Head Gasket in Backwards, what happens?
- Thread starter Ronbo
- Start date
haven't done it to a 200, but saw it done on a jeep 6 once. in that case, it pumped water into the oil.
blowing oil out the dipstick can only be caused by 2 things: PCV not working, or compression pressure blowing into the crankcase. i'll assume the second option. this could maybe point to the head gasket being misaligned...
does your radiator hold water overnight, or do you come back to find it low? is any water getting in the oil? pull the drain plug partway to check. if water's there, pull the head
blowing oil out the dipstick can only be caused by 2 things: PCV not working, or compression pressure blowing into the crankcase. i'll assume the second option. this could maybe point to the head gasket being misaligned...
does your radiator hold water overnight, or do you come back to find it low? is any water getting in the oil? pull the drain plug partway to check. if water's there, pull the head
Well, I'll fess up. I earned my moniker on this forum by the reversed head gasket attempt.
I found it only results in a really inefficient block external cooling system. In other words, coolant poured out all over the block. If you are not seeing that, then likely the problem is something else.
I found it only results in a really inefficient block external cooling system. In other words, coolant poured out all over the block. If you are not seeing that, then likely the problem is something else.
Awesome Slade! Bad at the time I'm sure but it helps me out 
I think my issues are just straight up too much compression. Blow-by, heat, welds giving out on my header (that was just straight up poor workmanship and me being over occupied) I dialed the timing back to 8* and don't have any knock but still, heat. Maybe the monster is running lean. Time will tell......
Ron
Thanks for that input Slade
I think my issues are just straight up too much compression. Blow-by, heat, welds giving out on my header (that was just straight up poor workmanship and me being over occupied) I dialed the timing back to 8* and don't have any knock but still, heat. Maybe the monster is running lean. Time will tell......Ron
Thanks for that input Slade
gravelrash
Well-known member
i cannot for the life of me see how you can put a 144-250 headgasket on backwards. nothing will bolt up, no holes for the pushrods. you got me beat!!!
Actually, it will bolt up perfectly. Trust me. I was with another mustang guy (although a V-8er) when it happened. It's not perfect, but it will allow for the head to be bolted on with no problems.
The red in the cylinders is marvel mystery oil which is what I used to protect the parts while the engine was apart and also to provide start up lubrication on a dry engine. Smokes a bit on start up, but protects everything until there is good pressure.
The red in the cylinders is marvel mystery oil which is what I used to protect the parts while the engine was apart and also to provide start up lubrication on a dry engine. Smokes a bit on start up, but protects everything until there is good pressure.
gravelrash
Well-known member
well there you go. i thought the large water holes at the back and pushrod holes down one side would be self explanetary to most.
It's easier to do than most folks would expect; Ford also made some 289 head gaskets that were quite easy to install backwards, causing overheating problems. We did this on my sister's Mustang over 30 years ago; apparently it was a fairly common mistake because when we asked a local mechanic/friend about it he immediately said "sounds like the head gasket was installed backwards".
Joe
Joe
i just made the mistake in my GF's mazdog. for some reason the gasket isn't marked for which side is up or anything, making it very easy to install backward. and the worst thing, the only thing different between forward and backward is the oil hole. anybody know what happens to a DOHC motor with no oil in the head.... yeah, not pretty, the test drive was about 100 yards before it destroyed the cam bearing surfaces (and thus the whole head)
at least our 6s don't have that concern!!
and as for getting yours backwards, it would be flipped end-for-end, not side-to-side. most of the holes line up
at least our 6s don't have that concern!!
and as for getting yours backwards, it would be flipped end-for-end, not side-to-side. most of the holes line up
