hahaha blown head gasket

[jbaer619]

Yep! you read right... after all the work I now have to rip the whole engine apart!!!! Ahh i'm so close to just slappin a for sale sign on that thing....... Oh what the hell... If any of you guys are around Yuma AZ and might want to pick up an extra boat or would want to trade just give me a call . you've seen pics, you know what the engine has done to it. But please do me a favor and check out the rarity of that motor before calling up with a super low ball price.

[SnoC653]

Yep! you read right... after all the work I now have to rip the whole engine apart!!!! Ahh i'm so close to just slappin a for sale sign on that thing....... Oh what the hell... If any of you guys are around Yuma AZ and might want to pick up an extra boat or would want to trade just give me a call (619) 729-5600. you've seen pics, you know what the engine has done to it. But please do me a favor and check out the rarity of that motor before calling up with a super low ball price.

before you rip into it, do a compression test. You might just need to retorque the heads and not run so much pressure on the hose. I take it you found water in the oil?

[socal_wrench]

oK Bud, Don't give up Chock this one up to a learning experience and tear into it. Head gaskets are cheap.

At least you arn't on the first day of a 5 day trip.
(We had to tear the top end off our FE Sanger at Lake Mohave)

Yank the motor out, Fix your Cooling line Problems and the head gasket.
(FE Gaskets only go on one way, If they are flopped the motor won't cool and heat up really fast, And if you bake the gasket they blow really fast)

You are on track to have a nice lake Hot rod.

[jbaer619]

yeah I did the compresion test and when I went to pull the #5 plug the cylinder was full of this white nasty goop which I am guessing was wter mixed with oil and when I tested the compression it had nothing.. and I probably will try and fix it up, but if someone throws a good offer up there then Its gone. Anyways now that I have to change them, should I go with marine gaskets or just the automotive ones. I'm not runnin it in salt water so i'm not sure if i "really" need the marine ones.

O and also we were planning a trip for tomorrow through sunday for my birthday so it kinda did ruin it.... we're still going out but were just going to the lake instead and we wont be going that far out now. haha

[warpt71]

Iv done head gaskets on vacation before, I have the pictures to prove it! You can take one head off w/ the intake still on, and never have to pull the dist. and f w. the timming to change the one thats blown. If you really want to take the boat w/ ya it can be done! Iv done this a few times now, Ill walk ya through it if ya like?

[jbaer619]

no I should be able to do it, thanks though... I just think it would be tricky working both the intake and head gasket at the same time.

[warpt71]

Its really easy! Loosen up all the intake bolts and it will lift up enough to pop the head off. Iv done this on BBC, there may be some differences that I dont know about, I dont mess w/ those blue four letter words

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=1015&stc=1&d=1219892451

[AzDon]

I'm not going to claim that I know what drives others to pursue one of these boats as a hot rod project..... For me, it was the desire to have the fast boat that I really couldn't afford, and have it on my own terms and on a cash basis.
In 1978 when I got my first v-drive, I got a completely used up piece with some shiny parts. Without any expert help, I learned about these boats one break-down at a time and did not have a breakdown free outing once in my first five years of this. The challenge of successfully wrenching, fabricating, and solving problems was as much a part of it as waterskiing and drinking a cold beer while sitting lakeside relaxing.
If you thought you were going to put something together just once and have it be instantly dialed in and reliable, you should have realized that you started with something that the last owner didn't have right and there's consequences for that if you aren't a wiley diagnostician/engineer or aren't willing/able to hire the services of someone who is!
I spent five years developing those intuitions AFTER having already been a professional auto mechanic for five years and I'm still learning!
Sites such as this, with experienced folks willing to share their knowlege FOR FREE did not exist or it could have been a much easier learning curve for me.
MY POINT??
If a boat is merely a conveyance to you that is expected to be reliable and maintenance free, save your money and BUY A FREAKIN BAYLINER.... I suggest NEW, WITH A WARRANTY. That way you won't hafta get your hands dirty or apologize to others for not providing a boating experience on their timetable!
Being a v-drive guy is an especially nasty species of gearhead sickness that's about as explainable to family members as Harley Davidsons are. If you aren't willing to spend as much time wrenching as time on the water, You probably haven't got the disease and the bad news is that there are fewer with this disease than there are good boat projects to dedicate ourselves to...... so only motivated sellers rid themselves of these boats.

So here's the challenge: Are you going to allow yourself to be defeated by this or are you going to move forward?
Your Choice!

[AzDon]

Damn Warpt!
I pictured you much younger than in that picture..... You look as old as George!

[gfinishline]

Ryan, your secret is out now! That 'old dude' in the photo is "Johnny Rocket"! He's telling you to "bore that bitch out to .125" !" John V owns no blocks with less than 4.60" bores! HA HA! And you been tellin' us "427" HA HA! QUOTE for this photo; "That's a lot of deck between those bores!" "Lemme tune this thing UP!"

[warpt71]

Damn Ryan!
I pictured you much younger than in that picture..... You look as old as George!

Haha thats not me! George did know him when he was my age though!

