Topic: Fubar engine - new pic on 6/11/06!
in Forum: C3 Engines
To get the coolant out of the cylinder, drain the coolant. Then turn the engine over several times, if it will now turn. The put oil in the cylinder until it runs out. This will float the water up to the top and it will run out of the cylinder hole.
If the water sits in there it will damage the cylinder wall and piston, and rings. These may or may not be damaged at this point, but no reason to make it worse.
Update - I took out the rest of the plugs. Had coolant come out of plug #4 and plug #5. I took off the intake manifold, and found that the other cylinders have coolant in them as well. So that means all the cylinders had/have coolant in them. Here's a link to a picture peering down into one cylinder - gotta love that eerie green glow...
http://www.C3VR.com/member_uploads/4601_4700/4691/coolant_in _cylinder.jpg
I can't get the heads off this evening. I need something to get the headers off - the bolts have round heads and aeither a female square pattern or star - I can't tell - help! Here's a link to a picture to try and help -
http://www.C3VR.com/member_uploads/4601_4700/4691/header_bol t.jpg.JPG
If I can get the headers unbolted, I'll take the heads off tomorrow and get all the coolant out and put a coat of oil on the cylinder walls.

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The header bolts are regular Allen head. Can't tell exactly what size, tho. Maybe 5/16" ?
Hope this mess ain't too bad.

Joel Adams
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Joel - thanks!
I'm really hoping that a head gasket blew, and coolant just got sucked into everything. I know, I know, more than likely I threw a valve since there was the lovely rattle, but until I get the heads off, a little ignorance is bliss....
John,
I just pulled up the forum and read your problem and am sorry for your troubles. If in fact you have a 406 which is a small block 400 you should have 882/624 (last three digits of GM P/N) cast # which, because of the cylinders are tight against each other(siamese cly.), Chevy drilled "steam holes" in both the block and heads..The aforementioned heads are notorious for "cracked heads" between 3&5 exh.valves and 4&6 exh.valves cylinders due to weak casting of these specific heads. when you do get them off you will little choices to replace them as these are the only ones with steam holes in them.You can have the steam hole drill by machine shop in replacement heads..If in fact these are 882's or 624's,they are 76 cc heads and if you have flat top piston you can replace with 993's also 76cc heads and much better quality head,however must get steam holes drilled.If you can stand higher compression,you can change to almost any head with 64 cc combustion area(186's) and will be at 9.25-1 compression and still run pump gas,however you must drill steam hoes to match the block..I make these statements because it is always a matter of time when 882/624 will fail..I have built many 406 engines we predomiately use in circle track racing,however always use different heads.
when you do get the heads off check for the steam holes in block to be sure they are still open and not clogged.They are located between the cylinders just above center and about 1/8 in.dia.
I wish you the best of luck in your endevor..
Have a great day.....Sal 80vette

Can you rebuild the heads if they are not cracked?? I was wondering because they are numbered to match the car. And if you have to put new heads on could you get them stamped with a number that matched your block (f that matters to you)? Did I say that right?
I'm feelin' for you, man! I'ld be crying my eyes out.
Thanks for all the following up you have done!
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MICK - C3VR Lifetime Member #113



http://www.C3VR.com/member_uploads/4601_4700/4691/combustion _chamber.jpg
http://www.C3VR.com/member_uploads/4601_4700/4691/valve_in_c ylinder.jpg
The first picture is of the #6 combustion chamber. First, notice anything missing? Yep, the exhaust valve. Notice anything else? Yep, it came back up and shatered a corner of the combustion chamber.
The second picture is looking into cylinder #6. Notice anything out of place? Yep, that's the valvle and valve stem laying in there. I guess I now know why the son of a wouldn't turn over. It will be interesting to see how bad the damage is when I pull the block out, but at this point it's all just a useless hunk of iron. I forgot to snap a picture of the valve - I'll put one up later. It's "bent up real good".
I guess now I need to start getting a plan together. I'll start a new thread when I get it figured out. It should be quite an adventure.