> Well I’m pretty sure I blew the head gasket in my 75 PB this afternoon. (Huge cloud of white smoke out the tailpipe, water in the oil, cranks
> but won’t start.)
>
> Can anyone recommend a mechanic in the Detroit/Dearborn/Ypsilanti area who could on take this repair? Is there anything else I should look at
> replacing while he’s got the engine torn down? I’ve got 122k miles on the odometer. I changed the timing chain and most of the front accessories
> about 10k miles ago.
Dave,
I can't tell you where to take it. I did my own a year ago when I broke a piston.
But, I do have something to tell you as I been an "engine guy" for a little short of sixty years. Actually, that is in error. As of right now, it
has been sixty years.
What I wanted very much to tell you is what you should do while you are collecting your witts. Please, get some oil in a squirt can. Take the
radiator cap off and pull the spark plugs. Crank the engine (it will spin real fast with the plugs out) until the coolant fog settles down. Then put
a couple or three pumps of oil in every cylinder and crank it just about two turns. This is to oil the rings and valves so that they don't rust while
you are settling things.
One other big and important thing. Have who ever does the engine measure the bores BEFORE they buy pistons - if it needs them. It may not. If they
bore it 30 over, that is the end of that block. You don't want that. My engine had been overhauled at about 95K. They bored it max. Fortunately,
the bores were so good still (the high nickel block) that I was able to put 30 over pistons back in it. If I had a whole build bock and could order
one piston, I could have done just that.
It may also not be the head gasket(s). It could just as well be the intake manifold gasket. They really are a weak link. Unfortunately, you have to
get the intake off to find out. But please do the bore oil job as soon as you can.
If you have questions, I am local (Sibley Rd and I-275) number is in the Black list. I am happy to answer questions.
Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
