I did look at those links. They were very informative. I actually copied them and saved them on my hard drive.

I am having a compression test done as we speak. I will know in a couple of hours. Thanks again.

 

I guess I should have said "Leak Test" instead of compression test as you can see bubbles show up in the engine coolant with the leak test. The compression test can also show a possible bad gasket though.


Well, if your willing to rip into an engine to look at gaskets then you sound like your farmers with time on your hands and lots of good tools. Thats what my Dad and Grandpa used to do with the tractors and pulling off heads did not seem to phase em one bit. Engines were a lot simpler then and back then folks used to buy gasket material and cut their own patterns. LOL

Good luck and I hope its nothing major.



Here is another good link that talks about a possible gasket problem and its diagnosis. The customer complains about overheating...

http://www.geocities.com/ma71supratu.../techtips.html

 

did you fill the radiator up with just water, if so it will boil and overheat make sure its a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. you can also pressure test the coolant system. if the pressure drops with no external leak then it will show a blown gasket. there is also a dye you put into a sample of your coolant. it will change color if there are combustion gasses present.
does the exhaust smoke
is your engine oil milky
is your ATF oil milky
a push rod v8 is a simple engine to work on if you do have to take it apart.

 

so is a 300 straight six

 

Please let us know how it goes and what you find.