Blown head gaskets at water passages

[just4bob50]

I just got done tearing my motor down because I sure I had a blown head gasket. It turns out that both of them were blown. Three of the upper water passages were blown out on each cylinder head. I knew i was pressurizing my coolant system but didnt know how bad. I got fel-pro 1011-1 head gaskets and ARP head bolts. What I would like to know is if there are any other ways that I could be pressurizing the coolant system. I have a set of rebuilt E7TE heads that have about 1000 miles on them going back on. I will be using Fel-pro gaskets for the intake also. On a good note I can still see the cross- hatch pattern on all the cylinders even though the motor has over 100,000 miles on it. I guess frequent oil changes really do work, any how I may do the cam, lifters and timing chain since the timing chain gasket blew also and the bottom end looks good. If anyone has any advice as to how to avoid this same senario with the coolant system that would be great.

 

[Rick 91GT]

Just sounds like the heads were lifting to me, never seen them break exactly there however. It must have been lifting under boost and letting the coolant seep by.

Tq the upper studs 10ftlbs more then the lowers, the gaskets and bolts you have should be fine, although I would prefer a stud.

 

[86bluecobra]

a question about your initial install. you torque your head bolts befor you installed your intake didn't you?
I was also under the impression that you should re torque head bolts after your engine has run for a couple hundred miles. 1 more thing were you re using old head bolts or where they fresh?

 

[just4bob50]

a question about your initial install. you torque your head bolts befor you installed your intake didn't you?
I was also under the impression that you should re torque head bolts after your engine has run for a couple hundred miles. 1 more thing were you re using old head bolts or where they fresh?

The heads were still my factory stock heads and have never been off the car till now. I changed the intake about 3 years ago. I would like feed back on if it is neccassary to retourqe head bolts. I mean what if you buy a crate motor or long block. I havent heard about any one having to retourqe anything on them.

 

[86bluecobra]

i could be wrong about that. how many miles did you have on the car? did you ever over heat the car?

 

[90lxcoupe]

you dont have to re-torque them, but its not a bad idea... and it definitly wont hurt anything. i re-torqed myne after i blew a head gasket cause i didnt want to take any chances at all.

 

[86bluecobra]

i have been told that sometimes after you torque the intake on it is a good idea to re check head torque because the intake wants to lift the heads off. anyone else ever heard this?

 

[getusummm]

E7 heads are hit or miss. One set may not lift and handle 20lbs of boost, while another set will lift with 8 or 9. I went through the same issues after my blower install. Tried new gaskets with arp studs. Same problem, kept blowing from the cylinder to the coolant passages at the top of each cylinder. The fire rings were always undamaged. Intalled trickflow heads and problem went away. Only problem I had was after the head swap I lost 5psi boost due to the much better flowing heads. Simple pulley change and I am back at 10psi with wayyy more power and no head gasket issues.