Re: 288 Head Gasket Planning

Posted by PennyPackard On 2023/6/3 14:36:56

Well, good news is the head otherwise came right off, I was expecting way more of a fight. I used plastic spatula things to wedge into the sides first then when it started moving and spitting coolant I climbed into the engine compartment and stood over the engine and picked it up handing it to someone else. Thermostat housing was one handle and the air cleaner mount bracket was the other. The scraping, brushing, prepping then commenced, and is ongoing.

Is there a best way to get all the remaining antifreeze out of the block? Should I try anything for this now before I put the head back on? Here's the reason, it's the bad news, I might use a ceramic block sealer (thinking irontite) because of a discovered intake valve to piston block crack I have neither space, time, or money to fix right now.

I am aware the best way to deal with a crack is to have it stitched or otherwise have a good shop address it. My #4 piston and valves are less than ideal, I'm thinking this must have been in the full open position when it was laid up 30 years before I owned it and got some moisture in there. It's clear that any real repair will need to include new valves and re-sleeving and might not even make sense based on the chamber pitting. Unfortunately this can't happen now, car needs to run and move of it's own accord. I need to try something if this ends up being part of the coolant loss. My only hope is that this looks like it was a long term thing, so hoping the sudden massive coolant loss and smoke was the head gasket leak and this can survive as is for more time, key word being survive. My long term plan might be to someday find another good engine as a core and maybe have that rebuilt and swap down the road when the reserves are refilled, I have access to a garage, and/or a non-gravel and non-shared driveway. It's a big setback and just might be the end of the line depending on what happens after I put it all back together.