[400 Lemans]

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

[64speed]

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

[b-man]

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.

[misterp266]

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!

[TB1]

Originally Posted by 64speed

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.

[64speed]

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.

[68WarDog]

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.

[64speed]

I am gonna pull the heads ASAP

[Lemans64]

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.

[Gach]

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.

[P@blo]

Originally Posted by misterp266

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.

[JSchmitz]

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

[JSchmitz]

Did you do a compression test?

[grivera]

Originally Posted by 64speed

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?

[NeighborsComplaint]

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.

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by JSchmitz

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.

[64speed]

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

[JSchmitz]

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!

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by 64speed

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.

[64speed]

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.