Removed Cylinder heads

[Frank_Zappa]

I removed the cylinder heads from my 350 SBC because I had coolant mixed in with my oil and because you could see coolant weeping down the side of the block and it looked like it came from the head gasket. But now the I have the head gasket removed I cannot see anywhere that it is visibly obvious where it was blown at. Please take a look at these pictures and let me know what you think. Also the second piston from the left was washed clean with no carbon reside at all on the piston and in the head the corresponding combustion area the valves are a different color than the other valves and combustion chambers.

[cadillac_al]

It must have been the intake leaking. Stock cast iron engines rarely(never) blow head gaskets in my world. I was almost certain I had a blown head gasket in my Buick a few years ago. I kept telling myself "it can't be because it's cast iron". I'm glad I didn't pull the head because it was the intake.

[nonstop]

Might want to start checking the head and the cylinder for cracks. That looks like the number 3 piston. It looks like your problem is originating in the head or the cylinder. If either, a crack in the head would be easiest to deal with. How many miles are on the engine?

[Frank_Zappa]

Yep you are right nonstop. I just took it to TeamC Speed Shop in Bellflower and they said no need to magnaflux it. That is a long crack running almost 2/3rds of the length of the head. Usually they are not that big or obvious he said. So I got that going for me.

[nonstop]

Sorry to hear that - what's the next step?

[cableguy0]

With the condition of those heads and valves I could only assume the bottom end is completely wrecked as well. Heads don't get to be in that bad of shape without the whole engine being worn out. At this point you need to decide what your budget is and start planning an engine build including new cylinder heads.