Best way to check head gasket?
#815186
09/26/10 07:22 PM
09/26/10 07:22 PM
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Akron, Ohio
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What is the best way to check for a bad head gasket, compression test, leak down test, or both?
My passenger side head gasket started leaking water the night before the Norwalk Classic, I used Moroso ceramic sealer and the leak stopped. First time down the track next day it spit out a freeze plug and almost wrecked the car. Bondo and Rick installed a new plug and 7 pound radiator cap and raced the rest of the weekend no problem, even running round robin.
Now tonite I did a routine valve lash check with the engine cold. I hear the normal cylinder pressure bleed off when using the starter button, but when it hits certain spots I let off the button and it seems to let off pressure for 10 seconds and make burbling noises, just doesn't seem normal??
1970 Challenger, all aluminum 528 Hemi, HDK suspension, Tremec 5 speed manual
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Re: Best way to check head gasket?
[Re: ProSport]
#815187
09/26/10 07:36 PM
09/26/10 07:36 PM
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Eighty Four, PA
B G Racing
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Eighty Four, PA
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Quote:
What is the best way to check for a bad head gasket, compression test, leak down test, or both?
My passenger side head gasket started leaking water the night before the Norwalk Classic, I used Moroso ceramic sealer and the leak stopped. First time down the track next day it spit out a freeze plug and almost wrecked the car. Bondo and Rick installed a new plug and 7 pound radiator cap and raced the rest of the weekend no problem, even running round robin.
Now tonite I did a routine valve lash check with the engine cold. I hear the normal cylinder pressure bleed off when using the starter button, but when it hits certain spots I let off the button and it seems to let off pressure for 10 seconds and make burbling noises, just doesn't seem normal??
Pressurize each cylinder one at a time with the rad cap off and watch for bubbles. 
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Re: Best way to check head gasket?
[Re: blownzoom440]
#815190
09/26/10 08:26 PM
09/26/10 08:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Akron, Ohio
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I pulled the 4 spark plugs out of the passenger side and spun it with the starter button, it sprayed water out of #2 and #8.
Time to pull the carb, intake, mufflers, headers, rocker gear, and head. Then I'll be cleaning and scraping all that Yamabond4 off and buying another piece of crap copper head gasket. I'm gonna have to have block and heads machined over the winter for Cometics.
All these problems started after I filled my radiator to the top instead of my usual inch or inch and a half from top. It's a cross flow aluminum radiator. It's either a coincidence or my system did not like being completely full. There's nothing in the overflow bottle though.
1970 Challenger, all aluminum 528 Hemi, HDK suspension, Tremec 5 speed manual
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Re: Best way to check head gasket?
[Re: ProSport]
#815191
09/26/10 08:32 PM
09/26/10 08:32 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
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off the grid
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A combustion leak detector kit will tell you if there's Carbon monoxide in the coolant. I think kits are around $30.
Yeah, it's got a smallblock.
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Re: Best way to check head gasket?
[Re: ProSport]
#815194
09/26/10 08:59 PM
09/26/10 08:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,591
Canton, Ohio
Sport440
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I think a compression check is the easist way to first check for a head gasket leak. Next to, the obvious "looksee test" , Look vern, My head gasket is leaking. That could be air bubbles/hiss or water. A leaking head gasket isnt Always into a water port. It can be anywhere, even between 2 cylinders themself, duh!  Bob , your simple Gurgle test is one too. Also, wether your rad is Full or a 1.5" down wont have any evect on a properly sealed head gasket. It will not care If it can hold back and resist/seal 1200+ combustion psi, 15# or less of water psi shouldnt be a problem if alls well. mike
Last edited by Sport440; 09/26/10 09:14 PM.
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Re: Best way to check head gasket?
[Re: Sport440]
#815195
09/26/10 09:13 PM
09/26/10 09:13 PM
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Akron, Ohio
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They are SCE copper .032 gaskets. I haven't drained the oil yet.
Mike did you see my last post where it blew water out of 2 and 8? The motor is running great, I would imagine it's just the sealer that gave up the ghost again.
The block is o-ringed but the heads don't have a receiver groove. I may just rip those darn rings out of the block and try it w/o them, they may be preventing a good seal.
1970 Challenger, all aluminum 528 Hemi, HDK suspension, Tremec 5 speed manual
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Re: Best way to check head gasket?
[Re: BobsProFab]
#815198
09/26/10 10:29 PM
09/26/10 10:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Akron, Ohio
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They are not Titans, just regular copper and I used Yamabond4 which turns into rubber, it should not be leaking but it is. I think the block and heads will need smoothed out for cometics from what I've read and heard?? The block has the normal rough texture you can feel with your fingernails. I gotta search for old threads now, I don't remember finding any composition gaskets in stock at Summit that would work for my 4.380 bore, that's why I went with copper again. 
1970 Challenger, all aluminum 528 Hemi, HDK suspension, Tremec 5 speed manual
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Re: Best way to check head gasket?
[Re: rowin4]
#815200
09/26/10 11:20 PM
09/26/10 11:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Akron, Ohio
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I'm gonna throw a set of Mopar Performance #4349559's on it for the rest of the season, hoping to hit the track one more time just to work out my high RPM miss, bought a new fuel pressure regulator. I'll have to pull both heads though since the copper gaskets are .032 and these are .040, probably wouldn't be a good idea to mis-match them??
1970 Challenger, all aluminum 528 Hemi, HDK suspension, Tremec 5 speed manual
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