They're Here, They're On, They LEAK!

**ekaz** · 01-13-2008, 02:04 PM

First off, thanks to everyone that was there. A HUGE thank you to at aarcuda for the field trip to Racine via Kenosha

for exhaust manifold gaskets. The whole thing would've been done for the weekend without this. A just as big thanks goes to the following for their contributions (in no particular):

My Dad
Super T
ChitownMSRT8
Motor
Elcobr44
GasGunR
Scarbs
hops23
aarcuda

Here's the related thread: They're HERE!

A thing to note, the front O2 sensor extensions sent by Kooks had the wrong connectors on them, so a little "engineering" was needed with a Dremel tool. The Kooks midpipes and the stock SRT exhaust don't want to mate so well. So you may want to get a pipe expander before doing this. A small side note here, we went to Autozone to get a pipe expander, and the not-quite-all there but helpful counter person brings us the pipe expander followed with the following statement: "What do you use this for?".

Mind you, it was listed in there rental tool list under exhaust. So, let's see, exhaust+pipe expander=

Other than the header issues and the O2 extensions, everything went together pretty good. Well, until we went to fill it with water to flush the block....water going in one way, coming out the other....unfortunately the other end was the driver side of the block between the head and the block.

After some verification that it was leaking from the head gasket and some slight depression, we decided to at least see f she started...and she did!
Idled at around 750 right off the bat. Only codes were from a misfire detected in cylinder 6 and a MAP sensor (remedied by plugging said sensor in

)
Can't do much else right now, so until a new head gasket is obtained and installed.....stay tuned.
Thanks again to everyone!

**Hurst Equipped** · 01-13-2008, 02:13 PM

a blown head gasket already? how did this happen? you did use new head bolts, right? you did stretch torque them? you did used the left gasket on the drivers side?

**ekaz** · 01-13-2008, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by 65standard

a blown head gasket already? how did this happen? you did use new head bolts, right? you did stretch torque them? you did used the left gasket on the drivers side?

It leaked before it was even started.

**Hurst Equipped** · 01-13-2008, 02:35 PM

do not run this motor. the hot gasses will burn a grove in the cylinder head or block or both.

**elcobra44** · 01-13-2008, 02:38 PM

What a day!!

**Hurst Equipped** · 01-13-2008, 02:39 PM

do not even try to start it again. coolant may fill the cylinder and you could hydrolic the motor if you turn it over. it is not worth the risk.

**Motor** · 01-13-2008, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by 65standard

do not run this motor. the hot gasses will burn a grove in the cylinder head or block or both.

it off till next week

**GasGunR** · 01-13-2008, 02:43 PM

I worried about something like this, too many well meaning people working on too many things at one time... Not saying that anyone there couldn't have done the job correctly, just that when you get that meny people doing that many things at one time, the potential for mistakes goes up exponentially...

Eric, on the do over, limit the number of guys in the garage to about 3 people tops...

Sorry man:(

**elcobra44** · 01-13-2008, 02:52 PM

It'll be an easy fix.. The gasket is on upside down.

**Hurst Equipped** · 01-13-2008, 03:06 PM

this means new bolts and gaskets again. make sure you blow out the head bolts holes in the block. the threads are blind and coolant will just sit there. this may cause incorrect head bolt stretch.

i don't know on a 6.1, but on the 5.7, there are left and right cylinder heads too. i would pull both heads again and check the other side too. just in case you don't know, the left side is the drivers side.

**Hurst Equipped** · 01-13-2008, 03:19 PM

look at this picture. the gasket says top and it is the left gasket.

**elcobra44** · 01-13-2008, 04:06 PM

What threw us off in the first place was trying to install the head and forgetting to put the gasket in place. We lifted the head and tossed it on there rather hastily.
Also, seeing "UP" stamped on the gasket didn't help either.

Live and learn right? Can't be too disappointed when you're a group of guys with very little experience doing this kind of work and this is your only problem. (knock on wood!)