Mud In #4 Cylinder of the 302 V8

[gregski]

I told my friends I thought I saw mud when I looked at the number four spark plug, but they didn't believe me. Then when I had all the spark plugs out I decided to spin the engine over by hand and mud shot out of the number four spark plug hole. Never seen that before! Well that would explain the $100 dollar price for it.

So tonight I decided to take the cylinder head off and see what lurks beneath. Here are some pictures of the "Mud Dog" for you, any advice on best ways to clean this mess up, please keep in mind I can not afford to send the block to the shop, so I need the shade tree mechanic solutions.

The Block - more pictures...

Cylinder Heads - more pictures...

 

[StangII78]

Looks like to me the head gasket failed. You should be able to tell where the coolant was leaking past the gasket, sometimes. You might be OK with just throwing another gasket on there. There have been times I've been lucky like that. Be sure to clean everything up and look for cracks and scouring in the cylinder wall. Was there water in the oil? The shade tree solution: Throw another head gasket on it and ride. If it works, it works. If it don't, it don't.

 

[gregski]

more info

Just to give you a little background history on this motor. Pulled from a running vehicle to be dropped into another vehicle by the guy I bought it from. (I know we all heard that all before, right?)

When I went to pick it up it was sitting outside in his backyard, and I think at one time it was under his patio but then got moved by his fence with no protection. So I recon since there was no air cleaner on it, water got in the carburator and ran down inside to which ever valve was open at the time, and it so happened that it was number four.

I figure I share this to give myself hope that it is not a blown head gasket, cracked cylinder, or warped head, etc. By the way I checked the oil before I bought it and it was purdy, no milky stuff in it at all. So let's hope this is an unusual case of water in from the top, and that it will clean up nicely.

 

[StangII78]

Clean it up, put it together and ride. You should be alright providing the guy told you the whole truth about why he pulled it. Just make sure you clean all of the mess out of the cylinder and head very good.

 

[gregski]

thanks

Clean it up, put it together and ride.

That's my kinda advice, will do!