ThrelkeldsZ

Just got around to working on my 98 z28 that the guy I bought it from said it had a blow headed gasket well I removed the valve covers and this is what I found

ThrelkeldsZ

Here's a better pic

SlowBurn

iTrader: (7)

looks like a good time to pull em both off and freshen up the top end.

Darkman

iTrader: (2)

All I see is some rust, presumably from coolant. Pull the head and check the individual components. I would be on the lookout for a cracked head also. I would check the springs and consider a valve job while it is apart.

ryridesmotox

My eyes may be going bad but is that water i see on the top of the retainers and in the rockers? That sucks... Send em out to get ported or get something better. Is it only on the one side? Or have you had a chance to pull the other side yet?

ThrelkeldsZ

Yea the other side is pretty much the same.

ryridesmotox

I kinda figured they would be the same... you would want to refresh them both anyways. Send em out to get machined then... put some nice stuff in them. Or maybe its time to upgrade to something better than LS1 heads???

vwdave

iTrader: (3)

It really depends on how long the car was ran with water in the crankcase or how long its been sitting. It could be as simple as doing alot of oil changes in a short time, all the way to tearing the motor down and rebuilding it from the rust.

SS10Tech

+1

If it was caught in a timely manner you can disassemble, clean, and with a dino oil change every 300 miles be just as good as new - assuming the head is not damaged or warped. The detergents will make quick work of a hot mess in no time.

Honestly though if you suspect the previous owner ran it in that condition for any long length of time i would pull both heads and check the bottom end. antifreeze has terrible lubrication properties

td1168

iTrader: (2)

You've got anti freeze in your oil. Without pulling your pan and checking your bearings its a crap shoot. You can try to put head gaskets on and change your oil. You may get lucky.

ThrelkeldsZ

He didn't run it after the gasket blew. The car sat for about 5 yrs. I did start it before I bought it though and I'm think I'm going to change the heads completely because I found a stock set local for $50.

vwdave

iTrader: (3)

Plan on pulling the motor. I have a feeling youre going to have alot of rust in the motor.

Does the motor turn over?

ThrelkeldsZ

Yea it's runs pretty good actually

ryridesmotox

Wow would have been nice to know that in the first post... I kinda figured you had bought it recently and drove it home and took the valve covers off. 5 years is a long time for it to be sitting there

ThrelkeldsZ

Naw I've never driven it I just started. And had it towed home.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Do an oil change using cheap light weight oil-like 0W-30. Use a decent filter. Run the engine until it's hot. Cool down repeat.

This will remove much of the contaminated oil (milkshake) from the crankcase.

Assuming through all this, the bottom end (crank, rods, pistons) make no knocking or banging noise, pull the heads and send them out to be re-refreshed.

New head gaskets, new head bolts, make it all nice and you'll be ready to cruise.

WARNING: Head and head bolt installation involves some very specific instructions. Doing it wrong and you'll crack the engine block.

ThrelkeldsZ

How many hours of labor do you think the dealership would charge me just to torque down the heads and that's it?

RonSSNova

iTrader: (3)

It looks to me like the thing was barely maintained in the first place. A lot of sludge from hardly ever changing the oil.
Why put new heads on what is likely a shot short block?
It's your money, but I would find a replacement engine. That's cheaper than a rebuild, which is likely needed here.

Ron

vwdave

iTrader: (3)

In all honesty, they probably will not do that. Any competent mechanic can do it, just finding one willing to just torque the head. Theres too much liability and potential for things to go wrong to take the risk.

I lined up a timing belt for a guy to help him out (no charge mind you) and he went out immediately and beat the **** out of the car and broke the cam gear. He wanted me to buy him a motor because it had to be something I did wrong.

Instances like that are why most mechanics wont do simple jobs to help people.

ThrelkeldsZ

Well I have a book that tells me exactly how to do it so I may just do it myself like I was planning on doing