Thread: 352 head or intake problem

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Im having a problem with my 67 F-100 with a 352. I replaced the drivers side exhaust manifold gasket, and intake gaskets. After everything was back together I started it up and I noticed the water was mixing in the oil. I did a compression check and all cylinders were good except number 4 which, was full of water and compression around 50 psi or so. So I replaced the intake gaskets again just in case it was damaged, got every thing back together and the water is still mixing. Ive had this truck for years and it ran fine before all this. I dont know what to else to do other than replace the headgasket which I dont think is the problem. Any one have other ideas?

Sounds like a head gasket is out

That big ugly hunk of iron that Ford used for an intake is a bitch to get on the engine without dislodging or creasing an intake gasket. Number 4 is an end cylinder on a Ford, and there's a water passage next to the end intake ports, so it could be leaking there. The gaskets have a channel built in to them to carry any seepage to the end of the head and out on the ground, but this often gets filled with gasket goo and doesn't do the job. Pull the manifold, clean everything good, and use thick composite gaskets, DRY, no gorilla snot anywhere except on the end seals. Lower the manifold straight down, gently(this might require two people, the damn thing weighs a ton) so you don't have to wiggle it around much to get the bolts in. Torque it starting at the center and working out to the ends. Should solve the problem, unless a head gasket just decided to pack it in while you had the intake off, which is unlikely.

Good info, I still believe it has to be the intake gasket even though Ive been careful installing it. It would be odd for a head gasket to go bad in the time it took for me to replace the gaskets

I figured it out, instead of using the supplied endseals, I put a bead of The Right Stuff. I drove it about 50 or so miles, problem solved. Thanks to everyone who posted suggestions.

You do realize those end seals weren't the cause of the water in the cylinder? Although they could have been dislodging the intake gasket enough to make it leak. More care and precision is what saved the day, but ain't that Right Stuff the best gorilla snot you ever saw????