Found some antifreeze under the passenger side valve cover. How do I determine what the cause is?? I drained the oil and saw no coolant. Drained the coolant and saw no oil in it. It seems to be coming from the #4&6 exhaust valve spring area. I sure hope it's not a cracked headray::rant::blast:
Did you disconnect any coolant hoses or anything that toouches coolant, like plugs, fitting etc? Or did you only remove valve covers? (hate asking a "Cap'n Obvious" question) None in crankcase, it could be from intake and pressure forced under valve cover gasket, but I'm guessing.
Where the heads baked to clean when rebuilding? Can cause cracks on earlier heads I'm not sure if they go into coolant ports though
The only thing I removed was the valve covers and the coolant overflow resevoir and actually ran it about 10 miles with no coolant overflow resevoir. How could fluid be pressure forced under thevalve cover gasket? I dont understand how that's possible. o No: I was thinking maybe the intake gasket is the culprit however, not sure if its possible for the coolant to only be present around the #4 & #6 valve area with the SP3 intake. Coolant only runs around the 4 corners, right? No, they were just cleaned with degreaser and wire brush. I'm trying to exhaust every avenue before removing the heads and having them checked for cracks. I JUST put this motor in...might have 500 miles on it...if that.
There is no way anti freeze gets there without a crack somewhere. Earlier 400-430 heads are prone to crack between the spring seats. Hadn't heard of that on the 350, but it's possible. Clean it up and run it. If you find more anti freeze, there is a crack somewhere.
Did that and found more....cracked head it is! :af::af::af::af: I swear if it's not one thing it's another with this damn motor. I'm really fed up. I'd like to burn this car down to the ground...slowly....so it can suffer like I have! I just spent a ton of $$$$ and busted too many knuckles and had to endure countless eye rolls from my wife just to have a POS motor that cant get out of it's own damn way! :rant: Now....I can either wait on the aluminum heads to come out from TA or buy a new set of iron heads from TA or build the 455 that I should have built instead of this damn thing or go ahead and go with an LS. I'm tired of working on this motor!!! Rant over. :af:
Sorry Ben, Hope you at least feel better. If it was me, I'd wait for the aluminum heads. They should be a game changer for the SBB.
Well atleast I know what the issue is....was reading about SBC motors and how coolant can travel up the head bolts if there was no sealer put on them....is that not possible with the SBB.
I remember talking with Greg Gessler and he was saying that he was commonly fixing cracks on SBB heads, maybe that is an option.
Hey Sean AKA Mr. SBB, I know you probably have enough 350 heads to build a fort with...hook a Buick Brother up and send me a set! Preferably a ported set...thanks. :beers2:
I was just going to ask where the crack is? Maybe post a pic so if anyone else runs into problems they can see where to look
I will remove the head this weekend and take it to the machine shop...have him check for cracks...will post a pic then.
Well I removed the head this weekend and found nothing obvious. Head gasket looked ok...no coolant in the cylinder...didnt see any cracks. Going to drop off the head at the machine shop this afternoon.
