Some of you may recall that I replaced a blown headgasket last month(Thanks Ted!). When I had it all back together, it started right up(that's my baby!), and went right to a normal fast idle. Bunch of white smoke coming out of the exhaust however so I shut 'er down after 2-3 minutes. Oil looked fine. coolant looked fine. Top of the engine was just starting to get warm but the thermostat had not yet opened(That's why I initially thought I had installed it backwards). I restart and again, it starts right up. Not as much smoke this time so I figured that there was old coolant in the exhaust getting burned off. Within a minute or so the engine starts to slow to the normal idle but then went a tad lower(to about 500-600rpm). I tried giving it a bit of throttle and it stalled. Now it would not restart(same symptom as last fall when the original headgasket blew). Since all of this seemed familar I pulled the intake crossover tube and sure enough, coolant poured out.
So I disassemble down to the block(head back on the bench). Gasket looks fine. I took the head to a local machine shop to get checked for cracks. He called me this afternoon to say that it checked out ok. He is going to freshen up the mating surfaces and I pick it up tomorrow morning.

My questions are:

Can I reuse Engnbldr's headgasket? It did delaminate partially at the front end by the TC passage but otherwise looks fine. Ted, if you want, I'll send you photos to help make this decision. And if I do need another headgasket, can I buy just that from you without having to buy the whole kit again?

Since the head isn't cracked and the gasket is obviously(hopefully) good(NEVER ASSUME!), what other way can coolant get into the intake runners(all four had puddles) and cylinders??
While I haven't done it yet(first on my list tomorrow), I will drain the new oil and check veery carefully for signs of coolant.

Your thoughts and expert opinions are appreciated.

-Chris

No! It has been crushed when you torque the head. The only time you can reuse a HG is if it is made from solid copper, then you anneal it and you are good to go as long as there are no bad spots on it. I have a friend that restores antique MC's and most of them have solid copper HGs and that is what he does. It is somewhat hard to find a HG for a 1913 Indian.

Man that sucks.
Did you get the block checked for warpage while the head was off?
All I can reccomend is clean all your mating surfaces really well and check them with a percision straight edge and feeler gauges before assembly.
I'm rebuilding the V6 in my 88 Runner after a blown HG now. Block measured out true but one of the heads was slightly off so they machined bolth.

Got the ARP studs from engnbldr along with the top end kit so they can be re used. Hope yours goes smoothly the second time around.

did you replace the timing chain or remove the cover when you did the last head gasket?

Nope. Just removed the head.

HELLLLLP!!!!!!!

I just finished reassmbling(for the second time) and tried re-starting and same old problem!
Sputtering(In fact, this time it didn't even really run-turned over perhaps 20-30 revolutions) and now there is coolant in the intake!

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

So I will ask you all this;

Any other ways for coolant to get into the intake?

Notes:
Head is not warped(just resurfaced).
Reassembly done per FSM, and notes from this forum.
Block surface is straight.
Timing chain guides are intact(They look great by the way)

Oh, and the head checked out fine at the machine shop-No cracks. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

For you to keep getting coolant in the intake runners, something has got to be hooked up wrong.....or there is a crack somewhere in your intake system. Is it fresh clean coolant pooling in the runners?? Got a picture of your engine compartment by chance??

Interesting problem...hope it aint a crack.

~Darin

That is what I am also wondering. I can send you photos to your email addy if you pm me w/it.

Clean coolant in intake crossover tube, intake, and runners(tho I haven't begun disassembly yet but I know they are full as well).

Dinner is over and the dog has been walked.
I just took and sent some photos to Darin.
Then I removed the plugs(they all smelled like fuel only) and turned the engine by hand. Nothing spilled out the spark plug holes. So not much if any coolant in the cylinders yet I can see remnants of coolant behind the TPS plate.