Pulled heads, need opinions.........(pics inside)
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Mountains and Stockton Ca.
Pulled heads, need opinions.........(pics inside) hello everyone, so heres the story.......i traded a 99 silverado for a 98 BGC Trans am. the trans am is pretty much stock (from what i know), other than a comp cam......... the previous owner said the cylinders were bored or whatever but i dont think he meant bored, maybe honed and cleaned but i dont think they are bored? maybe you guys can tell.
anyway, here is the issue....... when i got the car it ran fine but it would overheat when driven for any extended lenth of time, anything over 30 minutes. the previous owner gave me paperwork from a shop with the estimation for a headgasket change, they diagnosed the overheating issue and said it was a headgasket. i have worked on ls1's before, nothing as extensive as a headgasket job but i am pretty sure i can get it done. i have already took both heads off and now im just trying see whats going on. the gaskets look fine, to me. one piston is really shinny and clean while all the others are covered with black gunk. here are some pictures, let me know what you think and feel free to ask questions.
anyway, here is the issue....... when i got the car it ran fine but it would overheat when driven for any extended lenth of time, anything over 30 minutes. the previous owner gave me paperwork from a shop with the estimation for a headgasket change, they diagnosed the overheating issue and said it was a headgasket. i have worked on ls1's before, nothing as extensive as a headgasket job but i am pretty sure i can get it done. i have already took both heads off and now im just trying see whats going on. the gaskets look fine, to me. one piston is really shinny and clean while all the others are covered with black gunk. here are some pictures, let me know what you think and feel free to ask questions.
Last edited by ggino85; Jan 26, 2012 at 04:57 PM. Reason: added question
Welcome to LS1 Tech.
Looks to me like gasket was blown near #2 cylinder; the shinny one. This can happen as a result of low coolant. Looks like the overflow from the radiator was dry & that there was an air pocket @ the high point of the engine, pistons 1 & 2. The heat from the air pockets can cause the gaske to give out. So, change the gaskets (dust the new gaskets w/ some copper gasket spray). Make sure you get all of the coolant out of the threaded head bolt holes or you'll wind up w/ a cracked block. When finished, make sure the front coolant cross over tube is connected from the heads to the high point on the radiator or hose to the radiator. Fill the system through the top of the water pump. Run engine for 5 minutes then check level & top off. Run for 10 minutes, cool down & repeat. Then w/ overflow filled to proper level run for 15 minutes & cool down. Check level. If overflow has coolant in it after completely cooled down, the system is full. Go for a drive & check level again. Make sure that overflow always has coolant after car has cooled. If not, the system is low on fluid & there will be overheating issues.
Looks to me like gasket was blown near #2 cylinder; the shinny one. This can happen as a result of low coolant. Looks like the overflow from the radiator was dry & that there was an air pocket @ the high point of the engine, pistons 1 & 2. The heat from the air pockets can cause the gaske to give out. So, change the gaskets (dust the new gaskets w/ some copper gasket spray). Make sure you get all of the coolant out of the threaded head bolt holes or you'll wind up w/ a cracked block. When finished, make sure the front coolant cross over tube is connected from the heads to the high point on the radiator or hose to the radiator. Fill the system through the top of the water pump. Run engine for 5 minutes then check level & top off. Run for 10 minutes, cool down & repeat. Then w/ overflow filled to proper level run for 15 minutes & cool down. Check level. If overflow has coolant in it after completely cooled down, the system is full. Go for a drive & check level again. Make sure that overflow always has coolant after car has cooled. If not, the system is low on fluid & there will be overheating issues.
in other words and to make the story shorter coolant was getting into cylinder #2 take the head to the machine shop or napa and they can check it out if the head is good it could be a bad head gasket or the head was not torque properly
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Mountains and Stockton Ca.
thank you for the replies! i didnt realize that was my first post, i've been lurking around since i joined in 08'.
i also plan i putting in a new radiator (current one looks pretty shabby), dual springs (they didnt do it when they did the cam), im also seriously considering an ls6 oil pump, and a ls2 timing chain.
can the headgaskets let coolant by without showing any signs of damage to the gasket?
here are some pics of the heads and the gaskets, u can see the same piston that is clean has a clean valve area.
i also plan i putting in a new radiator (current one looks pretty shabby), dual springs (they didnt do it when they did the cam), im also seriously considering an ls6 oil pump, and a ls2 timing chain.
can the headgaskets let coolant by without showing any signs of damage to the gasket?
here are some pics of the heads and the gaskets, u can see the same piston that is clean has a clean valve area.
