I think I have a blown head gasket

[dogstar]

Well about a week ago I let my friend drive my car and we both did not know the radiator was leaking, so the car got to hot and shut off. When I got to my car I did feel alot of heat off of the motor, checked antifreeze, empty! Let car cool down while putting water in it. When I did start it, I noticed water coming out of the exhaust flex pipe. Only had 5 miles to go to her house so I went ahead and drove the car to the house. Every mile or so the car was overheating again. Repeated to put more water in every few miles. Car sounds like crap, no power at all until about 4000 rpm and then runs fine but still gets hot!

I was told it is the head gasket. Is there any how to guides on replacing them? I have done a search and no answers at all. Any and all advice and help is welcome. Bryan

 

[AREA 91]

I would first do a coolant pressure test to make sure it's the head gasket.
You can also pull the spark plugs and check them out.
Grab yourself a manual.

 

[luigisho]

What he said. Depending on how bad it overheated you may have warped the heads and might need to get them planed flat again. Like Brian said pressure test everything. check the oil for coolant. Coolant in the oil plus high temps is bad for bearings.

 

[tompumped]

Get block test fluid and the tester to go with it. I got it from autozone when I had to test mine. If you do, make sure to drain some coolant so you don't suck any into the tester.

If you have coolant leaking out of the flex pipe then it seems like a given that it's the head gaskets.

 

[Rubix]

I would nominate pulling the spark plugs out and getting a light and looking down into each cylinder for step one. If you see coolant in there anywhere then yes you've got a leaking head gasket. If it runs like crap why are you taking it up to 4k rpm and above? Don't kick it while it's down.

Here's two good threads for you if you end up having to tear into it.
http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=120430
http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=120608

 

[dogstar]

If it runs like crap why are you taking it up to 4k rpm and above? Don't kick it while it's down.

Ok that might not have been like a good idea but the car would almost not move at all but I needed to get back to my friends house because I was babysitting her sick son.

Thank you for everyone responding and the tips. I will keep this updated!

 

[SHOtimer]

I read threads like this and it makes me feel justified in not loaning out my SHO.

Good luck.

Head gasket isn't too hard. If you can do a 60k you can pull off a head gasket.

Doug

 

[pjtoledo]

What he said. Depending on how bad it overheated you may have warped the heads and might need to get them planed flat again. Like Brian said pressure test everything. check the oil for coolant. Coolant in the oil plus high temps is bad for bearings.

doesn't work that way with a cam-in-head engine.
the cam saddles are warped too.
cutting the head surface may allow it to sit flat on the block, but the cams will be in a bind.



Perry