Head Gasket help needed!!

[BBRacer]

Going to change the head gasket this weekend and want to make sure I have diagnosed it correctly (have owned '65 with 6cyl for 5 weeks now).

Bought the car with lower compression on the back two cylinders, was pretty sure it was a head gasket as the rest of the cylinders have great compression and it burned no oil.

Have driven it daily for 5 weeks now to work (40 minutes each way). Ran rough two weeks ago and the plugs were changed as most were coated in oil and probably had one or two not firing. After plugs were changed it ran great! Now power is way down, leaking oil a bit on the back of motor (never leaked before), and can see burning oil on hard takeoff (never burned oil before). I bet the plugs are starting to coat up again...

Does sound like head gasket only? I am pretty sure it is but don't want to change the gasket if oil is burning by the rings. What should I look for (pistons/ rings) when I have the head off? Need help befoe the big cruise on June 5. Thanks!!

 

[brianj5600]

If it is a head gasket it will possibly require more than a new gasket. That much driving will erode the metal off the head/block where the gasket is leaking. I think it is a ring problem. There are not too many places a head gasket will allow oil into the cylinder. Head gaskets I have blown usually had clean sparkplugs as a result of coolant getting into the cylinder and steam cleaning that/those cylinders. How low were those back two cylinders?

 

[BBRacer]

Comp Test
#1 - 120 psi
#2 - 110 psi
#3 to #6 (all the rest) - 150 psi

Am I right that #1, and #2 are back two on the 200 six cyl??

 

[BBRacer]

Oh Yeah,

If it is the rings then why would it leak out the back of the head?? Or are you suggesting it is gasket AND rings!!Thanks. BB

 

[brianj5600]

Sorry, I did not see it was a 6. All bets are off, I have no experience with those.

 

[BBRacer]

I only wish it was an 8... but it does pull pretty good and is a blast to drive. The local speedshop says when its time to go for the engine rebuild, its a cam, header, and an Offy manifold, leave the six in there!!

I like his thinking!! Any 6 cyl gurus out there??