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You can't fill the block completely without the heads on. If you can figure a way to seal all of the passages so that the block can be filled completely, maybe it will show up then, without the heads on. Maybe tape the passages or a chunk of wood a s a makeshift "head" for testing. The only place I can thing that coolant could get into the oil galley is via the passage from the cam bearing.
Are the heads '55 or newer
To answer the second part of Charlie's question: The heads are 55 EBV just like the block.
Speaking of cam bearings, the 54 EBU 239 used a larger cam bearings than the 55 EBV 239 (I understand that 55 and newer Yblocks use the same cam bearing). It wouldn't seem possible that the builder of this engine used cam bearing that are too big, but maybe that is a possibility - any thoughts on that?
I have no idea, it was just a suggestion of what may be the problem, I've never had one apart..Not sure if this helps, it's the Y-block oil passages ..
This diagram is helpful! The water level is reaching just above the cam bearings before it begins to flow out the oil filter passage. This helps to locate the potential location of the leak - a water port diagram like this would be helpful too, but we can sort of figure were the water ports are. Recall that no water is dripping down inside the crankcase - only through the oil passages to the oil filter. Water leak begins before the heads are full of water, but with some water in the heads. Water level sits at just below the side lower edge of the heads once all water has leaked out of the oil passage at the oil filter.
All your thoughts are helping to pin point the location of the water infiltration into the oil passage(s). It seems at this point the only logical locations of the leak are the cam bearings or the heads. Recall that new head gaskets have been installed correctly - front to front and one face down - square corner to the upper front..
I will take another look up into the cam area while someone is pouring water in the radiator to be sure water is not dripping for seeping from the cam bearings - I think that's is all I can do regarding the cam bearings without tearing the engine down.
I do have two heads from a 54 EBU 239 - does any one know if they are the same size and with the same water and oil passage as the 55 EBV 239 - I suspect they are as the Fel-Pro head gaskets fit the EBV and EBU. If they are, I can put the EBU heads on this EBV block and see if the leak continues - I have another set of head gaskets in shipping right now and will be here in a few days.
That is all I can think of without a full tear down of the 55 EBV. I do have the entire 54 EBU with all the correct and differing parts (such as the distributer and oil pump) from the 55 EBV. I think the next course of action will be to determine which 239 (the EBV or the EBU) is going to get a full rebuild.
If the picture provided is the way the 239 oil passages from the cam bearings to the heads they are different then the 272-312. The later blocks supply oil to both heads from the center cam bearing. You may have a mismatch between the heads / block / head gaskets. Placing the gaskets on the block and on the heads to be sure all holes and passages align.
I'm pretty sure you couldn't put the larger cam bearing in the later block or the other way around.
The water passages at #4 and #8 are different between the EBU and EBV blocks I believe. The EBV heads should have a water passage at 12 o’clock and the EBU heads would have a water passage at about 1:30 o’clock. Could you have water spilling into the valley at this point? To put ECZ G heads on my 239 EBU block, I had to drill a new water passage at #4 & #8 cylinders in the block.
The water passages at #4 and #8 are different between the EBU and EBV blocks I believe. The EBV heads should have a water passage at 12 o’clock and the EBU heads would have a water passage at about 1:30 o’clock. Could you have water spilling into the valley at this point? To put ECZ G heads on my 239 EBU block, I had to drill a new water passage at #4 & #8 cylinders in the block.
Valley is bone dry. Check out this head gasket label from Fel-Pro.
I don’t know what to say, the two blocks and heads are different. Maybe they make a gasket that’s punched for both engines, but I wonder how they get it to stop leaking?
I don’t know what to say, the two blocks and heads are different. Maybe they make a gasket that’s punched for bot engines, but I wonder how they get it to stop leaking?
I'll pull the heads off the EBU today - I need a little help to get the heads off the EBV as they are down there in the engine well. I'll be frustrated with Fel-Pro if they have sent the wrong head gaskets and they think they fit the EBU and EBV.
I don’t know what to say, the two blocks and heads are different. Maybe they make a gasket that’s punched for both engines, but I wonder how they get it to stop leaking?
