Blew either head or intake gasket

[ChiefDanGeorge]

I'm still in the process of building new motor(I am slooowwww, paranoid of making mistakes) but the motor in the wagon blew either a head or intake gasket. Found water in the oil and the idle vibration is really bad.
I'd like to fix the issue, but I don't want to do any machining on the heads. Would it be ok just to pull heads and replace gaskets as a temp fix? I'm hoping this kicks me into finishing the other motor, but I really don't want to screw something up rushing.

[Drew Pojedinec]

Impossible to answer given the info you've provided.

If it was me.

-off with the valve covers.  inspect
-remove spark plugs.  inspect
-remove intake.  inspect
-finally get to the heads if nothing else seems obvious.

[ChiefDanGeorge]

Sorry about the sparse info. Was on way to work meeting and haven't had much chance to do anything worthwhile, Just checked the oil and saw the milky white mix and first guess was a head gasket gave out.

Impossible to answer given the info you've provided.

If it was me.

-off with the valve covers.  inspect
-remove spark plugs.  inspect
-remove intake.  inspect
-finally get to the heads if nothing else seems obvious.

[machoneman]

Compression test? Leak-down test? Could avoid a lot of work here it it;s just the intake gasket.

[unclewill]

Removing the intake is a two hour job if you take your time.
Some tips to make it go faster:
Start draining the coolant first.
Clear a big table for parts.
Start at the top and work down.
Remove the brake booster and master cylinder.
Stuff the distributor hole with paper towels when you pull the intake and be ready to vac or soak up water from the intake valves and lifter valley immediately.

You can also remove one head at a time without disturbing the intake/carb/distributor, replacing all gaskets at once.  First 3 tips still apply.

[Drew Pojedinec]

Should be fresh in your mind eh UncleWill  

[ChiefDanGeorge]

Is there any check to do that would indicate the intake gasket is the one that failed and not a head gasket?

[Drew Pojedinec]

Easiest way to figure that would be to first remove valve covers.
Pressure up coolant system while looking with a flashlight into the lifter valley for any signs of water running or leaking.  This won't be the easiest thing to spot.

If you remove the intake, I'd think it'd be obvious if the gasket had failed.

Compared to many other engine types, head gasket failure isn't *really* a common problem with the FE.  Sure it happens, but I would say it's typically something else.

[unclewill]

Should be fresh in your mind eh UncleWill

Three times I've taken my intake off in the last two weeks!  I'm also getting really good at fishing out and replacing lifters with magnets.

One last tip - clean out ALL bolt holes before reassembly!  When a bolt hydraulics with oil, it will pull the threads right out - ask me how I know...

[Falcon67]

In my experience, if the decks were clean and the head gaskets new when installed, it's rare to have an issue.  Debris, contamination of the deck surface(s) or wrong bolt torque will cause an issue.  Head gasket issues will show up right off, they don't wait.  Intakes on the other had will lull you to sleep then ruin your day.  

I have a Stant cooling system tester, bought off eBay.  It's the tool I use to pressure up and check engine/cooling system before ever sticking a motor in a car.  I was also just using it on the dragster cooling system for checks.  Id'd motor plate to pump gasket seal issues right off.  Worth every $ I paid for it.

[ChiefDanGeorge]

Motor is original to car(63 Colony Park) and never rebuilt to my knowledge.

In my experience, if the decks were clean and the head gaskets new when installed, it's rare to have an issue.  Debris, contamination of the deck surface(s) or wrong bolt torque will cause an issue.  Head gasket issues will show up right off, they don't wait.  Intakes on the other had will lull you to sleep then ruin your day.  

I have a Stant cooling system tester, bought off eBay.  It's the tool I use to pressure up and check engine/cooling system before ever sticking a motor in a car.  I was also just using it on the dragster cooling system for checks.  Id'd motor plate to pump gasket seal issues right off.  Worth every $ I paid for it.

[ericwevans]

Should be fresh in your mind eh UncleWill

Three times I've taken my intake off in the last two weeks!  I'm also getting really good at fishing out and replacing lifters with magnets.

One last tip - clean out ALL bolt holes before reassembly!  When a bolt hydraulics with oil, it will pull the threads right out - ask me how I know...

Hope you're running an aluminum intake UncleWill and not being hard headed like me and continuing to run iron.     I've had my intake off several times this year, the next time it comes off I'm buying an Edel.  :-)

[Joey120373]

There is a way to test the head gasket, at least partially.
There are chemical tests available that look for cumbustion chamber gasses in the radiator.

Used to use them all the time back in the day when I wrenched for a living, fluid is blue, turns yellow if the head gasket is blown.

[unclewill]

Hope you're running an aluminum intake UncleWill and not being hard headed like me and continuing to run iron.     I've had my intake off several times this year, the next time it comes off I'm buying an Edel.  :-)

Yea, it's aluminum.  I take the carb + intake off as a unit - don't try this with an iron intake!

Worst case scenario the wagon has a cracked block or head.  ChiefDanGeorge you should finish the new engine asap then swap.  Much easier than fixing the engine in the car then swapping anyway.

[ChiefDanGeorge]

No doubt. This is my first build so I end up questioning my work all the time.

Worst case scenario the wagon has a cracked block or head.  ChiefDanGeorge you should finish the new engine asap then swap.  Much easier than fixing the engine in the car then swapping anyway.