throwing in the towel

[IDIoit]

I can not get this damn block to seal for the life of me.

ive tried 4 different types of sealants
new covers
made block off plates (that held pressure just fine)
I cannot get this engine to stop leaking water into the damn oil pan.

just re-sealed it for the 5 time with a bran spanking never installed timing gear cover.
and it will not hold pressure..

im ---><----this close to throwing a powerstroke in it and forgetting all about the IDI!

it runs so damn good..... but if I cant use it for a daily... what use is it to me?

 

[DaveBen]

Don't beat yourself up over this. Move on! Growth your second choice, a PSD. It should be ease after all you have been through.

 

[laserjock]

[emoji21]

If you didnt have bad luck you'd have no luck. In the time I've been around OB (not as long as many) I've never seen anyone have this same issue. I don't get it.

 

[IDIoit]

you and me both.
pull the cover off, and it holds pressure for days, literally.
put the cover on and no go.
I even used thread sealant on every bolt this time.

I think its time for me to pull this engine and put my spare one in.
I have never, in my 25 years of wrenching ever had an issue as bad as this.

figures, that the first time I try to build something nice, the universe takes a **** on me

 

[kcwright1979]

I feel your pain.....Hang in there and be persistent, I used rtv black on the paper side of mine.

 

[icanfixall]

Brian... Please try the length of the bolts for everything up front.Reason I mention this is you have several blind holes in the front of the block. So tightening a bolt that bottoms out makes it feel tight.. But like in your case. It may be loose and wont seal ever. I know I'm reaCHING WAY OUT THERE BUT i JUST HAVE NO OTHER IDEAS TO OFFER. ******* new keyboard and cap bottom. I don't evnen feel when I activate it. I don't type and watch what I type. I have to watch the keys cause I can't train myself to type the correct way...

 

[dgr]

Can you run water and dye through it before you pull it? It might give you a chance of seeing where the leak actually is. Timing cover seemed like the right direction but I think you've beaten that horse most thoroughly.

 

[F350camper]

Dude, I'd throw a long block at it before the power stroke towel is thrown in. Based on all your testing, it sure seemed like the timing cover to me too, but at this point it HAS to be something else. Gary's bolt bottoming out idea is a great one. Beyond that, just ratchet this whole thing back to troubleshooting 101. Put your pretty parts on a different long block and see whats what. JM2 red cents.

 

[IDIoit]

ill try Garys bolt idea tomorrow.
im also going to get the spare IDI on the run stand, hook it up, put a oil cooler on it.
if she holds, im doing a engine swap until I can get my other block prepped.
a powerstroke swap is literally hours of work. and the stand alone harness I have would be perfect.
im just freaking frustrated with this thing.

 

[laserjock]

Did you use the original bolts or replacements? Did you torque them with a torque wrench? Grasping at straws just trying to go back to troubleshooting 101. We all sometimes take simple things for granted. You've got me nervous as a dog poopin razor blades here. When someone like you has problems like this, relative novices like me really wonder what could possibly go wrong.

 

[IDIoit]

im no master mechanic, but ive been doing it a while, and have had my fair share of stumps.
I did torque all the bolts down to 24 ft lbs.
I do have replacement bolts in it.
I will be replacing the bolts tomorrow from a engine that still has all the stock stuff on it.
it could very well be that the bolts are a RCH longer,
I would say that I don't think so, but what have I got to loose.
ive changed everything but the bolts.
and vision of god damned negative signs are flashing infront of me.....

 

[Leeland]

That's a bummer. Depending what you find with the bolts, you might see if you can run a bore scope down the oil fill or up through the lift pump hole to see if you can confirm the failure or correction at the cover block seam with the system whole and pressurized.

 

[laserjock]

I changed mine out. I ended up buying a couple oddball lengths I think. Hell I don't remember. I may still have mine bagged up. Wish I would have written down what it takes. I probably have enough spares to make another set.

 

[ifrythings]

Just curious, have you been using the same water pump this whole time? Maybe it has a high or low spot or maybe warped a bit and causing unequal pressure?

 

[IDIoit]

2 bran new waterpumps.