Volphin
Lieutenant
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2011
- Messages
- 1,405
Hi guys,
As you may recall, last season I was dealing with a water intrusion issue into my cylinders on my '89 Mercruiser 4.3L non balance shaft engine. I had installed some Vortec heads and GLM manifolds after finding water in #2 cyl. The new build up resulted in more water intrusion on multiple cylinders. Well, I have since torn it back down. The heads checked out as non cracked (I had them rechecked) and the lower manifolds tested fine. The machine shop could not test the elbows. I just have a hard time believing that the block is so cracked that it put water into multiple cylinders on both banks. No block cracks like that. I'm beginning to suspect flappers or defective elbow gaskets. However, the manifolds were aluminum and new. It was hard to see if water had been running from the joint gasket when assembled and unassembled. My gut says these manifolds are leaking anyway. What do you all propose I do to rectify this situation? How does one test the integrity of an elbow?
On a side note, the manifolds, seemed warped at the exhaust port, but they tightened up just fine. This obviously puts torsional stress on the manifold. Could it be a crack that opens up under torque? I'm about to buy some other brand of AL manifolds.
Thanks for your help.
V
As you may recall, last season I was dealing with a water intrusion issue into my cylinders on my '89 Mercruiser 4.3L non balance shaft engine. I had installed some Vortec heads and GLM manifolds after finding water in #2 cyl. The new build up resulted in more water intrusion on multiple cylinders. Well, I have since torn it back down. The heads checked out as non cracked (I had them rechecked) and the lower manifolds tested fine. The machine shop could not test the elbows. I just have a hard time believing that the block is so cracked that it put water into multiple cylinders on both banks. No block cracks like that. I'm beginning to suspect flappers or defective elbow gaskets. However, the manifolds were aluminum and new. It was hard to see if water had been running from the joint gasket when assembled and unassembled. My gut says these manifolds are leaking anyway. What do you all propose I do to rectify this situation? How does one test the integrity of an elbow?
On a side note, the manifolds, seemed warped at the exhaust port, but they tightened up just fine. This obviously puts torsional stress on the manifold. Could it be a crack that opens up under torque? I'm about to buy some other brand of AL manifolds.
Thanks for your help.
V
