Damn !!! blew another set of head gaskets ! 4th set. MELs to boot. This time the engine shop guy put the thing back togeather (last fall) Been running pretty good up until last fri nite. after 3 sets last year and 2 engine pulls, new head studs, etc. The last set that went, I pulled the motor took it to the machine shop and ask them to find out why. No problem with heads or block, BUT, wrong frt cover, ie timing mark I was using was wrong. When I thought I was at 0* I was actually at 22* !! They reassembled every thing, inatlled a new properly set timing pointer and ever thing has been good for 500 miles. Last fri nite , cruise in, temp guage is fluctuating, check water down 3 qrts. Refill, run it back home and then drive it yesterday maybe 15 miles, 3 qrts gone again and oil is milkey. Something going on here. Shop says maybe running lean under boost or making more boost than guage is reading, that can't be according to Wiend, Pulley size sets it at 11-13 lbs. Maybe boost retard switch not working?? Now I have to pull all this **** off again and start looking.... you blower guys feel free to jump in here with suggestions.. Thanks
When you get completely fed up with that crappy old blower, just ship it my way, and I will trouble shoot it for you. On MY car, of course!!! Sorry to hear it is giving you trouble...
Any head studs/nuts loose when you tore it back down? Where exactly is it popping the gasket? Im wondering if the gaskets expanded and contracted under the heat of the engine and cause the gasket to lose its seal under boost, or under power,, Can you use any kind of spray sealer on the gasket itself??
Try using copper head gaskets or get the block o-ringed. Try measuring the stud length on new one's and then torque the heads down and after intial run. Remove a couple of studs and measure again to get an idea of the amount of stretch on them. Also need to torque the nuts from center out and do it in three increments of torque. Ie: 30lbs, 60lbs and 85lbs, or whatever spec's call for.
I dont know what gaskets you are running, But i have found no matter the gasket, run a 4.200 bore gasket. This moves the fire ring away from the excessive heat. Next YOU MUST KNOW WHERE YOUR TIMING IS AT ALL TIMES. A blower motor is unforgiving, Only takes one half second and you have the problems you are having now. Your A/R is another, There is no excuse for not knowing what your A/R ratio is, Especially on a blown motor. I dont know your ignition system, But a Boost retard switch wont do. You need some kind of programmable ignition if you street drive the car.( a strip car is usually locked down) I have preached this for years around my neck of the woods, Still people burn pistons and gaskets. I hope this helps if you would like any further info feel free to contact me, I will help anyone that will listen. Especially another Ford nut. P.S. The pulley size is only an estimate, One of my cars runs the same boost as mine with the next size bigger top pulley. Heads, Cam, Headers, All have a bearing on boost readings. Also remember that boost is only showing the amount of restriction your motor has.
Some good copper gaskets, oring the block, dial in the A/F ratio and get the timing right. there are no shortcuts with a blower. Get it right before you blow your engine.
pop goes the weasel Benji and all- thanks for the input- I will e-mail you for additional info on your specific set up. I did switch to the gaskets you recommended last time Fel pro 1046s I believe. For the rest of you guys, I didn't assemble the motor last time around, the machine shop did. As I didn't build this motor, I'm not so sure of all the details of what it is . I believe it started a just a stock late model HO roller motor that some one added the blower (wiend 177), an MSD ignition system , with a boost control switch, 6BTM, billet distributor, blaster HVC-2 coil, a cam of unknown brand , a morfadite holley carb, and a set of Trick flow track heat heads. According to Holley (who now ownes Wiend) the pulley 3 1/4" should produce 12 lbs of boost with the bottom pulley I have. I believe part of my problem is that I'm not sure of the base CR of this motor. If its 9.5 then I'm running too much boost, at even 10lbs I would be at 16:1, and I don't believe any head gasket will take that for long. Benji, I would like to get more details on you ignition set up and pulley sizes. i believe we have the same blower. Either way, I'll get her.... its a learning curve involved here and guys like Benji are a big help in flatning it out for me.. Thanks all
awannabegrabber Note to Awannabegrabber, perhaps you caught me on a bad day but as the grandfather of a severaly handicapped grandson I don't find your avatar/video whatever you call it at all amusing! I'm not asking you I'm telling you to remove it. EFIMAV
with your milky oil,have you had a chance to check you front cover.3.8 were bad for cover gaskits alowing coolant in the oil then overheating,then blowing the head gaskits?
blown74 blown74, not at all directed at you, the title line had his name it but I modified it to make it clear who it is I'm addressing. Sorry to jump the thread, just felt it needed to be addressed.
