Urgent Engine Rebuild Problem!!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GMC1967 · 06-13-2002, 12:01 AM

I just tried firing up my 1967 292 L6 that I had rebuilt, and it wouldn't turn over. I thought the starter was bad but then I noticed some water (thats right water) leaking from one of my spark plugs, I tried turning the engine over again with the sparkplug removed and water fired out of it like a firehose. I removed all the plugs and then cranked it again, and water is firing out of all cylinders. What is going on? I just had this motor rebuilt, why is this happening? Just trying to get some ideas before I go over to the machine shop tomorrow and raise hell. I'm wicked pissed, good thing that shop isn't open tonight....

REPO1 · 06-13-2002, 12:01 AM

Sounds like you have the wrong head gasket on it.

**breeh** · 06-13-2002, 12:08 AM

Head gasket was my first thought as well....

bigvinnie · 06-13-2002, 12:41 AM

sounds like you either have the wrong head gasket, no gasket at all, or the head is not torqued down properly.... bummer.

jhwkns · 06-13-2002, 12:56 AM

I sure hope you didn't bend anything

zardiw · 06-13-2002, 01:10 AM

Might be a defective head. One time I bought a rebuilt 292 for my C60, and (B4 I put it in LUCKILY), I noticed an actual hole next to one of the plugs that was going into the water jacket!!! .........z

GMC1967 · 06-13-2002, 08:23 AM

Thanks guys, I'm hoping it's just the wrong head gasket.

RodC · 06-13-2002, 11:38 AM

Get the water out of it, with water in the cyl the rings can seize up in a matter of hours. After you get all the water out get some oil in those cylinders to keep the rings/walls from rusting.

GMC1967 · 06-13-2002, 12:42 PM

The engine shop is convinced it's not the headgastket, although they won't come out and look at it. I think I need to take the head off, but I don't know what i'm looking for, any ideas?

RodC · 06-13-2002, 01:00 PM

If it is the wrong head gasket, the ports that allow water to flow from the head into and out of the blocks water jacket will not line up.

Did the machine shop torque the head down or did you?

If they installed the head, you may have a problem collecting on any warranty after you remove the head.

**Desert Rat** · 06-13-2002, 01:42 PM

Definanetly head related/gasket.Get that antifreeze out of your motor/bearings.If they are sure not headgasket im assuming they put it on.Wonder if torqued it?Did they adjust valves etc,or you?

GMC1967 · 06-13-2002, 03:28 PM

They put the headgasket on, they did the initial valve adjustment, they told me I had to redo them once it started but that's normal. Basically these guys are blowing me off, so it's up to me to do something here. I'm still banking on the headgasket, and oh yeah, they supposedly torqued the head also. How can I be sure I have all the water out?

lukecp · 06-13-2002, 03:51 PM

I wouldn't be too happy about that at all.....i would go talk to the owner of the shop and raise a little hell. Whatever the problem is, it is almost certinaltyl their fault, since they built the motor.

GMC1967 · 06-13-2002, 04:02 PM

Does anyone know if the headgaskets changed through the years? The guy at the machine shop is telling me that they are all the same from 1963-1978. This may be true, but they definately made 292's after 1978...

**68 Stepside** · 06-13-2002, 04:39 PM

If they did all that stuff for you, shouldn't you have an agreement of some type, or reciepts? I wouldn't touch it if you do, and I'd either A. Talk to the manager of the shop, and if that didn't work B. Sick the law on them. I'm not a big fan of plan B, but if they did the work, and they're now blowing you off, go for it.

TJ

DennyB · 06-13-2002, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GMC1967
Basically these guys are blowing me off, so it's up to me to do something here.

