When good projects go bad

[Larry]

Gotta rant for a minute.  Many of you may know that I am swapping a 454 HO out fitted as a late model L29 minus fuel injection (for now) into my 78’ K10.  

 

So there I am tonight about 10pm topping off the radiator with Dexi-Cool after about 12hrs worth of swapping, wiring and fit and finish work all excited to light this beast up when I notice a coolant leak on the driver’s side of the engine.  No Problem…probably a hose or something. NOPE!  

 

The coolant is pouring out of the side of the block at the head gasket right between the cylinder head and block!  Boy what would I do to have just one of those GM Powertrain union jerkoffs up in Tonawanda that don’t give on fuzzy terd about their craftsmanship sitting my garage right now!.  Mind you, this is a brand spankin new GM Performance Parts 454 HO Gen 5 block.

 

Now I get to look forward to ripping off the intake and head to replace the headgasket!  

 

 

           

[MountaineerTom]

That sucks.  Hope it's not much problem getting it fixed/resolved.

[bassdog]

Is it worth towing it to a dealership for warranty work? Or do you prefer doing it  ???

[Black02Silverado]

And here I thought stuff like that only happens to me.

 

I feel your pain!

 

That is also why I only use straight water for the initial break in and then change over to coolant. Less of a mess to worry about. I had one to many leaks on engine swaps to learn the hard way.

 

Sorry to hear about the problem, it does make you want to grab the idiot that screwed up and make them fix and do all the work back to the point it should have been. But then do you trust them again????

[Larry]

Well, I found the problem and turned out to be worse than just a head gasket.  It turns out the cylinder head has a defect in it and will need to be replaced.  If you look closely at the head picture you will notice a divot missing out of the corner next to the water jacket. I should find out tomorrow about warranty details.

 

I yanked off the head off in record speed today…just a little over 2 hours.  Boy am I glad I went to college and don't have to spin wrenches everyday to make a living anymore.  I am tired man!  

 

Before teardown

After teardown. Very pathetic view of a brand new 454HO with zero miles on it, eh?