I have been in the process of trying to start my freshly rebuilt 350 and narrowed my problem down to the fuel pump not pulling fuel. Upon removing the pump, coolant trickled out! I remove the radiator cap and found my tank empty. I unscrewed the oil drain plug and coolant began draining! I was very careful in my engine assembly. Does anyone have an idea of where I went wrong? Since the engine was misfiring back through the carb, could I have blown a head gasket? Might I have installed something incorrectly in the timing cover--- installed a bolt that was too long? Desperate in California... 1969 Jeep J Series w/ Buick 350
Possibly head gasket on upside down. I would take a look at the bearings to make sure you did not wash them.
coolant leaks into the crankcase could be the from the intake, the timing cover, the head gasket or a cracked part. What years are the block and heads? If you use the 73 and up heads on the 68-72 block you will have leaks. Backfiring won't blow a head gasket. I don't think it's a long bolt either.
you need to explain more,are you breaking in engine or has it got mileage one it and how many. what did you do to engine?do you have new timing cover? alum intake?what type of intake gasket?steel head gaskets? iwould start with timing cover since you pulled pump and seen antifreeze but i beleive its the intake gasket since your lifters are now full of antifreeze that is more than likely you backfire sine they cant pump up on atifreeze
This is a brand new rebuild that has not been started yet. I was in the process of getting it started and having fuel delivery problems. When I pulled the fuel pump, I found the coolant in oil problem. This is a 1968 block that was professionally machined and a set of 1975 heads that were surfaced and given a valve job. I went through five sets of heads before finding the 1975 set that was not cracked. I converted my engine from solid push rods to hollow push rods and oil-through-the-lifter hydraulic lifters (70 and later configuration. I was told that all head gaskets were the same for all years. I used a Felpro gasket set for assembly. Is it my head gasket that is wrong? Were there ports that had to be sealed?
http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=57460&highlight=350+heads Your going to need to do a few oil changes to get rid of the contaminated oil and the heads will need to come off to be plugged (coolant scallops). Too bad you didnt ask us before the engine was done... Anyway, simple fix.
looks like you have found the other problem. maybe the machine shop could have caught that if they where putting forth the effort for your money if they put the engine together ,call them and let them know whats happening ,maybe they will atleast give you replacement gaskets hey sean ,busy night? i was just thinking how this motor will run with the bigger exhaust valves of 75 heads
Wow, thank you guys! It is better to at least know what went wrong, even if I do have to pull apart my new engine. Now, what about blocking oil passages on the '69 block since I am now oiling through the lifters? What other concerns do I have by using these later heads? This engine, in its original configuration was a 2V putting out 230hp with 9.0 comp ratio just as the Buicks were for that year. I have a 4V manifold and Carter AFB in place now. The block came out of a '69 Skylark because the previous owner threw a rod. The Skylark engine had never been rebuilt so we went .30 over and .10 under. This rebuild has been a challenge. Thank goodness you guys are out there. My machinist did not know much about Buick small blocks (which I did not know at the time). I almost ran with a mismatch in valve train components. It was here that I figured out that mess! Is there any information available on "scalloping" my head coolant passages? Thank you again. Kent
Yeah, I work all the time, so I hang out on here to keep occupied while watching the control panel...
You don't have to do anything to the block. The factory left this oil passage on the 70 and up blocks and the oil flow stops at the head since there is no hole in the head. You will have to block the water passages in the heads and JB explains it in this post... The pics shows the difference in the blocks... http://www.v8buick.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=70309&d=1143518926
Same thing happened to me with the stock intake. had to purchase a t/a intake, which fixed the problem, i guess they tend to do that often..
I tore down my engine over the weekend. Very painful process after all the work that went into the build. I can now see the two coolant ports in question. Is it my understanding that I need to drill them out round, tap the holes and insert a plug? I have attached some "before" pictures of my engine. Upon tear down, I found it puzzling that many of the coolant passages had a gelatinous gunk built up. Any explanations for this? Kent
did you flush your radiator and heater core? may be left over junk from there make the holes round the plug them i heard that you can make them round drive a freeze plug in there and jb weld over but a screw in will be the best fix
i can't explain the gunk although I've seen it. JB (Jim Burek of PAE) said either use an expansion plug, or tap the hole and plug it. If it was me I'd try tapping the holes because l have more confidence in a threaded plug over a press in plug. Maybe your machinist can plug them for you? Very nice work under the hood too! :TU: Nice stock look, clean and detailed, just the way I like it.
Thanks Andy. Outside of my conversion to oil-thru-the-pushrod rockers, are there any other surprises that I should be on the lookout for? Kent
The gunk is the nasty result of oil and water/coolant mixed together. Do a few oil changes and call me inthe morning if you dont't feel better.
