The motor was installed by a dealer, I bought the car right after they did it. If I had paid them for the work I would be down there kicking ass but nothing I can do.
Looks like the front side slid over and the left side water passage leaked. Now I have a replacement motor that was pulled to install a 3.4 so I will go with that one. I will pull the pan on this one and if the bearings are not all shot and the crank isn't toast I will probably rebuild this one when I get some time.
You can see on the back side of the gasket that there was hardly any gasket at the inside of the water passage. Also explains the oil leak that I have had for a long time and couldn't track down. All I know is it got hot and dumped all of the water into the block in less than 5 minutes, first time it ever overheated on me and this happened. This motor has less than 30000 miles on it, other than the water in the oil it looks real clean.
I didn't let it run long like that, it may be ok but then again let just hope the other motor holds up for what I need it for and I will keep this one for a backup.
Thanks for looking.

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[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 04-29-2007).]

Wow, that's great. Avoid having to re-lash the valves by rebuilding the motor!

Sorry to hear about that.

Ed

Ummm... WOW!

That isn't good at all.

Strange thing is, Felpro gaskets are stamped "do not cut", but I've seen some gaskets that are stamped "cut here", in exactly the same place.

I cut mine, but I was very careful to make sure everything stayed in place when I put it back together.

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Raydar
88 4.9 Formula IMSA Fasback..........................88 3.4 coupe -soon to be something other than red

Read Nealz Nuze! Praise the Lowered!

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Ummm... WOW! That isn't good at all. Strange thing is, Felpro gaskets are stamped "do not cut", but I've seen some gaskets that are stamped "cut here", in exactly the same place. I cut mine, but I was very careful to make sure everything stayed in place when I put it back together.

The top is cut and the bottom is torn. I don't know if they just got in a hurry or what but you can see the results.
I thought that when it happened it was the block, never saw a head gasket dump that much water in the oil. Never gave the intake gasket a second thought.
Heck one of the bolts wasn't even tight and one wasn't the right grade. So much for going to the dealer to get it done right.

I lost a 2500 mile V6 that way. In my case, the gasket failed in the DO NOT CUT area. Took out the lower end in no time.

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1986 SE 350 V8

I had one that wasnt cut or anything "migrate" up. I took it apart 3000 miles later to find it about to pop.

I suspect that they didn't want to mess with pulling the rockers/push rods, so the quick and easy was to do it that way. I guess that's what happens when they are paid for the job and not their time.

OUCH! Sorry about your bad luck...well not "luck" really, just shoddy workmanship.
Sloppy work will bite you in the keister almost every time. Too bad it had to be you

I'm about to install my intake gaskets on my 3.4 PR swap and made a note to put them in right after installing the lifters and before installing the pushrods.
What caught my attention with your photos was the oil & water mixture, (tan colored), really highlights the casting flash in the oil return holes in the lifter valley:


Those holes direct oil onto the cam lobes and eventually back down to the oil pan. I spent some time with a Dremel and carbide cutter and grinding stones removing that flash and smoothing that area out.

[This message has been edited by randye (edited 04-30-2007).]

I was watching a friend rebuild some heads after he gasket matched the ports. He took a center punch and made little punches all the way around his gasket surface about 1/4 of an inch apart. Just on the head side. He said it was to help hold the gasket in place better.
If I rebuild this one I will probably do something like that. With the steep angle of the mating surface I'm surprised this doesn't happen more.
Phil told me that was probably what happened and I was too hard headed to listen. Not that I would have had to rebuild it any way but I would have felt better that I didn't crack the block. It wasn't even that hot when it happened but with the gasket off the mating surface there wasn't nothing to hold back the steam when it hit 230 and it dumped all of the water into the oil.
It even blew water/oil out of one of the injector ports.

Gabe sold me a 2.8 and I have it on the cradle and this one is off to the side with a garbage bag over it for now.

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