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Topic: 5.8 swap or not to swap, that is the ???? (Read 1636 times) previous topic - next topic

5.8 swap or not to swap, that is the ????

So my black birds little 2.3 is starting to give me fits. First, it's starting to puff a little at first start up, not to concerned about that though. The main issue though is its losing coolant.
It has a new heater core, no coolant in passenger compartment, 
No leaks at any of the houses anywhere,
No leaks at water pump,
No water in the oil or oil in the water,
It does have some medium sized bubbles in the coolant at start up and when it's at operating temp, the coolant turns cloudy from tiny tiny bubbles. It seems to be getting aerated.
My thoughts are that I have currently have a small head gasket leak. I haven't done a compression check yet. I pulled the plugs and they showed no signs of burning anything other than fuel.
Thoughts anyone ??


86' T/C 4.6L DOHC
16' Chebby Cruze 1.4L Turbo
17’ Peterbilt 389 600hp 1850ftlb Trq 18spd

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

“Heavy Metal Mistress”
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5.8 swap or not to swap, that is the ????

Reply #1
My 302 did the same thing, previous owner busted off a head bolt then put everything back together without gaskets on the exhaust.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

5.8 swap or not to swap, that is the ????

Reply #2
Tiny, fizzy like bubbles are compression into coolant is a leaking head gasket... Leak is small enough that a compression test likely won't show a thing... Removing plug wires one at a time till bubbles stop will tell you which cylinder has the issue, not impossible to be a cracked head...

5.8 swap or not to swap, that is the ????

Reply #3
I'm leaning towards the head gasket because when the hose leading to the wastegate split, the boost gauge pegged at 24 lbs of boost and the overboost buzzer/light scared the begeesus out of me. I stepped on it 1 more time just to see if I saw and heard what I did...... yep 24 lbs of boost and I didn't have to step to hard either. I fixed that the next morning.


86' T/C 4.6L DOHC
16' Chebby Cruze 1.4L Turbo
17’ Peterbilt 389 600hp 1850ftlb Trq 18spd

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

“Heavy Metal Mistress”
[/COLOR][/SIZE]