It is not up to you to fix the problem unless they did the job for free.
If you paid them to fix it, then they should fix it or refund all your money!!!!!!!
Regarding the water in your engine. Drain your coolant (lower raditor hose works.
Then change the oiland filter. REFILL oil, Squrt a little oil in the cylinders. you can leave the plugs out. turn the engine over till oil pressure comes up and then some more to flush the water out of the bearings.
Good luck,
Denny

jamiew · 06-13-2002, 04:49 PM

I don't know about anybody else, but I expect quality work when I pay a machine shop to do it. There is no way I would touch a head bolt in that engine. I would take it back and raise all kinds of hell with the owner, especially if they were blowing me off. If that didn't work, there's always the better business bureau. It makes me mad and it happened to someone else. just my 2 cents.

jamiew

jhwkns · 06-13-2002, 07:09 PM

You might be able to diagnose your problem by pressurizing the cylinder that had the water in it. Make sure it's leaking down before you disassemble the engine. The water might have gotten in there through your intake. If so there might be no problem at all with your motor. Good luck, John

jhwkns · 06-13-2002, 07:13 PM

Oh by the way, I realize that a 292 has an integral head. It is possible that some fluid got int the intake before you ever got the motor from the machine shop.

06-13-2002, 12:01 AM	#1
GMC1967 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: South Deerfield, MA Posts: 162	Urgent Engine Rebuild Problem!!! I just tried firing up my 1967 292 L6 that I had rebuilt, and it wouldn't turn over. I thought the starter was bad but then I noticed some water (thats right water) leaking from one of my spark plugs, I tried turning the engine over again with the sparkplug removed and water fired out of it like a firehose. I removed all the plugs and then cranked it again, and water is firing out of all cylinders. What is going on? I just had this motor rebuilt, why is this happening? Just trying to get some ideas before I go over to the machine shop tomorrow and raise hell. I'm wicked pissed, good thing that shop isn't open tonight....

06-13-2002, 12:01 AM	#2
REPO1 Shortbox wanna-be. Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fort St.John, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 773	Sounds like you have the wrong head gasket on it. __________________ 1970 Chevy C20 Custom Camper 402BB Turbo 400 trans. (Slowly becoming a '70 shortbox 1/2 ton) '71 Camaro SS 402/T400 resto '97 Z28 (11.41@127MPH)

06-13-2002, 12:08 AM	#3
breeh Recovering 67-72 Addict Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Bend, WA Posts: 1,788	Head gasket was my first thought as well.... __________________ 68 Short Fleet 4x4; 427; BTO Level 3 700R4; NP205; Dana 60 front and rear; 4" lift with 35's; Disc brakes; AGR variable ratio steering; factory bucket seats; factory tach and tilt. "Friends call me cruzer cuz I like fast cars and fast women"

06-13-2002, 12:41 AM	#4
bigvinnie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: escondido, ca 92026 Posts: 1,222	sounds like you either have the wrong head gasket, no gasket at all, or the head is not torqued down properly.... bummer. __________________ '72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project

06-13-2002, 12:56 AM	#5
jhwkns Registered Cruiser Join Date: May 2002 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 2,230	I sure hope you didn't bend anything __________________ I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

06-13-2002, 01:10 AM	#6
zardiw Faster horses, yw, ow, mm Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 184	Might be a defective head. One time I bought a rebuilt 292 for my C60, and (B4 I put it in LUCKILY), I noticed an actual hole next to one of the plugs that was going into the water jacket!!! .........z __________________ '73 C20, 383, 3500 leaf springs, 38.5 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws (More ground clearance than an H2 Hummer), Performance Distributor (Tits!!) w/Clear cap (awesome at night), Edelbrock intake+IAS shocks, Tri Y headers, Dr. Gas Xover(for that NASCAR sound).

