The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop water on the engine

I have a 216 for my 1951 chevy 3100. I took it to my mechanic after purchase. It was taken out and sent to a machine shop and following planing was peiced back together and ran. I took it out a few times for about a mile or two. I went to pick it up and drive it home when I had a sudden loss of power up a hill and the truck died. The mechanic is now stating that the head has water in it. I would love to know what to do next here should I try to take it back to a machine shop for another look, should I scrap the engine. Any replies are welcome. Thanks

The head is supposed to have water in it.

The combustion chamber and the pan should not have water in them.

Did you pay the machine shop to have the head and block checked for cracks/leaks?

Tim

Who installed the head? Were the head bolts torqued in proper sequence and retorqued? Did you bleed all the air out of the cooling system when you filled it? What was the temp gauge doing when the engine failed? From the little information given, it almost sounds like you had air in the head and it overheated. If that is the case and you drove it until it stopped, there is a good chance you have a cracked head and even possibly a warped block.

Like Tim says, the head is supposed to have water in it.

shea First of all, All heads have water IN them.Second,That the machine shop PIECED IT BACK TOGETHER this leaves many questions that need to be answered but if they did everything correctly-----This is either a head gasket leak or a cracked head. You or mechanic could pressurize the cooling system,AND OR RUN UNTILL you get it hot. Then take out the spark plugs, and crank it over , AND IF ANY WATER COMES OUT OF SPARKPLUG HOLES. REMOVE HEAD and check for flat and true,IF not flat it's POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET, BUT then pressure check or Magnaflux head separate from engine block,this should show any cracks, If cracked it maybe EASIER/CHEAPER to find another head BUT CHECK THAT ONE TO .

mechanic is now stating that the head has water in it?

he released the vehicle to you as repaired/safe for operation, but now claims no responsibility?

I have a very un-technical term for whatever mechanic has gone and done that, then claimed no responsibility. Not wishing to ignite any hostilities, I'll go with the fact he probably cracked the head. Maybe he means it got cracked up top, and there's water circulating in the oil under the covers? Either way ... that's pretty poor.

I think that a basic course in automotive terms and procedures may be the best place for all parties to begin with. Once everyone understands everything then maybe finger pointing can begin. If you are going to own one of these old trucks you really need to understand a few basics, once you do you can be assured that you are getting what you are asking for.

I totally agree don stocker, it is something we need. I recently suggested a Glossery of Terms as a Tech Tip (?) for the uninitiated and newbies. Someone here should write one up and send it in.