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87 5.0 Head Gasket Problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter nicdec19
  • Start date Start date Apr 15, 2014

nicdec19

New Member
Dec 23, 2013
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Apr 15, 2014
#1
  • Apr 15, 2014
  • #1
so i started off just wanting to put the headers and intake I had on and in the process an intake bolt on the very back driver side got broken. Long story short I took the heads off and replaced gaskets and when I got it all together and fired it up it smoked white and smelled sweet out of only the passenger side exhaust, so I took it back apart and installed another head gasket and the problem is still there. It's worth saying that before I took it apart the second time I chekhed the plugs and the number four plug was a little wet on the threads. Another thing was coolant was being overflowed out of the overflow so I think compression gases were pushing coolant out, haven't done anything after this second time any advice would help
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
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In the garage
Apr 15, 2014
#2
  • Apr 15, 2014
  • #2
So many things could be a factor. I'll throw out a few possibiities. Best to do a compression test and cylinder balance test first.

Deck warped
Heads warped/cracked
Deck and/or head not clean
Head gasket on upside down
Heads not torqued properly
Head bolts- did you reuse the stock ones? Are they ARP? Studs or bolts. what torque setting and sequence
What did you put on the head bolts- moly, pipe sealer,
Did you chase down and clean out all the head bolt holes first
head dowels?
The snapped head bolt hole in the deck- how was it repaired
 

nicdec19

New Member
Dec 23, 2013
23
0
2
Apr 16, 2014
#3
  • Apr 16, 2014
  • #3
mikestang63 said:
So many things could be a factor. I'll throw out a few possibiities. Best to do a compression test and cylinder balance test first.

Deck warped
Heads warped/cracked
Deck and/or head not clean
Head gasket on upside down
Heads not torqued properly
Head bolts- did you reuse the stock ones? Are they ARP? Studs or bolts. what torque setting and sequence
What did you put on the head bolts- moly, pipe sealer,
Did you chase down and clean out all the head bolt holes first
head dowels?
The snapped head bolt hole in the deck- how was it repaired
Click to expand...
Reused head bolts,used white permatex thread sealer, broke an intake manifold bolt not the head bolt, used torque sequence off of alldata, the head gasket will only line up right one way so I didn't mess that up, I'm leaning towards a warped head
 

nicdec19

New Member
Dec 23, 2013
23
0
2
Apr 16, 2014
#4
  • Apr 16, 2014
  • #4
nicdec19 said:
Reused head bolts,used white permatex thread sealer, broke an intake manifold bolt not the head bolt, used torque sequence off of alldata, the head gasket will only line up right one way so I didn't mess that up, I'm leaning towards a warped head
Click to expand...
And I just used shop air to blow out the head bolt holes and only used thread sealer on the bottom head bolts
 

jrichker

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Mar 10, 2000
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Dublin GA
Apr 17, 2014
#5
  • Apr 17, 2014
  • #5
The cylinder head bolts are reusable, but some new ARP bolts are a better plan. Be aware that the ARP bolts have a radiused shank under the bolt head. The ARP washers have a matching radius machined into them. Be sure that the machined radius of the washer is fitted next to the machined radius on the ARP bolt heads. Forget this little fact and you will never get the head bolts to torque down properly.

Coat the underside of all bolt heads with anti seize and the threads of the long bolts. The short bolts thread directly into the water jacket and need a different treatment. Use Teflon Pipe dope on the threads of the short head bolts. It will prevent any coolant seepage from around the threads. You can get the Teflon pipe dope from the hardware stores, Home Depot or Lowes.
 

gearheadboy

15 Year Member
Jan 15, 2003
1,425
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Greencastle Pa
Apr 19, 2014
#6
  • Apr 19, 2014
  • #6
The gasket is backwards. My first guess. And second it very well could be the intake gasket/intake, not the head.
 
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