Water in the oil

[charlieman2004]

Last winter the radiator on my 84 ruptured and the engine got pretty hot. I stored the Vet for a few months and then replaced the radiator recently. Then when I tried to fill the radiator collant poured out as fast as it was added. It appeared to be coming out behind the exhaust manifolds-mostly the right bank. I did not start the engine but there is massive water in the crank case. I drained the oil and then started the engine, let it fun only a minute, and it ran fine.

The Vet has 130k miles and I have no way of knowing if the engine has been worked on before, but it ran really good and didn't burn oil. The car appeares to have been well maintained mechanically. I have only a $10000 more or less to spend on the repair and need advice.

Should I pull the heads and have them rebuilt, if needed, and put everything back together and see what happens? or Should I also take the block to a machine shop for rebuild as needed?

I considered a crate engine but can't afford a lump sum expendature, but I can afford to do this project in stages over several months.

I would appreciate any and all advice.
Thanks
Charlieman

 

[redc4corvette]

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm?singlepart=1&partnumber=pk12550630



http://www.contemporarycorvette.com/
http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?action=prod_detail&catid=3449&pid=156315


http://www.centuryperformance.com/
http://www.lingenfelter.com/lingenfelter/dept.asp?dept_id=87
http://www.corvettesalvage.com/

http://www.customracer.com/corvette_engine.html

http://www.tabercorvetteparts.com/catalog/toc.html
Try some of these links.I have more if you need them.

 

[geekinavette]

Sounds like a massive case of cracked heads...which '84 heads are notorious for. A cracked head (or blown head gasket) can allow combustion pressure into the cooling system, and if the radiator cap can't vent it fast enough then the radiator can rupture.

Chances you've also had standing water in the cylinders, which if left for very long will cause rust and massive scarring of the cylinder walls, like so:

As compared to what a freshly bored/honed cylinder looks like: