#1521  
Old 03-28-2023, 04:40 PM
400 Lemans's Avatar
400 Lemans 400 Lemans is online now
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 552
Default

Doesn't Edelbrock say to retorque head bolts after initial run ,when it cools down? Dont give up on it.

  #1522  
Old 03-28-2023, 04:45 PM
64speed's Avatar
64speed 64speed is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Westminster S.C.
Posts: 6,025
Default

I’m gonna put head gaskets on and if that doesn’t fix it i guess I will sell whatever of that engine is salvageable and look for another block or heads

__________________
468/TKO600 Ford thru bolt equipped 64 Tempest Custom. Custom Nocturne Blue with black interior.
  #1523  
Old 03-28-2023, 04:52 PM
b-man's Avatar
b-man b-man is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Sunny So Cal
Posts: 16,410
Default

Did you remove the timing cover and replace the gaskets ?

If there is one design flaw in a Pontiac V8 it’s the fact that a gasket breach in the timing cover at the block face can send coolant into the crankcase. If the timing cover has enough rot it can do this too.

Exactly what services did your local Pontiac guru perform?

Whatever you do be sure to drain all the coolant out so it can’t mix with the oil then flush out the water/coolant mixture by running it a few minutes with some cheap oil then drain it out.

__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42
1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56
2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to b-man For This Useful Post:
  #1524  
Old 03-28-2023, 04:55 PM
misterp266's Avatar
misterp266 misterp266 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Raynham, MA
Posts: 1,790
Default

Been following this and I feel for you. I would take your own advice and step away for a while, spend some time doing something else for a while and come back to it fresh again. Frustration can lead you to making bad decisions. Let it sit, like you said, you don’t need to feed it.
But, never give up!

__________________
" Darksiders Rule "
  #1525  
Old 03-28-2023, 04:59 PM
TB1's Avatar
TB1 TB1 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Nanaimo BC Canada
Posts: 112
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 64speed View Post
I’m gonna put head gaskets on and if that doesn’t fix it i guess I will sell whatever of that engine is salvageable and look for another block or heads
was the most recent block that you used after the lifters left the building the first go around not verified good before having the machine work completed? if the car was not severely overheated at some point I would thing that the heads and or block would not be cracked, I can see maybe a head gasket a retorque of the heads as suggested but not the need for another engine.

__________________
65 LeMANS , SD performance 462ci Engine, Tremec TKX 5 speed with a 3.73 geared 8.5" 10 bolt
  #1526  
Old 03-28-2023, 06:10 PM
64speed's Avatar
64speed 64speed is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Westminster S.C.
Posts: 6,025
Default

I paid a mechanic to put a new timing cover gasket set on it because I thought that’s where the water was coming from.

__________________
468/TKO600 Ford thru bolt equipped 64 Tempest Custom. Custom Nocturne Blue with black interior.
  #1527  
Old 03-28-2023, 08:41 PM
68WarDog's Avatar
68WarDog 68WarDog is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Salisbury,NC--USA--
Posts: 1,354
Default

David do a,compression test to rule out head gasket. You don't want the engine sitting with water in the cylinders. This hobby can test your patience, but I know you'll overcome.

The Following User Says Thank You to 68WarDog For This Useful Post:
  #1528  
Old 03-28-2023, 09:42 PM
64speed's Avatar
64speed 64speed is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Westminster S.C.
Posts: 6,025
Default

I am gonna pull the heads ASAP

__________________
468/TKO600 Ford thru bolt equipped 64 Tempest Custom. Custom Nocturne Blue with black interior.
  #1529  
Old 03-28-2023, 09:50 PM
Lemans64's Avatar
Lemans64 Lemans64 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Vancouver Island BC Canada
Posts: 1,811
Default

Is it possible that the head that was on the right bank on previous build got damaged by the failure? Coolant leaking from that head into pan?
Would not think that hey would pressure check head?? Just a thought. But this SUCKS big time.

__________________
64 Lemans hardtop
4spd, buckets
  #1530  
Old 03-28-2023, 10:01 PM
Gach's Avatar
Gach Gach is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: R. I.
Posts: 4,595
Default

This sucks big Time! Wish you were close I’d check it all out for you. Here’s a good possibility and I’ve see this a few times. Possible that it’s the timing cover itself is leaking. I’d pull that first and make sure it’s not leaking in water pump housing. Got nothing to lose by pulling that.

__________________
  #1531  
Old 03-29-2023, 05:02 AM
P@blo's Avatar
P@blo P@blo is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 1,519
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by misterp266 View Post
Been following this and I feel for you. I would take your own advice and step away for a while, spend some time doing something else for a while and come back to it fresh again. Frustration can lead you to making bad decisions. Let it sit, like you said, you don’t need to feed it.
But, never give up!
Best advice on this thread so far. Other hobbies might be an option too as far as enjoyment-to-cost ratio.

Cars are accessories to life and should never be the other way around.

  #1532  
Old 03-29-2023, 07:15 AM
JSchmitz's Avatar
JSchmitz JSchmitz is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Union, MO
Posts: 2,131
Default

Get a kit and pressurize the coolant system. Find the leak before you start pulling it apart.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to JSchmitz For This Useful Post:
  #1533  
Old 03-29-2023, 08:41 AM
JSchmitz's Avatar
JSchmitz JSchmitz is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Union, MO
Posts: 2,131
Default

Did you do a compression test?

  #1534  
Old 03-29-2023, 09:17 AM
grivera's Avatar
grivera grivera is online now
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Just south of Baltimore
Posts: 4,889
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 64speed View Post
Well it gets worse, after being “fixed” it filled the crank case with oil again in just a few minutes. I have no idea how a crack either in the heads happened between the run stand or the car but it did. I’m done. I don’t have to feed it so it can just sit in the garage
Sorry to hear about your issues. I assume a typo- did you mean the crankcase filled with coolant?

Was there an external sign of coolant leaking out?

What led you to check the oil level?

__________________
Will Rivera

'69 Firebird 400/461, 290+ E D-Ports, HR 230/236, 4l80E, 8.5 Rear, 3.55 gears
'64 LeMans 400/461, #16 Heads, HR 230/236, TKO600, 9inch Rear, 3.89 gears
'69 LeMans Vert, 350, #47 heads: Non-running project
  #1535  
Old 03-29-2023, 03:38 PM
NeighborsComplaint's Avatar
NeighborsComplaint NeighborsComplaint is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Elgin
Posts: 2,468
Default

Was the car running when this occurred? If an intake or head gasket is the problem, the car would smoke like a crop duster and the exhaust would have an antifreeze/insecticide smell to it. Even with the slightest leak, the smell is unmistakable even when it just looks like light condensation coming out the exhaust after startup.

With no visible leak and no odor when running, the leak is water pump to timing cover to block related. Did your builder reuse a rusted separator plate between the pump and timing cover? It only takes a few pinholes to let coolant into the oil pan.

An intake gasket leak will usually show itself with antifreeze in the valley pan. Head gaskets can leak internally into the bores. Between 4/6 and 3/5 are most susceptible spots for the head gaskets to fail.

I would pick up a cheap borescope from Harbor and check the cylinder bores for antifreeze before yanking the heads.

__________________
Triple Black 1971 GTO
  #1536  
Old 03-29-2023, 05:04 PM
geeteeohguy's Avatar
geeteeohguy geeteeohguy is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Fresno, California
Posts: 5,313
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JSchmitz View Post
Get a kit and pressurize the coolant system. Find the leak before you start pulling it apart.
THIS, THIS, THIS. A pressure tester and/or block leak tester will tell the story without yet even more invasive tear-down.

Or take it to a competent mechanic and pick it up when it's fixed.

__________________
Jeff
The Following User Says Thank You to geeteeohguy For This Useful Post:
  #1537  
Old 03-29-2023, 05:07 PM
64speed's Avatar
64speed 64speed is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Westminster S.C.
Posts: 6,025
Default

There was only a small leak at the thermostat housing. It’s putting major compression in the coolant system. My builder is a stand up guy and is gonna fix it and anything damaged for free so it’s coming out and going back

__________________
468/TKO600 Ford thru bolt equipped 64 Tempest Custom. Custom Nocturne Blue with black interior.
  #1538  
Old 03-29-2023, 06:07 PM
JSchmitz's Avatar
JSchmitz JSchmitz is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Union, MO
Posts: 2,131
Default

Glad to hear your story take a positive turn! I can totally relate. I beat my car like a rented mule for decades with hardly any problems. I finally bought aluminum heads that I wanted forever. Then, a week before I was going to install the heads, my 15 year old'ish cam wiped a lobe. Tore it down to the block and cleaned it all out. Installed another cam and it wiped out a lobe on break-in. Tore it down to the block AGAIN and cleaned it. This time I installed a roller cam and associated springs and hardware. It ran like an animal!!! A short time later I found coolant in the oil. Had a big crack in #7 cylinder wall!!! I was so mad that I didn't even look at the car for months. That's why there's a 2000 Chevy 5.3 in my engine bay now. Did what I never thought I would do. But I was wore out. Next is an LS upgrade! Keep the Hot Rodding faith and good luck!

The Following User Says Thank You to JSchmitz For This Useful Post:
  #1539  
Old 03-30-2023, 05:47 PM
geeteeohguy's Avatar
geeteeohguy geeteeohguy is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Fresno, California
Posts: 5,313
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 64speed View Post
There was only a small leak at the thermostat housing. It’s putting major compression in the coolant system. My builder is a stand up guy and is gonna fix it and anything damaged for free so it’s coming out and going back
The thermostat housing doesn't connect to the combustion chambers unless there is a leak in the combustion chambers. A leak at the T stat housing will allow coolant to escape, not build more pressure in the system.

__________________
Jeff
  #1540  
Old 03-30-2023, 08:38 PM
64speed's Avatar
64speed 64speed is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Westminster S.C.
Posts: 6,025
Default

Ok my machinist is gonna rebuild it for free. Before I drop it off what should I tell him to order for the cam? 3.70 rear gears, .64 overdrive, and 26 inch tall tires.

__________________
468/TKO600 Ford thru bolt equipped 64 Tempest Custom. Custom Nocturne Blue with black interior.
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:26 PM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017