Need Opinion on Motor Problem

[67Step]

I picked up an 88 shortbed for my daughter's boyfriend. It seemed to run fine when we put it on the trailer. We got it home and found it was completely out of water. I started the truck and put water in it. I then noticed steam coming out of the exhaust pipes. We now have milky oil in the crankcase. Motor is still running good. The truck had sit a while. Do you think it just needs a head gasket or ??? It starts right up and runs good. It is putting out steam from the exhaust like it was 20 degrees outside. Your opinions please? Thanks in advance.

[Dunenutt]

Blown head gasket, cracked head or block. Pull the heads, and check it out. Before you tear it down, I would get some cheap oil and change it. Run the motor a bit to flush out and then drain. Hopefully it is the water you put in it, and not some that has been there for a while.

[67Step]

I might also add that we noticed water on the ground on the passenger side. It appears to be coming from the back of the motor. It was blowing it on the ground behind the front tire. Strange..........

[Kim57]

Check the freeze plugs. They may be the cause of the water coming from the block to the ground.
You can do a compression check and if you have two adjacent cylinders that are low that may be where the problem is.
Kim

[mountie]

Check the spark plugs....... consider the behind right-side tire coolant 'leak', sounds to be below the catch tank?.......check for milky color inside the valve cover, under the oil filler cap / PCV valve..... radiator water for oil contaminates? ( there is an easy test for coolant). I had a cracked head and the truck ran fine..... only sometimes a lot of steam came out of the tail pipe.

When I replaced the heads, I also changed the lifters / pushrods.

If, BIG IF,.... you change heads, make sure the intake manifold gaskets are done clean / carefully so no oil drips!!

Pray.....

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Originally Posted by Dunenutt

Blown head gasket, cracked head or block. Pull the heads, and check it out. Before you tear it down, I would get some cheap oil and change it. Run the motor a bit to flush out and then drain. Hopefully it is the water you put in it, and not some that has been there for a while.

Yea that's what I would try. You might also check the freeze plugs out. That sucks but hopefully its just a head gasket. Either that or time for a motor rebuild.

[mountie]

Heads R&R.... $1,200..... Crate motor, 4-bolt mains (jobber price) $1,300.

[89chevsj]

i'd buy a spare motor if i could get it for 1300!!

[mountie]

Originally Posted by 89chevsj

i'd buy a spare motor if i could get it for 1300!!

Believe it or not..... My 4-bolt main 350 was a crate motor I purchased through Pep Boys Auto Parts. It's not a "Pep Boys" part, it was just distributed through them. Warranty, etc. It had Vortec heads, and the carburetor configuration ( I don't know why, but that was the better choice)....

I got it at cost, through a friend who builds Corvettes. He knew the details. I did the swap at his race shop.

8-3 to 1 compression..... It's the correct ratio for a Pro-Charger Supercharger, which I'll put on some day.

Price of $1,300 engine nearly same as heads installed, but a couple days to install engine.

[89chevsj]

I really need to move... like out of this frozen hell hole. haha that engine would run about 2200-2700. plus shipping, another 4-500. nothins cheap up here.

[mountie]

Originally Posted by 89chevsj

I really need to move... like out of this frozen hell hole. haha that engine would run about 2200-2700. plus shipping, another 4-500. nothins cheap up here.

Maybe order it from the actual company that sells it ( San Francisco area), and then it's the shipping cost only that will be the issue?

Then use a friendly autoshop up there to formally order it at jobber cost.

PM me if you want the contact. I liked their personal service.