LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

Guessing a head gasket?

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Old Mar 2, 2004 | 11:55 PM
  #1  
97BLKZ28's Avatar
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Guessing a head gasket?

about 2 months ago....here is the story 97 z28 177001 miles. one morning im having wierd coolant dissapearances. i wasnt leaking onto the ground and i was getting pissed of car has a loud ticking noise that sounds like air escaping engine. i start having serious starting problems. i drive home and as soon as i het 177000 miles the oil pressure drops to 0 and jumps back up in like 3 seconds. i park my car hear a loud boiling noise and open the hood. open the oil cap and there is steam that smells like cooland comin out of it, and no coolant left in radiator. try and start my car again and starter wont even crank now.

is the starter dead? are my bearings rinsed? is it worth fixing head gasket cause i miss my car? if i replace the gasket, should i replace main bearings o will i be allright with just an oil change?

gimme some ideas based on experience guys.

thanks.
ps i just bought hooker long tubes so it would be a good time
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 01:11 AM
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is there a chance my motor will sieze with just a head gasket change
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 01:20 AM
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yea, it sounds like you had the worst case scenario played out there. Your whole story didn't sound that bad until you said that the oil pressure dropped to 0 and shot back up. That is a sure sign of bearing failure. If I was you. I would attempt to turn the engine over by hand. Remove the accessory belt and try to spin the crank hub. It will be hard but you should atleast be able to make it go back an forth. If you cannot then you probably have a seized engine. I would change those head gaskets and go from there. If it does come to the point where you need to replace bearings, you won't have to dig into the top of the engine to do it. So you won't be doing any work twice. As far as the starter goes, it is hard to tell. I don't think your starter just went bad. Do you hear it engaging? Good Luck with the situation.
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 01:22 AM
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you probably got it extreamly hot and that could ahe seized it. it might and I stress MIGHT lossen up...
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 07:22 AM
  #5  
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If you have too much coolant in one or more cylinder and try to keep starting it, you will blow the starter.

Could he also check for metal shavings in the oil? Run a magnet through it too to see if you pick any up if you don't see any on your fingers. Check the oil filter too.

Good luck, been there.
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 07:52 AM
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You have hydrolock. You need to remove the spark plugs and crank the engine and watch out because coolant will most likely shoot out. This is keeping your engine from turning over. The oil pressure thing is not good at all. Check your oil. I bet it looks liek chocolate milk and is way overfull. Coolant has mixed and damaged your bearings.
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 09:28 AM
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if i replace bearings will i still have a chance of motor siezing after?
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 09:40 AM
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It sounds like your head gasket(s) are leaking into the cyls. This means coolant also got into your oil and probally wiped out your bearings, since you had oil pressure problems. your motor will not crank due to coolant in the combustion chamber.

You will need to rebuild your engine, or at least take it apart to inspect/ replace the cam, crank and rod bearings as needed. You will also need to replace the head gaskets. Make sure to find the break on the gasket where it was leaking or you might need to send the heads out to get them pressure checked.
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 10:00 AM
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If you change all the bearings and have the crank surface trued up, then if clearances are correct you should be fine for a while unless another mishap occurs.
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