Dis be me
http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=1016&stc=1&d=1219893792

[SnoC653]

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=1015&stc=1&d=1219892451

Now this picture could make a great caption contest. Like "I know that head was on this engine last night"

[warpt71]

Ryan, your secret is out now! That 'old dude' in the photo is "Johnny Rocket"! He's telling you to "bore that bitch out to .125" !" John V owns no blocks with less than 4.60" bores! HA HA! And you been tellin' us "427" HA HA! QUOTE for this photo; "That's a lot of deck between those bores!" "Lemme tune this thing UP!"

HAHAHA He gives me shit every time for not building a bigger "454" I have the crank to do it to!! What was I thinking???

[jbaer619]

haha i'm just the opposite.... I dont trust anything with a bowtie... But anyways good news!!! So Im out there starting to pull the head, and just when I got the valve cover off I see something weird... There was a pushrod that fell off the rocker!!!!! I couldnt beleive it!! So I ran the test on it again and it had higher compression than any of the other cylinders!! kinda makes me wanna go out and get some of that block seal stuff tomorrow

[warpt71]

Now this picture could make a great caption contest. Like "I know that head was on this engine last night"

Hey when you blow it up in the middle of your weeks vacation are you just gonna look at your boat on the trailer and the glass water in front of you? Hell no! Get your buddies together, feed them beer and fix the thing!

More captions???

[warpt71]

kinda makes me wanna go out and get some of that block seal stuff tomorrow

PLEASE DONT!!!!!!!!!

Check the dipstick and see if you have a milkshake in the pan first!!

[RiverRacer]

There was a pushrod that fell off the rocker!!!!! I couldnt beleive it!!

You couldn't believe it why?, you're running the factory stock springs on the rocker shafts right!..

[gfinishline]

Don just because you came over ONE TIME, don't think you can just "take over my personal ranting space". "Don I wish you would be a little easier on the others, you don't really need to be so rough". "If the guy wants to F up his boat let him, but don't yell at him because he doesn't listen to you". I'm done HA HA!

[RiverRacer]

Don just because you came over ONE TIME, don't think you can just "take over my personal ranting space". "Don I wish you would be a little easier on the others, you don't really need to be so rough". "If the guy wants to F up his boat let him, but don't yell at him because he doesn't listen to you". I'm done HA HA!

That's some funny shit there!..LOL..:D

[gfinishline]

Sure! Ryan, your buddies know what to do. (where all the little pieces go) What about the guys who just want to 'drink your beer and cry over the broken boat'? HA HA!

[RiverRacer]

There's always an abundance of them!..LOL..:D

[SnoC653]

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=1016&stc=1&d=1219893792

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=1015&stc=1&d=1219892451

Is it just me or does working on these boats age you. Or is it some people work so slow they just naturally age by the time they get the job done? :D

[RiverRacer]

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=1016&stc=1&d=1219893792

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=1015&stc=1&d=1219892451

Is it just me or does working on these boats age you. Or is it some people work so slow they just naturally age by the time they get the job done? :D

LMAO!.....:D

[jbaer619]

Oh of course I do but changing the oil was a given!! Oh and about haveing this "disease" you talk about.... I definatly have something!! It may not be specificly for v-drives, fast trucks, or fast bikes.... My disease is a crave to build anything that can propell my fat ass on dirt, asphalt, or water to the point where It even scares the crap outta me....... Prof of illness: i'm 20 in 2 days and I've built (by myself) this boat, a v8 offroad ranger, and a couple bikes... When I was 5 years old my dad took me to sears and instead of going to the toy section I was over in the tool sction checking out the air compressors and wrenches. So yes I have this disease

[jbaer619]

oh and no I got a nice set of high-pro dual springs on and I checked the lash 3 times

[warpt71]

Oh of course I do but changing the oil was a given!! Oh and about haveing this "disease" you talk about.... I definatly have something!! It may not be specificly for v-drives, fast trucks, or fast bikes.... My disease is a crave to build anything that can propell my fat ass on dirt, asphalt, or water to the point where It even scares the crap outta me....... Prof of illness: i'm 20 in 2 days and I've built (by myself) this boat, a v8 offroad ranger, and a couple bikes... When I was 5 years old my dad took me to sears and instead of going to the toy section I was over in the tool sction checking out the air compressors and wrenches. So yes I have this disease

Then fix it! Dont sell it.

[warpt71]

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=1016&stc=1&d=1219893792

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=1015&stc=1&d=1219892451

Is it just me or does working on these boats age you. Or is it some people work so slow they just naturally age by the time they get the job done? :D

Man it took a long time to get that head off!! :D

[RiverRacer]

oh and no I got a nice set of high-pro dual springs on and I checked the lash 3 times

I didn't say valve springs, I said the springs on the shafts!..:D

[gfinishline]

Then fix it! Dont sell it.

Now your getting the hang of this.... Use more !!!!'s when yelling!!!!! "I do"

[gfinishline]

Photo of port side, 9AM Photo of starboard side 230PM, "boats make you older faster".

[warpt71]

Now your getting the hang of this.... Use more !!!!'s when yelling!!!!! "I do"

Sorry, Ill try again.

FIX IT THEN DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better :D :D :D

[warpt71]

Photo of port side, 9AM Photo of starboard side 230PM, "boats make you older faster".