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Mountains and Stockton Ca.
its comp cams XR265HR-14, its a small cam from what i can gather. 212/218? i wish i could afford something a little bigger, like a 224/224 or 228/228. or whatever the torquer v2 is......... oh and no SES light.
anyone know how good or bad this cam is? i havn't ever heard anything about it.........
the dealership said 395$ for a headgasket kit! WOW!, waaaaayyyy more expensive than i thought..... it comes with the intake manifold gasket, headgaskets, valve cover gaskets and misc. gaskets/seals. Thats REALLY! expensive isn't it?? I cant really afford that (rite now), i dont want to go cheap on the build by any means, but i know dealerships prices are insane so im sure i can get them from somewhere else, for cheaper......what would everyone here recommend? whats the best headgasket? where do i get it?
thanks,
gino
anyone know how good or bad this cam is? i havn't ever heard anything about it.........
the dealership said 395$ for a headgasket kit! WOW!, waaaaayyyy more expensive than i thought..... it comes with the intake manifold gasket, headgaskets, valve cover gaskets and misc. gaskets/seals. Thats REALLY! expensive isn't it?? I cant really afford that (rite now), i dont want to go cheap on the build by any means, but i know dealerships prices are insane so im sure i can get them from somewhere else, for cheaper......what would everyone here recommend? whats the best headgasket? where do i get it?
thanks,
gino
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
its comp cams XR265HR-14, its a small cam from what i can gather. 212/218? i wish i could afford something a little bigger, like a 224/224 or 228/228. or whatever the torquer v2 is......... oh and no SES light.
anyone know how good or bad this cam is? i havn't ever heard anything about it.........
the dealership said 395$ for a headgasket kit! WOW!, waaaaayyyy more expensive than i thought..... it comes with the intake manifold gasket, headgaskets, valve cover gaskets and misc. gaskets/seals. Thats REALLY! expensive isn't it?? I cant really afford that (rite now), i dont want to go cheap on the build by any means, but i know dealerships prices are insane so im sure i can get them from somewhere else, for cheaper......what would everyone here recommend? whats the best headgasket? where do i get it?
thanks,
gino
anyone know how good or bad this cam is? i havn't ever heard anything about it.........
the dealership said 395$ for a headgasket kit! WOW!, waaaaayyyy more expensive than i thought..... it comes with the intake manifold gasket, headgaskets, valve cover gaskets and misc. gaskets/seals. Thats REALLY! expensive isn't it?? I cant really afford that (rite now), i dont want to go cheap on the build by any means, but i know dealerships prices are insane so im sure i can get them from somewhere else, for cheaper......what would everyone here recommend? whats the best headgasket? where do i get it?
thanks,
gino
You don't really need all that other **** unless the gaskets are torn. Go to Scoggin-Dickey and get these.
This kit is both gaskets
http://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfor...parts/12498544
You will need two of these
http://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfor...parts/12498545
To hell with the stealership. Good luck,
Larry
This kit is both gaskets
http://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfor...parts/12498544
You will need two of these
http://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfor...parts/12498545
To hell with the stealership. Good luck,
Larry
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Sierra Mountains and Stockton Ca.
no i cant see anywhere on the gasket where there was a leak of anykind. im going to take the heads in tomorrow to get resurfaced. (thats what i should do to them wright?)
Last edited by ggino85; Jul 6, 2011 at 04:39 PM.
Check GM part# 12499217. Comes with MLS head gaskets, valve cover gaskets, MLS exhaust gaskets, head bolts, basically about 90% of what you need.
List is around $165, SDParts.com or other wholesale places can probably get it for around $120 or so. I got my kit for $116.xx at the local dealership where I buy my trucks and whatnot.
List is around $165, SDParts.com or other wholesale places can probably get it for around $120 or so. I got my kit for $116.xx at the local dealership where I buy my trucks and whatnot.
******* dealerships 
$98 at GM Parts Direct:
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm
Nevermind, I see I can't cut/paste item result link. Just enter the PN previously stated from crainholio - 12499217
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm
Nevermind, I see I can't cut/paste item result link. Just enter the PN previously stated from crainholio - 12499217
You will need head bolts too if they are not in the kit. After drying head bolt holes out with a rag blow them out with compressed air WELL as they are blind holes and the block will crack if any coolant is still in there.
Also when I fill the radiator up I do it on ramps to lift the front and with a little hose massage I have always gotten the air out of the cooling system w/o much trouble.....
Also when I fill the radiator up I do it on ramps to lift the front and with a little hose massage I have always gotten the air out of the cooling system w/o much trouble.....
You may not see where it was leaking on the gasket. Just get the heads surfaced like you said, clean the block really well and inspect for cracks, if no cracks are found then put it back together following the torque procedure carefully and you will be ready to go!