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I sure hope its just a head gasket

Stewart

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I sure hope its just a head gasket

Not a happy day. Near perfect day here a bit cool but perfect for a lunch run. Car started fine and ran well on the choke and was fine until I removed the last bit of it and it promptly died at a stop light. Started right back up but idled at 500rpm instead of the normal 900. Pulling out from the stop light the car starting pinging badly under any boost at which point I turned around and went home.

Got home started on the ignition side turned out my cap had a crack in it. Changed that along with the rotor no change. Pulled the spark plugs while it was running no change when #2 was pulled. Good spark verified by feel and visually.

Compression is 72 72 135 135 and I can hear air escaping from 1 and 2 depending on which one has the compression tester in it.
Checked the coolant no signs of loss or bubbling. No smoke or smell from the tail pipe.

I've had head gaskets go in the past but I've never had the engine ping under load and today its been turned up to 11. Is it normal for an engine to ping with a blown head gasket?
 
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Stewart

Stewart

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Re: I sure hope its just a head gasket

survey says




head.jpg


gasket.jpg
 

DNK

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Re: I sure hope its just a head gasket

Sumpin don't look right between them first to right side hole ,Stew
 

drooartz

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Re: I sure hope its just a head gasket

What are we seeing there? Just residue from a head gasket, or a crack?
 

DrEntropy

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Re: I sure hope its just a head gasket

Time for the straightedge.
 

PAUL161

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Re: I sure hope its just a head gasket

Stewart, Looks like a milling job should be done on the head. If you are running a blower, a thicker gasket might be in order after the milling, depending how much has to come off the head. I would also have the block surface checked for burn out between the cylinders. Hopefully it'll be ok. PJ
 

PAUL161

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Re: I sure hope its just a head gasket

Didn't think of it before but, if those head bolts are original, I'd replace them with new before torquing the refinished head back down. PJ
 
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