[glhs#116]

So, another little thing I found was that the one oil pan rail gasket is torn. I saw this when I was accessing the block drain bolts. Explains why oil was always getting on the starter. SO it looks like the pan is coming off before this is all over. Looks like I'll have another thing to expect at that time...

I couldn't find an issue with #6. Rocker stud seemed well sealed (well, clearly I had to seal it again after busting it out). In fact, the threads for #6 rocker stud don't even go into the intake. Took the spring out, valve seal seems fine. Can't see any light through the headbolt wall. So I looked down the hole.

Well, well, well... Flip

Looks like the meteor shot from the original Superman movie where Superman's "parents" find him


That is definitely what you call "foreign object damage". Thing is, heads haven't been off since I last put the Edelbrocks on in Qatar 2019. First time they came off was to do the porting in February or so. Of course, that time I put the engine on TDC before I took them off. So on the old pics you can't see the cylinder because #1 and #6 are right at the top of the bore. But I know no screws or such went in. I also know nothing happened in the top because there's no marks in the chamber or on the piston crown.

I was thinking about this last night and I think I know what's up. My factory valve covers still have most of their drippers. I say most because about ten years ago I didn't have tall gaskets and they all got bent a little. Every now and then one comes off. I picked one out of the drainage area of a head just yesterday.

Well, the drains in these heads are big enough for a dripper to water-slide down into the crank area. Not to hard to imagine one was thrown into #6 and got caught under the skirt. Probably there right now, in fact.

When I take the pan off I'll pop the #6 rod and see if I can see. I'm guessing I can't do much about using a little oil on #6. Looks like a bottom end rebuild is in my future...

Meantime I intend to seal these heads up good and tight. Hopefully seal the pan too. It doesn't rain but it pours, eh?

Tube in for #6 and #8


Tube in and looking nice for #2 and #4


Hole blocked in #2 runner


Sam