And there was a year between the 2 pictures

How do you know the times? haha

Actually the second picture is befor noon I think?

[RiverRacer]

This $hit's too funny, LOL..:D

[jbaer619]

haha Ohhh. yeah theyre stock. But yeah thats the plan now. My problem was if this takes any longer I'm gonna completely miss river season, the i'm joining the marines before next season and with my like I'll either die in iraq or come back only to find that the last idiot that took it out forgot to cover it and water got in the cylinders and screwed up the engine.... Like what happened to the last idiot to own the boat.

[RiverRacer]

haha Ohhh. yeah theyre stock.

There's the problem!..:D

[TonkaDriver]

I had to be doing 120+ to blow the head clean off the engine. I told you this ditch pump could run.

[RiverRacer]

I had to be doing 120+ to blow the head clean off the engine. I told you this ditch pump could run.

LMFAO!...:D:D

[AzDon]

I'm gonna catch hell here for this advice, but you've said that you now have good compression, Sooooo:
get your block cleaned out... this might take several oil/filter changes and lotsa time running on the trailer. As for cylinder cleanliness, you can put WD40 or diesel in the spark plug holes, let it set for awhile, then pump dry by cranking the engine ( without plugs and with plugwires dead) Do this well before the last oil change.
In the past, i've had a couple of boat engines that developed head gasket water to cylinder leaks and I was able to seal them PERMANENTLY by doing a trick I only expected to work temporarily (if at all!).
I started the engine and warmed it up to operating temperature. While still running, I floated the contents of a tube of solder seal on the surface of the water in the five gallon bucket and the used the pickup hose to systematically vacuum it into the cooling system (with lotsa water) repeating three times (three tubes)..... After that, I ran the engine for another ten minutes to run the stuff all the way thru the system. I then shut it down and stripped the top end down to the headbolts and re-torqued the heads before the engine cooled! Intake manifold bolts too!
Again, this is not an expert, or "right" way to do this, but it is a quick-fix method that I've used successfully twice. I don't gaurantee it to work and will gladly tell you that it is unlikely to work.... but it's cheap and easy and worth a try!

[George1301]

This works..!!!
I did this one a (ford ) 400M out in the middle of OMG country... Desert.
I had a plastic bottle of this stuff... It was try this or walk about 40 miles to the nearest dirt road.
Also...
Another thing that works... LOL... LOL...!
When you hit a catus in the dark... like I did... and put some really big holes in the radiator... Grab a can of pepper... dump it in while hot and running... Works...!
Yeh.. I know...
Last time my boat hit a cactus on the lake..????
Anywho....
You guys are awsome in the fact that we can joke, scream, and yell sometimes, but the fact remains...
When it breaks.... "Who do you call..? "

Geo

[pwderman]

We need to start a thread "Tech Tips that Work"....:D

[George1301]

Or start a thread, " Home Remedies "... :)
Funny, but true....
Had a friend with us on a run to Catalina... The water pump let go about mid-channel.
We sat there for about three hours before saying just that... "fix it or swim "
We took the output hose off the bilge pump and connected it to the suction side of the engine water pump.... Then grabbed a bucket and started to bail water INTO the boat while he started it up and went on to Avalon Bay. The water just went through the engine out the exhaust... Had to switch bailer's though often... :)
Anyone have more ideas..?

Geo

[mh3591]

Or start a thread, " Home Remedies "... :)
Funny, but true....
Had a friend with us on a run to Catalina... The water pump let go about mid-channel.
We sat there for about three hours before saying just that... "fix it or swim "
We took the output hose off the bilge pump and connected it to the suction side of the engine water pump.... Then grabbed a bucket and started to bail water INTO the boat while he started it up and went on to Avalon Bay. The water just went through the engine out the exhaust... Had to switch bailer's though often... :)
Anyone have more ideas..?

Geo

Yes..haha. A buddy of mine in high school had a fuel pump go out on his car in the middle of the sticks after a party. Had him suck gas out of the tank into a beer can and dumped it into the windshield washer container and ran the hose to the carb. Then I sat in the passenger seat and laughed my a$$ off.

[pwderman]

Or start a thread, " Home Remedies "... :)
Funny, but true....
Had a friend with us on a run to Catalina... The water pump let go about mid-channel.
We sat there for about three hours before saying just that... "fix it or swim "
We took the output hose off the bilge pump and connected it to the suction side of the engine water pump.... Then grabbed a bucket and started to bail water INTO the boat while he started it up and went on to Avalon Bay. The water just went through the engine out the exhaust... Had to switch bailer's though often... :)
Anyone have more ideas..?

Geo
Good story and solution...:D

I think they used to call it common sense,ingenuity,and a few other terms all which seem to be lacking in our country today...:confused:

[Terrible toy]

This thread might make a good script for a Cable Guy movie.:D:D

[FC-Pilot]

Lost an impeller in the middle of the lake once. Took the lines off and pulled out all the pieces that were clogging the lines. Then fired it up and ran it back to the dock. It stayed cooler if we ran it pretty good across the lake. Going slow did not seem to move enough water.

Paul