So, had a blown headgasket, and fixed that. Took it to shop for timing and sensor replacement, and here comes the issue. There is low coolant pressure in the block. They said it could be i put the head gaskets on upside down, or the water pump is bad. The pump is getting coolant but issues pushing it out. With a 180 thermo the block is running at 190. I used the fel-pro head gaskets, and dont recall a up and down marking. And of course my pictures go from clean block to the heads being on. What do y'all think? Thanks in advance for thoughts

 

Sounds like horse dookie to me. Sounds like "shop" THINKS and WISHES and HOPES and even INTENDS that they have a sucker on the end of their line (3rd party "sensor replacement" AFTER a completed and driving head gasket replacement instead of DURING, is a clue) and they're trying to reel em in. Never go to that "shop" again, they are CROOKS.

The "up" side of head gaskets is the side with the part # on it. Doesn't really make all that much difference on a SBC though, since the 2 gaskets are the same, and when you put em on correctly, the end of one that's equivalent to the "front" on the other, is at the rear. There's no real difference between "up" and "down" except for the configuration of the fire ring.

There's no such thing as "low coolant pressure in the block". That's bull plop.

190° coolant temp is fine. Low if anything. STOCK temp is 200 - 210° under most circumstances. I'd recommend putting the STOCK thermostat back in it, which is 195°.

What made you think you had a "blown" head gasket in the first place? What was the car ACTUALLY DOING that made you think that? When you changed it, was there anything ACTUALLY wrong with it? Did it ACTUALLY "fix" ANYTHING? What makes you think something is wrong with the car now? What it is ACTUALLY DOING that you're not happy with? (please note carefully the extensive use of the concept ACTUAL in my post... we need to hear about ACTUAL, not "I think", not "I heard", not "I want", not "they said", not "maybe"; ACTUAL)

 

I have not been on theses boards in years, but.... Just bought ANOTHER camaro project... Saw this post, had to react. Im the parts manager / assistant service manager, grew up my entire life in an automotive repair shop that my dad owns to this day, I've been in both the aftermarket and dealership side of parts since 2004. We've screwed around with, and blown up many small block Chevy V8's over the years...

This shop is filling you full of ****, sorry. Never has been, never will be, a "low coolant PRESSURE" issue in a small block Chevy. This shop is taking you for a ride bud, sorry!

Brendan

 

You know enough about engine repair to replace a head gasket , but don't know how to set the timing or change a sensor

 

So to try and answer all these. So this was actually the first time doin a headgasket, so i learned as i went. And so, i did solve the issue. So unknown to me, the intake manifold was for a 350 sbc chevy, and intake gaskets i had gotten were for a 305. So had to once again remove it and change gaskets out.

 

The sensor was o2 sensor, the new headers i had gotten had a block that was welded shut, dont have anything to cut it so i can remove block

 

Not quite sure I understand. Perhaps a photo would help.

Most headers intended for emissions- or computer-compliant installations include a bung for an O2 sensor, possibly with a plug screwed into it that you can remove and replace with the O2 sensor should you require it. Are you sure that's not what you have?

 

the one on the left, that block on it was welded shut

 

???

Doesn't look welded to me; looks just like a bung installed into the collector, with a nice orderly normal hex-head plug installed into it that you can just unscrew with the right size wrench (3/4"? 19mm? 13/16"? somewhere in there) and put your O2 sensor into. Pretty much like about all normal headers these days.