[fool 4 a 455]

i do my hotrodding on water. got a 1971 455 olds car engine in my 82 sleekcraft boat. yesterday took the boat out for a spring cleaning run, boat ran great until i was heading in, had my foot in it when it backfired and started pumping oily water out of the valve cover breathers... had water in the block about six inches on the stick, motor never soured or ran hot it still had loads of power and i even did a restart at the dock when it died pulling up dont beleive this is a head gaskett problem or is it, was told this could be a blown maniford gaskett, simular to backfiring the blower in NHRA. does anyone have any insight on my plight. motor is 30 over with r.v. cam also has the G high compression heads on board. thanks

[oldbogie]

Originally Posted by fool 4 a 455

i do my hotrodding on water. got a 1971 455 olds car engine in my 82 sleekcraft boat. yesterday took the boat out for a spring cleaning run, boat ran great until i was heading in, had my foot in it when it backfired and started pumping oily water out of the valve cover breathers... had water in the block about six inches on the stick, motor never soured or ran hot it still had loads of power and i even did a restart at the dock when it died pulling up dont beleive this is a head gaskett problem or is it, was told this could be a blown maniford gaskett, simular to backfiring the blower in NHRA. does anyone have any insight on my plight. motor is 30 over with r.v. cam also has the G high compression heads on board. thanks

It's either the head gasket or the intake. Since you have to take the intake off on the way to the heads, if isn't there, you'll know your going deeper into it.

You could verify a blown head gasket with a compression test, but I'm more concerned with a crankcase full of water than debating which gasket's out to lunch. I'd recommend draining the crankcase and pulling bolts right away rather than risk more damage by rotating the engine.

Bogie

[DanielC]

This is what I would do.
Drain the oil and water out of the engine. Filter too.
Refill with new oil, and new filter
Remove the spark plugs, and crank it with the starter, to circulate the fresh oil in it.
Drain the oil, looking for water. If you find water, drain, change filter again, and new oil.
More cranking.
My though on doing this is to get the water away from the bearings.

After that, charge the battery, and do a compression test.

The water will go to the bottom of the oil pan, where the oil pickup is. long story short, you probably were running the engine with water in the bearings, and not oil. You need to take a look at the bearings.

I see you live in Arizona. Is there any possibility the block froze, with fresh water in it?

[crussell85]

for the price of changing the oil a few times to get water away from the bearings you could just buy new bearings and install them

[DanielC]

Bearing price is a good point, but you still need to get the water out of the oil passages.

[seven up]

You can use diesel mixed with oil. From our experience the whole deal would have been easier to pull the intake right away. On one occaison the oil/water froth was lapping against the bottom of the intake. There was no water/oil seperation like making italian dressing, the slop had become one compound.

Pouring the diesel/oil mix into a spray stream bottle will save time doing the immediate task of getting it off the springs and rockers.

Fill/drain/fill/drain. Get it outta there if you want the motor. If you have a plug in the oil pan it will be alot easier.

One of the least favorite tasks you will ever do. Then oil/filter change x 2. This is when all the leftover and oddball oil jugs come off the dusty shelves.

The slop might come pouring out when you pull the valve covers. A wet vac could help here and there.

[bondo]

dont beleive this is a head gaskett problem or is it,

Ayuh,... With the Info provided,...
My 1st Guess is, it wasn't Winterized, it Froze, 'n Cracked the Block....