Got the dreaded white smoke. Popped out the engine Found this As I go through the rebuild I'll ask a lot of questions and post progress so please check back to assist. thanks!
Felpro FTW. Found my header has some cracks in the process. Good news is it looks like everything is fine. Will still do bearings and rings and make sure everything is square. FWIW after taking it apart I would never just do a gasket replacement. The amount of glue like slime is amazing, and it's everywhere.
Easy.. Look at the picture. How else do you push out a gasket unless the head was warped when it was installed, bolts where not tq'd properly, etc. Typically happens when your not running enough octane or lean it out hard. And number 3 on a Buick is the typical cylinder that gets hit.
make sure you have the heads checked.also may want to keep using the graphite gaskets till you have the tune sorted out.
I'm on the fence for a rebuilder most likely Eddies Performance in Sayreville NJ. They do a lot of fast buicks and built the motor in my road race car, good folks. The previous owner of the car just had the HG replaced and I suspect without machine work. Tune and boost was very conservative especially for C16.
Yes you are correct and I'm going to drop off the heads tomorrow and mill over doing the short block.
Down in Bowling Green one yr we replaced the head gaskets from a blow out in the hotel parking lot. It's been awhile but I believe we just did a double oil change at the track the next day, it was fine the rest of the season. Chuck
HG change in a parking-lot deserves a trophy, very impressive. A little history I bought this car 2 years ago. The prev owner had the motor built by ESP, everyone cringe now....because that's the reaction I get when I tell anyone. Well he blew the HG within 1000 miles and replaced it himself, then sold it to me. I suspect with no machining. So this motor has a questionable history. I'd rather just do it right and be done with it. Motor is at the machine shop and they are knowledgable on these motors and it's mods.
Thanks my work wants me to sell and move to Crystal City Va, ugh. Its 30x50 detached 10 stall horse barn converted to a toy chest.
