Damn sorry to hear about the issue, were the heads redone before install, how long had it been sitting before firing it up?

Heads were gone through (cleaned and new valve springs) by Scott at MPG heads and later machined by Western Engine. Engine sat for 12-18 months before being fired.

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I'd bet you lost a head gasket. I'm guessing Kirk might chime in but I sold him an engine many years ago that I knew nothing about besides it being a fresh build before sitting for about a year. He fought head gaskets on that thing for a while. Everything was new, it just ate the head gaskets for some reason.

Thanks. I'm hopeful that's all it is. This is the first engine I've built and the first time installing head gaskets, so messing it up seems like a likely explanation. I've drained the coolant, hit the cylinder with compressed air and wd40. Anything else I can do to protect from rust?

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Doesnt seafoam protect from rust and might reach other areas that wd40 wont

quick tear it down. I believe I have a set of standard head gaskets in the garage.

I sure hope you don't have the bronco curse.

This is why I'll only use cometic head gaskets if they're made for the engine I'm building. No soft material to fail.

Got the head taken off. Gasket was intact, but there was something that looked like scuffing on the underside of the #6 cylinder (the one that was barfing coolant). I managed to bang up the gasket during disassembly, so this could have been user error. Checked the flatness block with a straight edge and can see light under it. There appears to be a .002in dip in the block towards the top of the #6 cylinder, so I'm wondering if this is the source of my issues. The mating surface of the heads were milled, but the block wasn't. Pics of the block, gasket and head attached.

Anything else I can do or check before I put this back together and pray?

I think they make thicker head gaskets that you can try.

Got the engine back together with all new head gaskets. If I can get off work early enough the plan is to strap on my triple ply underpants and fire it. Really hoping it works this time. If anyone is in the neighborhood and wants to give it a look-see before I run it I'd be appreciative. Otherwise prayers to the diety of your choice are gratefully accepted.

I know the feeling the first motor start up was gut wrenching. I will light a candle for you

Proof of life. Finished the transmission mount today.

Thanks! Engine fired, but I'm having issues with some cylinders running very lean. Lean enough that I've had some of the header primaries glowing just running it in the garage. Current best guess is that the heads were shaved too much for stock pushrods. Going to do a compression test and see where things land. Also looking at bad coil, clogged injector, etc. Props to Gary for much excellent tech support! Hoping to get a new battery in today so that I can get that done.

Contracted some very local, very cheap labor and got the crossmember installed. Pretty happy with how it came out.

This weekend was exhausting (#intentionaldadjoke). As long as everything was apart, I took the time to re-lego the exhaust to behind the tire so that I don't go deaf every time I drive it.

Also, Gary came over today and made it run right. I'm doing a massive, full-on white guy happy dance. It's not pretty, so I'll share this video instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-7MXuQOyS4

Since I'm not smarter than phpBB you all get a link instead of an embedded video.

Woot! Can't wait to see you driving it.

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Ahhh yeah!!!

SWEET!! motor sounds great

Nice, I’m a huge fan of running motors! Ha!

Love the video!

Good to see it running!

Thanks, guys! Here's the real reason my rig has been down so long. Bet the new Bronco won't have this feature.

Auto pilot! Nice! Getting all tesla on us!

Didn't have enough speed holes on the Bronco, so I made a bracket.

Looks like a t-case mount? What is the going ratio of mph per hole these days?

Coil pack mount. Thats the cross bar running between the shock towers. I believe its 3mph per hole, 2mph per sticker.

Looks at those pretty welds !!

Front end.....Monday?