| Blown head gasket [message #358282] |
Fri, 04 September 2020 16:38  |
westlanddave78
Messages: 27
Registered: March 2006
Location: Westland, MI
Karma: 0
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Well I’m pretty sure I blew the head gasket in my 75 PB this afternoon. (Huge cloud of white smoke out the tailpipe, water in the oil, cranks but won’t start.)
Can anyone recommend a mechanic in the Detroit/Dearborn/Ypsilanti area who could on take this repair? Is there anything else I should look at replacing while he’s got the engine torn down? I’ve got 122k miles on the odometer. I changed the timing chain and most of the front accessories about 10k miles ago.
Dave P.
Westland, MI
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: Blown head gasket [message #358283 is a reply to message #358282] |
Fri, 04 September 2020 17:11  |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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One option is Cinnabar just over an hour north in Sandusky Mi. My engine from them has had zero issues in 10 years. Good, not cheap.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
[Updated on: Fri, 04 September 2020 17:12] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Blown head gasket [message #358287 is a reply to message #358282] |
Fri, 04 September 2020 19:39 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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At 122,000 miles, your 455 is past the average life of these things. Best to do a complete rebuild at this point.
Mine burned a valve at 103,000 and I just did the heads. 2000 miles later, my transmission lost 3rd gear and I then spun a bearing. During the rebuild, we discovered a broken ring on one of the pistons.
Steve Ferguson advised me to pull the engine and transmission when it turned over 100,000 miles and I wish I had taken his advice and done it at home before it broke down on the road and I had to get it towed 150 miles.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: Blown head gasket [message #358288 is a reply to message #358282] |
Fri, 04 September 2020 19:52 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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westlanddave78 wrote on Fri, 04 September 2020 17:38Well I’m pretty sure I blew the head gasket in my 75 PB this afternoon. (Huge cloud of white smoke out the tailpipe, water in the oil, cranks but won’t start.)
Can anyone recommend a mechanic in the Detroit/Dearborn/Ypsilanti area who could on take this repair? Is there anything else I should look at replacing while he’s got the engine torn down? I’ve got 122k miles on the odometer. I changed the timing chain and most of the front accessories about 10k miles ago.
Dave,
I can't tell you where to take it. I did my own a year ago when I broke a piston.
But, I do have something to tell you as I been an "engine guy" for a little short of sixty years. Actually, that is in error. As of right now, it has been sixty years.
What I wanted very much to tell you is what you should do while you are collecting your witts. Please, get some oil in a squirt can. Take the radiator cap off and pull the spark plugs. Crank the engine (it will spin real fast with the plugs out) until the coolant fog settles down. Then put a couple or three pumps of oil in every cylinder and crank it just about two turns. This is to oil the rings and valves so that they don't rust while you are settling things.
One other big and important thing. Have who ever does the engine measure the bores BEFORE they buy pistons - if it needs them. It may not. If they bore it 30 over, that is the end of that block. You don't want that. My engine had been overhauled at about 95K. They bored it max. Fortunately, the bores were so good still (the high nickel block) that I was able to put 30 over pistons back in it. If I had a whole build bock and could order one piston, I could have done just that.
It may also not be the head gasket(s). It could just as well be the intake manifold gasket. They really are a weak link. Unfortunately, you have to get the intake off to find out. But please do the bore oil job as soon as you can.
If you have questions, I am local (Sibley Rd and I-275) number is in the Black list. I am happy to answer questions.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: Blown head gasket [message #358418 is a reply to message #358282] |
Tue, 08 September 2020 12:04 |
lw8000
Messages: 201
Registered: July 2012
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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We've taken ours to A&D Repair which is up near Lansing a few times (probably an hour from you). They work on heavy machinery, trucks, plenty of RVs, etc. and are familiar with the GMCs. They've gone as far as installing new timing chain/gear, water pump, intake and exhaust manifolds, on our 403. We also had them work on the drivetrain as well and suspension. So far have been happy with their work.
https://www.adrepairinc.com/
8036 Old M-78, Haslett, MI 48840
(517) 339-6007
Chris S. -
77 Kingsley, 3.70 FD, mostly OEM -
S.E. Michigan
[Updated on: Tue, 08 September 2020 12:07] Report message to a moderator |
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