Blown head gasket 351w

[paulmcconnon]

Blew the head gasket today. I think. Antifreeze steam coming out of the exhaust. Against my better judgement I drove it 40 miles home. I am no mechanic, just a driver. What is my best course of action?
Paul

[Cashburn]

Paul,
Sorry to hear this. Did you pull the plugs? Check for coolant in the oil (milky sludge)? Have a compression tester to narrow it down?

What 351W do you have? Alumininum heads? Did it get really hot?

[paulmcconnon]

Yes, water in the oil. It did not heat up. Aluminum heads and intake.
Paul

[JAM1775]

Don't run it anymore . Do a stand alone cpmpression leak down test at each cylinder if equipment is available.
Drain oil/coolant and carefull inspect intake gasket first.
My Felpro 1262 somehow got all twisted up, leaked and caused the same symptoms.
You may get away easier than expected as I had the same exact head gasket expectations but the leak down test held up just fine. The moment the intake was lifted the Felpro was so distorted it looked like a mask from a Scream horror movie. Felpro has been having that problem lately but don't know why.
Once completed I'd run the motor for a heat cycle with light 5W-30 oil , change the oil & filter again. Hey...things happen. Hopefully yours will be simple as was mine.

[ERA Chas]

Jim's right-the FelPro's sometimes get attacked by green antifreeze.
See if Victor Reinz makes a 351 intake set. They work perfectly on FE's.

[paulmcconnon]

I took it to my mechanic. He said the intake and the head gasket were both leaking. His guess was the block was not properly cleaned when it was assembled. It's back on the road. I am scheduled to trade it in on a real estate deal in the next couple of days. Whew!!
Paul

[Cashburn]

Paul,
That is great news. What 351W do you have? Custom Built?