So I ulled the heads off my 92 blazer with 4.3L "Z", its was starting to blow white smoke so that is the reason why I pulled them thinking head gasket let go. Little back ground on the engine real quick, the bottom or short block has only about 60,000 miles on it the heads, cam, lifter, rocker arms are more around 120,000 ish on them. So a couple of things have come up now that the heads are off and at the machine shop getting cleaned, magnafluxed, and decked. Also this is a rig I picked up for a couple of hundred dollars and just use it for hunting and camping so tying to keep it some what cheap.

1. When I pulled the head off 3 cylinders I wanna say 1,5, and 4 for some reason but ill have to double check when I get home) are carboned up pretty good both the top of the piston and the corresponding valves. Any ideas, the other 3 cylinders are clean as can be, i mean they have the typical yellow burned color to them but no carbon at all.

2. I think the reason it was burning coolant was becuase they reused the head bolts instead of replacing them. What kind do you recommend? I know ARP are good, but I also found fle pro head bolts... never used them. Anyone know anything about them or can suggest a better head bolt.

3. The motor is in the rig still and I need to clean the deck of the engine to get it ready to put the heads back in, I have never done head replacement in the rig usually the block would be sent off to be cleaned. So suggestions on what to use to get the surface clean?

4. The cam looks pretty worn, im gonna mike the lobes this week sometime after work to see if they are in spec still, if it is not in spec can i replace the cam with out doing the bearings Since the motor only has about 60,000 on it or am i asking for trouble?

I think thats it for now, Thanks for all the help!

 

when the head gasket blew in my toyota the cylinder that was burning the coolant was clean and the others still had carbon on them. How that helps with something.

 

that helps a little with one part. thanks for the info, maybe that leak was worse then I thought

 

When I rebuilt my engine a 97 I used felpro bolts how good they are I don't know yet.As cleaning the deck I use good straight 1 1/2 putty knife.Just make you use a good shop towl and wipe the insides of the cylnders clean when you get finished

 

Cylinders 1, 5 & 4 are all fed fuel from the same fuel injector, (every other cylinder in the firing order). Might just be a leaky injector or a lazy or dead oxygen sensor.

 

With only 60k on your block you should be ok without changing bearings.I have done alot of them without replacing bearings.If any bearings are bad 99% of the time its the very front one.If it looks good then you should be ok 100%Dont create alot of extra work for yourself is it isnt neccesary.

 

Awesome thanks for all the help. Guess Ill mic the cam lobes see if they are in spec or not and go from there.

 

with 60k your cam shouldn't be worn.In case it is though make sure you change your lifters.Im not real familiar with the 92 block does it have the internal balance shaft or not?Also if it takes the roller cam be prepared to spend about $400 beans those roller cams aren't cheap.Hopefully you will get luck and your engine takes a hydrolic flat tappet cam.

 

its actually a 95 block with the 92 heads and i think cam. what is this internal balance shaft? I keep hearing about it but not really sure what it is, it does have a shaft that sits about 3 or 4 inches above the cam with two flap things on it im guess that is what you are talking about? Does that change anything that I need to do/ look at/ or buy?

 

In the early days of the 4.3 90* block these engines had out of balance vibration problem.The shaft was a way to help internaly balance the engine.Your block being a 95 has the hrydrolic roller cam which looks like the lobes are rounded but thats just the way they are supposed to be.If its within your budget I would by a slightly over stock computer compatible cam for replacement.I have a complete 94 4.3 long block that Im going to replace the cam with a over stock cam when I get my Jimmy going.Nothing wrong with the cam thats in it just another project for a future vehicle like my truck probaly.