06-13-2002, 08:23 AM	#7
GMC1967 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: South Deerfield, MA Posts: 162	Thanks guys, I'm hoping it's just the wrong head gasket. __________________ 1967 GMC Custom 8ft Fleetside 292 L6, 4spd. 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Convertible 455, TH 400 1969 F#$% Bronco 302, 3spd 4.11's 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 Fiesta Wagon

06-13-2002, 11:38 AM	#8
RodC Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fairmont WV Posts: 304	Get the water out of it, with water in the cyl the rings can seize up in a matter of hours. After you get all the water out get some oil in those cylinders to keep the rings/walls from rusting. __________________ Rod Childers '71 C10 Stepside

06-13-2002, 12:42 PM	#9
GMC1967 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: South Deerfield, MA Posts: 162	The engine shop is convinced it's not the headgastket, although they won't come out and look at it. I think I need to take the head off, but I don't know what i'm looking for, any ideas? __________________ 1967 GMC Custom 8ft Fleetside 292 L6, 4spd. 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Convertible 455, TH 400 1969 F#$% Bronco 302, 3spd 4.11's 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 Fiesta Wagon

06-13-2002, 01:00 PM	#10
RodC Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fairmont WV Posts: 304	If it is the wrong head gasket, the ports that allow water to flow from the head into and out of the blocks water jacket will not line up. Did the machine shop torque the head down or did you? If they installed the head, you may have a problem collecting on any warranty after you remove the head. __________________ Rod Childers '71 C10 Stepside

06-13-2002, 01:42 PM	#11
Desert Rat Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Darrington, Washington Posts: 3,963	Definanetly head related/gasket.Get that antifreeze out of your motor/bearings.If they are sure not headgasket im assuming they put it on.Wonder if torqued it?Did they adjust valves etc,or you?

06-13-2002, 03:28 PM	#12
GMC1967 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: South Deerfield, MA Posts: 162	They put the headgasket on, they did the initial valve adjustment, they told me I had to redo them once it started but that's normal. Basically these guys are blowing me off, so it's up to me to do something here. I'm still banking on the headgasket, and oh yeah, they supposedly torqued the head also. How can I be sure I have all the water out? __________________ 1967 GMC Custom 8ft Fleetside 292 L6, 4spd. 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Convertible 455, TH 400 1969 F#$% Bronco 302, 3spd 4.11's 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 Fiesta Wagon

06-13-2002, 03:51 PM	#13
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	I wouldn't be too happy about that at all.....i would go talk to the owner of the shop and raise a little hell. Whatever the problem is, it is almost certinaltyl their fault, since they built the motor. __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

06-13-2002, 04:02 PM	#14
GMC1967 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: South Deerfield, MA Posts: 162	Does anyone know if the headgaskets changed through the years? The guy at the machine shop is telling me that they are all the same from 1963-1978. This may be true, but they definately made 292's after 1978... __________________ 1967 GMC Custom 8ft Fleetside 292 L6, 4spd. 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Convertible 455, TH 400 1969 F#$% Bronco 302, 3spd 4.11's 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 Fiesta Wagon

06-13-2002, 04:39 PM	#15
68 Stepside huh? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Washington, Illinois Posts: 5,692	If they did all that stuff for you, shouldn't you have an agreement of some type, or reciepts? I wouldn't touch it if you do, and I'd either A. Talk to the manager of the shop, and if that didn't work B. Sick the law on them. I'm not a big fan of plan B, but if they did the work, and they're now blowing you off, go for it. TJ __________________ Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay



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06-13-2002, 04:49 PM	#17
jamiew Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Smithville TN, USA Posts: 54	I don't know about anybody else, but I expect quality work when I pay a machine shop to do it. There is no way I would touch a head bolt in that engine. I would take it back and raise all kinds of hell with the owner, especially if they were blowing me off. If that didn't work, there's always the better business bureau. It makes me mad and it happened to someone else. just my 2 cents. jamiew

06-13-2002, 07:09 PM	#18
jhwkns Registered Cruiser Join Date: May 2002 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 2,230	I hope this helps You might be able to diagnose your problem by pressurizing the cylinder that had the water in it. Make sure it's leaking down before you disassemble the engine. The water might have gotten in there through your intake. If so there might be no problem at all with your motor. Good luck, John __________________ I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

06-13-2002, 07:13 PM	#19
jhwkns Registered Cruiser Join Date: May 2002 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 2,230	Oh by the way, I realize that a 292 has an integral head. It is possible that some fluid got int the intake before you ever got the motor from the machine shop. __________________ I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

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