My 94 Z28 head job

[TajMan]

Hey guys, F-body newb here. My first time really into Chevy smallblocks.
(I've got much experience in many cars, especially twin turbo AWD 3000GT VR-4's/Dodge Stealth R/T TT's) Done a bunch of those 6G72 heads..

I've got a 94 Z28 convertible, pristine car with 94K miles, blown headgaskets.

Oil was milky as hell with coolant- just brown like mud.
Radiator was EMPTY except a little oil goop and garbage in coolant hoses.

Besides that the car started and would sound like running great until white smoke would get THICK.

Anyway, I'll post about head job here until its finished. I've got Haynes manual I'm using.

-Can I remove heads from block with exhaust manifolds still attached?

-2 studs broken (of the 6) on exhaust manifolds. Stuff was a little rusted. Do I need to EZ-out, drill out and re-tap, heat up with torch, etc? Gotta fix before car goes back together.

I've still got intake manifold to remove, close to unbolting the valve rockers and heads.
Things I should still do/watch for?

I'm hoping I can scrape block surface, get heads milled flat (minimally), and just re-install with my new headgaskets and head bolts.

Any small porting that can be done in heads/exhaust manifolds that will show noticeable gains?

[TajMan]

bump

Getting intake manifold/fuel rail off now, whats all attached at the back of the heads and under the dashboard?

[Craig 94 TA GT]

I think the back of the heads is a coolant crossover pipe connected by a banjo bolt. I believe the Haynes shows a pic so you can see where to remove it when pulling the heads.

[TajMan]

Intake manifold off

I should be able to pull the heads now with exhaust mani's still attached

[ConElite]

Intake manifold off

I should be able to pull the heads now with exhaust mani's still attached

My guess is you can. As long as there is no clearace issues.

[TajMan]

Well didn't know a whole row of head bolts were UNDERNEATH the exhaust manifolds, gotta take the damn things off!

People were right, work would have been easier total pulling the freakin engine/tranny!

Driver's side head completely off.

Pass side exhaust manifold loose, EGR pipe on back of head is just still attached and kind of keeping it from coming out currently.

I know keep the pushrods in the correct order. What if 1 got switched upside-down though?

With heads milled flat, I'll start the re-assembly.

Oil and coolant passages a mess, I'll have to flush out good when running..

[TajMan]

$45/each to mill the heads and clean, at a shop.

[TraceZ]

That's a fun project you've got going there. Is that a 6-speed? I don't see a dipstick tube for an automatic transmission but I also don't see a clutch reservior.

[TajMan]

Its auto, dipstick on the ground

[TajMan]

HELP WITH THESE VACUUM HOSES AND CONNECTOR?






You can see circled, all the vacuum hose rubber ends, and the metal ports on intake manifold that are un-used.

The 1 vacuum solenoid on driver's side of intake manifold, with 2-wire connector, also with 2 vacuum-hoses, which ones those go to?

Connector on last pic, thats a single-wire connector, on same wire loom as sensor that goes down into side of oil pan.

THATS JUST ELECTRICAL 1 CONNECTION, AND VACUUM-HOSE DIAGRAM, AND I'M READY TO DRIVE MY FIRST V8 F-BODY!

thanks!

[TraceZ]

The first picture shows the EGR solonoid. It mounts to the rearmost intake manifold bolt. The short hose connects tot he EGR valve and the long hose connects to the vacuum port on that side of the intake by the PCV valve.


The second picture shows the vaccum line for the fuel pressure regulator. It connects on one side to the FPR and to the vacuum port on the manifold you have circled on the other end.

I'm guessing that single wire plug is the oil pressure sender.

[TraceZ]

[TraceZ]

[TajMan]

Thanks guys!

All together, started her up.

Still white smoke.
Maybe less than before, but still medium white smoke.

I KNOW those headgaskets were really bad in #7-8 cylinders. If smoke cleared up some, I don't know what else can be except cracked head/block somewhere.

After car was idling for 5 min, I saw temperature was really starting to get up there, turned off. This is with a brand new thermostat. I heard fans kick on.

#1 what should be next step on white smoke problem? Are there any coolant-filled block-sealers that could help small cracks for short-term?

#2 what would cause to run hot, with new thermostat? Really clogged up radiator? It was full of mostly water.

[TajMan]

Still white smoke.

bump! please thx