads but you are right there so why not cover all potential bases.
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