Ive got a 96 3.8 camaro. I put a high lift cam in and port and polished the heads. After the work was done I started the car....let it run for about 15 minutes (temp) was good... then i started driving it down the street. The car started to run hot. I shut it down waited for about an hour then drove it home...no more than 1/8th mile. when i got home i checked the coolant level it was good. the car did not overheat but it got close. I then checked the oil. there was water in the oil. i thought that it had got in there from when i pulled the heads or something...i changed the oil started it....again water in the oil...i then pulled the heads and replaced the gaskets, and bolts...again water in the oil...so i figured that i had ported the heads too much and cut into a water jacket...so i replaced the heads...still water in the oil...there are no visible cracks in the intake manifold...is there still a possibility that it could be the intake manifold or possible that i over torqued where the water pump bolts on to the timing cover??? can water get in the oil from there? Or am i screwed and its the block? the water leaks in so fast when i top the coolant off. it sucks up about a half gallon of water in about two minutes now...so WTF???? any help or ideas would be great...Im just trying to avoid pulling the motor out of the car and sending it to the shop to find out if the block is cracked...

 

This would probably get better responses on the "V6 Tech" board. Moving it there....

 

sounds like a cracked head, presure test it, then you would know for sure.

Tazmear

 

could be a cracked bloc or head gasget

 

since he replaced the heads and the gaskets i doubt its either of them


if its sucking up as much water as you say i would put my money on the block being toasted