151 Thoughts

[dbirky]

My wife was driving her 81 CJ5 . Running fine, no issues. 79,000 miles. She blew the head gasket about a mile from home. I get the call that there is so much white smoke behind her she cant see. It got pulled into our barn and shut down. I've pulled the head and obviously it needs a head gasket. Attached are pics. I just pulled it and haven't done any cleanup as of yet. It sat overnight before I drained the fluids. There was a lot of coolant in the oil. So... my gut says I should check rod/mains. What are your thoughts on taking a gamble and doing just the head gasket and checking the head out?

 

[mtnwhlr]

Coolant in the oil will wipe out the bearings. Then why did it blow the head gasket? It sounds like rebuild time or time to upgrade to a 6.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

:ww:

Full rebuild and have the head and block ck'd for cracks.
X2 on looking for a 6cyl, if the hassle isn't too big with your Smog laws.
LG

 

[mriplaybass]

Many years ago, I blew the head gasket on a C10 pickup with a 350. Same scenario, lots of white smoke. I did a roadside oil change, and drove it 15 miles home. I only replaced the head gaskets and trued the heads, and the engine ran fine for 2 more years. The oil pressure was still OK, but the engine had overheated to the point of causing oil blow by so I had to add a quart or 2 between oil changes.
That said, I would not do that again. I would completely rebuild the engine, or find a good used one. As already suggested, now is a good time to upgrade.

 

[hagar]

I'd resurface the head, replace the gasket and put it back together.
Drive it.
It wasn't too many years ago we fixed engines, didn't just automatically rebuild them.
There's a reason it's call the Iron Duke.
Disclaimer: I'm no fan of that engine.