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[TRWeiss1]

Wait Ant, I'm confused. You can get the whole kit (HG + IM gaskets) for 95, or just the IM gasket kit for 95? ... Bc I can get the IM gasket kit for 94 dollars at Advance.

If I get the whole kit (HG + IM gaskets) it runs 153. That'd really help her out if you can get the whole kit for 95 bucks!!

[Domino81]

$95 for the head gasket, $55 for the IM set.

[TRWeiss1]

Ahhh ok, thanks Ant! I'll let you know what I find here shortly...I'll be leaving work around 5:00 to tear into it...yippie...

[Domino81]

My point, though was - if it is a HEAD GASKET - that set takes cares (or appears to) take care of everything in the intake set, too.

[KLDE Wagon]

So all you'd need after that is head bolts because the head gasket set comes with the intake manifold gaskets, valve cover gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets, thermostat gasket, and plenum gasket. And honestly, unless it calls out specifically you need the head bolts I wouldn't bother.



Jeremy

[Domino81]

Fel-Pro makes those, too. $21, my cost. You can measure them.

[TRWeiss1]

Thanks guys....

Diagnosis ::

Ok, did a full compression test last night, and let me tell ya that rear bank is tons 'o fun to get to!! Haha...Anyway, cylinders are laid out, alike so...

Firewall
1 3 5
2 4 6
Front of van

Cylinder #1 - 150psi
Cylinder #2 - 110psi
Cylinder #3 - 160psi
Cylinder #4 - 110psi
Cylinder #5 - 145psi
Cylinder #6 - 150psi

So, my thought is that the HG is split between cylinders 2 and 4, hence the lower compression there. Also, after I pulled off the lower intake I noticed that the gasket going around port #5 is torn, so coolant was more than likely getting into cyl #5 and causing it to misfire. That, combined with 2 and 4 misfiring probably meant that I was running on 3 cylinders at best.

Also, it didn't help matters that these plugs are possibly THE WORST LOOKING PLUGS I've ever seen in my life! There is literally almost NO center electrode left....at all. This spark plug gap rivals the Grand Canyon. The fact that they were firing whatsoever is nothing short of a miracle. Those GM coil packs must have been working their little hearts out...I will get pics of everything when I go back to work on it this afternoon.

While I'm there, I'm replacing the serpentine belt, plugs, and plug wires. I'm just going to get the whole gasket kit, since it comes with upper/lower IM gaskets, HGs, VC gaskets, and fuel injector o-rings (I think). Then I'm obviously going to dump all of the coolant and oil out of it, since it's all mixed together. Hoping to get it done this weekend though...

One other thing that's concerning me is checking to see if the head is warped at all when I get it off. Idk how badly it overheated when she drove it, so I'm really not sure how hot the head(s) got. Is there any way I could check (without any special machinery) for head warpage?

Cliff notes : Root cause appears to be a blown front HG and a blown rear lower IM gasket.

[Domino81]

Check with a straight edge like a long, metal ruler. If you need any help, let me know. I'll bring me and my employee discount with me.

[TRWeiss1]

^Yeah I thought about that, Ant (checking with a straight edge). I just didn't know if that'd actually be an accurate enough test...I mean if the head is BADLY warped I could see it being obvious. Either way, I'll give it a go.

[Domino81]

Maybe take a feeler gauge and measure the distance at any given point.

[KLDE Wagon]

Straight edge and a feeler gauge should give a decent hint but likely not much of one. Your best bet is to take it to a machine shop.



Jeremy

[TRWeiss1]

Yep, after I talked to you on Sat I dropped it off at Doug's, Hiney. Like I was saying, I could literally rock a straight edge across the head, and also noticed an exhaust/burn mark between cylinders 4 and 2 where exhaust/compression had been leaking out...more than likely because of the warped head bc the HG appeared fine there. This is what the HG looked like around cylinder 2...Gee, I wonder where it was losing compression?

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...0401111812.jpg

It appeared as if someone took a flathead screwdriver and hammered the ring which goes around the circumference of the cylinder on BOTH sides...It was clearly something that had happened at the previous shop when they installed the gasket, not something that the van caused...

Oh, and here is where the IM gasket was torn around port #5, where coolant was getting in...

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...0401111553.jpg

I forgot to get a picture of the plugs, but take it from me, they were HORRIBLE. I'm curious what Doug's is going to tell me today about that head. Hopefully they can machine/resurface it, because I really don't want to buy another head...

[KLDE Wagon]

Paying for head sucks.



Jeremy

[TRWeiss1]

LOL... my friend,

This may be one time that I have to do it though.

[Domino81]

A week and a half from now... we'll all be drunk.