FML Head Gasket

[robpp]

89 350 TBI 179,*** miles

I bought this truck in February and its been non stop.

I bought it after an inspection at my shop of choice.
Told the leak was Intake Manifold.

I repaired that along with a bunch of other stuff at the time. Parts list in my build thread.
When i took it apart I did notice lots of rust anywhere there was coolant.

I even used a siphon to drain the block of most of the nasty crap.

I put it back together in April. I waited a month for warm weahter but maybe a month ago I drained the coolant for water. I added Thermocure stuff to clean and remove the rust.
100 miles coolant is black.
I drain and fill with mwater and drivre more
More filth. It never seems to stop getting dirty
ANd Im starting to lose a touch of coolant.

The other day I decide its the last drain. I do it like I did the last 4.
I add coolant to radiator. Once it goes down I refill it then close up.
I fill over flow and button up and drive.

I get about 5 miles and it starts to go over 210. I turn back. Pulling in, I see some smoke out of tailpipe.
I shut it off. Overflow is full but radiator is empty. My driveway is a bout 25% grade.
As I pour the my 50/50 mix in I see something running out tailpipe. COOLANT.

SO I stop. LEt it all cool down.

I pull a plug on each side I dont see coolant.

I pull dipstick and its about 3 inches UP past FULL.

I drain oil pan its about a gallon of oil and a gallon of coolant.

Yesterday I bought the cheapest oil and filter at WallyWorld. About 15 bucks.
I thought MAYBE when cool it would be better......

As fast as I poured the coolant in it ran out tailpipe and filled cranckase AGAIN.

All that to get to question:

Whats next?

1. Pull Heads, a quick surface, new gaskets and GO.
2. Freshen the heads, gaskets and Go
3. Pull the motor for a freshen up. Freshen Heads, and GO.


I cant do anything crazy as I have to deal with some nasty EMISSIONS LAWS IN CO.

 

[94burbk1500]

I'd start by pulling the heads, inspect the gaskets and all of the water jackets, check over the heads thoroughly for cracks, if the heads look good, clean em up throw it all back together with new gaskets and TTY head bolts. Then pray, lol. If new gaskets don't do the trick, you might as well just find a different motor, imo.

 

[7thdarkangel]

While the heads are off, inspect your cylinder walls for cracks as well. Its going to either be a cracked head, intake manifold, block, or bad gasket.

 

[someotherguy]

I'd start by pulling the heads, inspect the gaskets and all of the water jackets, check over the heads thoroughly for cracks, if the heads look good, clean em up throw it all back together with new gaskets and TTY head bolts. Then pray, lol. If new gaskets don't do the trick, you might as well just find a different motor, imo.

Have machine shop check heads for cracks.

TBI head bolts aren't TTY so re-use originals after cleaning them up...

Richard

 

[94burbk1500]

Have machine shop check heads for cracks.

TBI head bolts aren't TTY so re-use originals after cleaning them up...

Richard

Good to know on the bolts

 

[skylark]

X2 on the head bolts. Same part number for all Gen I since 1955 including Vortecs even though the Vortec uses torque angles instead of foot pounds.