New engine problem, need help !!!

[74DusterRebuild]

Just finished a 318 rebuild (complete rebuild) about 2 weeks ago. Still have only ran about 10 miles, no speedo yet. It seems to be running OK.

Today I pulled the plugs except 5 and 7 because of the darn Headman headers, I'll need a special tool for those. #6 seems to be wet and colored different than the others. I think it may be coolant. I had the machine shop check the head before the head job.

I have built several engines over the years but never a Mopar small block. Am I missing something or do I just have to pull the head. I will do a compression check before doing anything. Could the valve guide be messed up leaking oil? Humm.

Any suggestions would greatly appreciated.

Luis

[rumblefish360]

A wet plug is a problem. Can you post a picture or tell us what it loks like in color?
On the spark plugs, #5, #7, Take off the valve cover for added clearance if this trick doesn't work easy.
Take the spark plug socket and install over the plug, turn with wrench.
I bet you have the street headers. They are a pain. Theres also no easy (Cheap) way around it.

[Tarrbabe]

I have several spark plug sockets and I have one that I cut about 1/2 inch off to allow better access around headers.

Just thinking out loud.

[71dart666]

I hear ya man, those plugs are a pain in the ass to reach. I also like how its almost impossible to get the bolts in on the back of the number 1 cylinder header pipe because you cant put the bolt strait behind the hole in the head since the header is in the way. I havent even tightened down the plugs completely on my # 5 and 7.. just hand tightened them. Could that cause the engine to sound like its got a bad exaust leak ?

[64dartwagon]

Would definitely sound like an exhaust leak and may be the cause of the weird discoloration and gunk.

[dhper4manz]

hey dude,

Is the motor "misfiring" on the wet cylinder? If there is no miss in the engine then run it some, break the motor in good.

The motor may be too new to say anything is wrong with it. if coolant is making the plug wet then your bound to have a dead cylinder, no fire.
If the motor has some oil getting into the exhaust chamber it could be because a piston ring was put on upside down.

More than likely it may be coming from the valve guide. but don't panic. the valves all have to get oiled or they will gall up quickly, tearing your stuff up. give the valve seals a little time to seat. as long as the motor runs good then just go with it.
I have had recon heads do this and brand new W-2's do it. they have always cleared up for me.
good luck.

Heigle Racing

[pishta]

use a stud on that back header hole. Itll save you hours trying to get the header bolt in the hole when you dont have any room. Better yet, do what the factory did and use studs on all four corners since they see the water jacket. I studded all my header bolts and asked myself why I didnt do this 10 years ago.

[71dart666]

Rumblefish, good tip taking the valve cover off, it worked for me. I should have thought of that. My plugs were halfway unthreaded when i took the sparkplug wires off of them and finally got them tightened down. Still sounds like I have an exaust leak though. The engine makes a bad tick/hissing sound at idle thats pretty constant. Seems to go away or certianly doesnt get any worse when I rev the motor up. That sound like an exaust leak to you?

Pishta - Thats what my dad was telling be but the problem is, at least in my case is that the header is only about an 1/8 of an inch away from the steering column, so you dont have much room to move it when its got to slide along the stud.

[dwc43]

If that's the case, put a slot in the bottom of the header and you can just lift it up off the stud. I use the factory stunds in all of mine on the outer corners.