severe overheating- assessing damage

[davidkockler]

I severely overheated my 1987 88 SPL over the weekend. I am sure the head gaskets blew as a noticeable loss of power was experienced, followed by heavy smoking. The alarm never went off. I have accepted that I will have to replace the head gaskets, thermostat, and water deflectors. <br /><br />The question I have is how do I know if the pressure relief parts and the water pump need to be replaced? If you have to see the water pump to determine its condition, you might as well go ahead and replace it, but I'm hoping someone can tell me how to determine if the water pump needs to be replaced without removing the lower unit.<br /><br />One other question: immediately after the overheat, I checked the battery terminals and they were cold to the touch. The battery appeared to be nearly dead, though, when I tried to crank the motor a couple of hours later. Other than a short circuit from something melting, is there an explanation for the battery discharging? The flywheel was easy to turn by hand, so the motor itself did not offer any unusual resistance.

 

[DJ]

Re: severe overheating- assessing damage

northneck,<br /><br />If the pump was starved, at all, for water, it is a good bet to replace it.<br /><br />As far as the pressure reliefs go, you might as well while you have the stats out.

 

[OBJ]

Re: severe overheating- assessing damage

What DJ said and then some.....you posted the motor was easy to turn by hand and did not offer any unusual resistance....was that with the spark plugs in or out. If in and you felt no resistance as you would with good compression or even a little since you feel the head gaskets are blown, I would take a real good look at the cylinder walls. <br /><br />After a sever overheat, taking a look at the pump and t-stats & bypass valves is a must. Don't let anything stand to chance.<br /><br />EDIT: And don't forget to take a good look at the water deflectors in the block around the cylinders. There are two to a bank. Replace them.

 

[Solittle]

Re: severe overheating- assessing damage

I'd start with a compression check. What do the plugs look like??<br /><br />You need to determine why it got hot or the possibility is that it will happen again.<br /><br />Also check/fix your overheat alarm.