Ted...I've had the gasket between two go bad and disagree...but that was a ford anyhow.

I'm inclined to think the heads were ok. And that the super clean cylinders were having trouble breathing under water.

Highlander did an intake a couple months back. We couldn't start it even with new plugs they were so wet. Hooked a vac hose to my compressor and blew the cylinders dry.

THEN it finally started.

I'm inclined to agree. I can't risk being wrong, so I'm getting the heads worked. I bet mine is in the same condition as the one you described - plugs so wet, they wouldn't fire.

Having the heads off as you do, I would work them also. Sorry the possible escaped us....I didn't have any idea the upper manifold had let go.

Well, the heads are at the machine shop, and I bought the head gasket set. The cheapest I found the 2nd gen FelPro set was at Autozone.com. They don't stock it in the store, but I could have ordered it. I just printed it up off their website, and took it to my local auto parts store (www.oreillyautoparts.com) and they sold it to me at their price of $166.99. Even rockauto.com wanted $199.99. I know the newest GM gasket may be better, but this will almost definitely outlast my ownership of the car. I'm doing this on the cheap, thus the $16.99 storebrand plug wires and soon to be el cheap spark plugs to match. I'll either go with non-plat NGKs or Autolites. I don't use Bosch or Champion. Well, I'll use Champion, but only on a Briggs and Stratton lawn mower.

Machine shop called. One head had a crack between an exhaust seat and an intake seat. Gotta get one new one. Hopefully I can still get them back tomorrow.

While that'* bad news...it'* good news...makes you happy you took the time and pulled the heads.

Yeah, better to find out now than later! So, another $75 for a core. This "great deal" I got is starting to kick me in the butt!

I guess if this gets it going, I'll still be in good shape at about $1400 total.

It was the #3 cylinder that had a crack between the valve seats. It was a pretty good one, too. All in all, it was $275. That was for the valve job, magnaflux, resurface, get a new core for the cracked head, and clean the LIM. My LIM was very nasty, so I thought it was worth the extra $20 to get it looking good. The reassembly starts tomorrow!

I got the heads, LIM, and front exhaust manifold (not pictured) on.

How'* it going?