I posted up the video a while back of the steam in my exhaust ... Cold Start

I just finished getting the 2nd head off and took some pics. The drivers side head showed some signs of leaking, I think so anywyas.

Pics are pretty big, but good detail. The gasket is flipped over so the side you see would be what was mated to the head.

Here's a leak between the outside and the water jackets. It looks like it's let a few combustions get out too.
http://www.woracing.com/truck/head%2...t/100_1212.JPG

Here's a funny looking bubble in between the cylinder above and the one cylinder that's far back:
http://www.woracing.com/truck/head%2...t/100_1204.JPG

This is on the end. I'm not sure what to think of this one:
http://www.woracing.com/truck/head%2...t/100_1205.JPG

That's it for now .. I'm gonna go clean gasket surfaces and get the heads back on.

Anyone remember off hand what the specs are for the head studs?
I think it's like 30/50/70 and just 20 or 200 for the small ones.

 

Damn Flyer, that sucks. I hope you dont have anymore problems bro.

 

are those the stock gaskets?
I am reading something about different gaskets
on 853 241 and 317 castings and probs with interchangability
its in sdpc catalog pg 166
I dont quiet understand it yet
let me reread it or
ill type it out
its long though

 

may not be helpful ,but interesting



there has been a lot of ? concerning head gaskets interchangeability cyl heads leaks and the availability of head gaskets

1 the first pic is loooking at the deck surface of the 97-98 ls1 cyl head#853and 2001-03 6.0 head #317
notice the red arrow indicates the recessed area of the casting that is located on the deck surface of the 97-98 cylinder heads This recess would be located would be located directly below the #3 and #6 bore when the heads are installed on the engine
all 97-98 heads have this recess and it is possible some 99 may have the 853 cast with this recess
The 99-03 ls1 have cast 241 and the deck is Identical to the 6.0 in the pic with no recess

2 the second pic shows the 2 head gaskets for the 97-01 and the 02-03 ls1 and ls6.
the 97-01 gasket is a composition stylewith teflon sealingthat actually has a driver and passenger side, 2 distinct part #'s. These gaskets have a diff teflon imprint on the block and cyl head side
compressed thickness @.056
the 02 o3 gasket is a steel shim design that also has teflon sealing material added to the surface. This gasket has a compressed thickness @ .060
These gaskets are identical on both sides therefore one part number fits both driver and pass side
the teflon imprint is identical on both sides

3. If you will notice the red arrow on the steel shim head gasket , that the teflon imprint is located directly in the contact path of the recess that is positioned on the 97-98 ls1 heads
This teflon imprint makes up @ .005-.006 of the compressed thickness of the gasket. When you use this gasket on the 97-98 cyl head with the recess there is nothing to seal the teflon imprint in this area as shown in 4 Water can leak from the adjacent small water passages located just above the head bolt holes on this cylinder.

 

I think what that's getting at more is that you can't mix perimiter and center bolt style heads (referring to the valve covers). Can you tell is that's the difference looking in the pics?

 

no this has nothing to do with the v covers
its showing an indention in the bottom of the cyl head
where it mates up to the block
and 2 pics of the head gaskets being diff
wouldnt sure if thats what caused your problem
or not
just sharing some info I found that could possibly be the cause

 

I *think* mine were leaking at that seal that looked a little chared. The water was running down the block in that area anywyas. Is there any way you could scan those pics in?

 

yeah itll be tomorrow evening though
scanner is at my parents house

 

Check your cylnders. I hope you didn't have too much coolant watering down the rings and cause extra wear

Good to see that your pistons are ok though. ):

 

I could still see the cross hatch in the cylinders so I didn't think anything of it. When I pulled the one head I could see some rust forming from a little puddle I guess, but it went away as soon as I spun the motor a couple of times.

I don't think I mentioned it, but the block had that same charred look as the head did on that cylinder. I torqued the heads down to 75 ft-lbs this time and broke each one loose one at a time and re torqued it once I got them all torqued down. Breaking them loose, the torque wrench only snapped on couple of them, which tells me something wasn't right.