Ford 4000 water in the exhaust manifold

[DrPhil]

Tried to start up my '71 Ford 4000 for the first time since the fall this afternoon. It wouldn't fire up. Then I notice water bubbling up out of the exhaust manifold. I took the pipe off and looked inside and it was full of liquid from the radiator. I could also hear fluid running down inside the engine.

Not to be stupid, but I've never looked down in the exhaust before...that water is not supposed to be there, right? I am assuming from what I have read that I have a blown head gasket or a cracked head. Would anything else cause this problem?

 

[90cummins]

Was the cooling system filled with water or 50/50 antifreeze?
If the system was not adequately protected against freezing then you have big problems!
If it froze the block could be cracked.
If your system was properly protected against freezing then it most likely is an age/fatigue failure of a gasket.
Is the engine seized, can you turn the crankshaft at all or a little bit?
Is the liquid green or rusty water?
90cummins

 

[Soundguy]

and when you tried to crank.. did it do nothing or do nothing hten crank.

might have been wate rin a jug hydrolocking it.

in either case.. you will be pullignthe top off for a looksee now..

 

[mjcountrybumpkin]

Was it setting outside. If so does it have a rain cap on exhaust (if vertical)?

 

[DrPhil]

Antifreeze was good. It was a yellow/tan color.

It has been sitting outside, but it does have a rain cap. that's what I thought it was at first.

It tried to crank but just never could.

Is replacing a head gasket a tough job?

 

[Soundguy]

by itself.. not really. however.. you need to determine the extent of the damage.

HG usually don't fial just setting there. i'd look for a hydro lock situation too.

 

[DrPhil]

I thought that hydrolock was caused by water in the pistons....from a bad head gasket or submersion.

Would hydrolock cause the head gasket to fail? and how do I check for it?

 

[Soundguy]

hydrolock is fluid int he jugs.. period.

holed cyl, leaky gaskets.. leaky studs.. submersion.. etc.

fluid is pretty well non compressible.. that leaves you metal and gaskets to contain it. something usually yeilds...

 

[Down South]

A head gasket can blow sitting and freezing.

Winter of '88 we had a real cold snap and i was the only one checking vehicles and equipment.
By the time i got to my 74 camero a green ice worm came out the plug on the side of the block and green ice from the lower radiator hose. Block was gone.

I had just rebuilt a 63 willys m38a1 into a more cj5.
A freeze plug popped out. ( sand casting plug ) my first and last so far.
And the Felt Pro head gasket had blown. NO anti freeze and maybe 45 min running.

DS

 

[DrPhil]

OK...Tomorrow is the day....I'm gonna tear it down and see what I can find. Hopefully, it will just be the head gasket....