As some of you know, I had a bad test & tune on Friday at VIR. about 5 minutes into the first session my radiator top tank split. After some calling around I found and installed a new radiator. Car wouldn't start so I pulled a plug to see if it was fouled. It was wet. Took out all the plugs and ran the starter and had four little fountains from the plug holes. Seems the hot engine had decided to blow a head gasket.

While taking the head off to replace the gasket, I managed to break my jury-rigged exhaust. I took this as a sign from above, so Saturday morning when I got the car running enough to put in the trailer I did so, and went home to sulk.

edit: Yes. I know. Not hardcore.

Well, the sulking is over and I plan to hit the garage tonight. I'd just like some idea of what to watch out for after a head gasket failure. I know I probably have some water in the oil, so that will get changed. I checked the head surface with the straightest edge I could find before putting it back on and it seemed flat. Is there anything else I need to check or replace to avoid further problems? Compression check? Coolant flush? Psychological help?

 

I would definitely run a compression check, as well as a leak down test, to be safe. If you need, let me know and I can lend you my leak down tester (I'm assuming you have a compressor?).
SInce you had water in the oil, chances are that you do not have a oil in the water, but I would flush both thoroughly.
As far as psychological help, I think it is a foregone conclusion that most of us on this board are WAY beyond any help from there (short of shock therapy, maybe...)

 

Compression check, coolant flush / oil change, and psychological help are all things I recommend.

Sorry to see that you broke. I remember seeing you in the paddock on Friday and then never again...it only just occurred to me now that you must have broken down

 

That's the pits, Jerry...I had wondered what ended up happening to you this weekend. Luckily it's a problem that seems to be relatively easily fixed. Was that the new head you were using?

Good luck getting it back together.

Mike

 

I would get a professional straight edge and really check the deck of the block and the cylinder head for any warpage. It you can, it wouldn't hurt to borrow a dial bore gauge and check that the cylinders are not out of round. They're probably fine, but since the head is off, no better time to check.