Too far. You shouldn't need to remove the heads. Once you take off the black UIM, you'll see the metal LIM below that. The LIM gaskets in question are directly underneath that. That'* as deep as you need to go for this repair.

ok so if i dont have to remove the heads, do i do the cranking after i reinstall everything to remove the fluids? because my setup has the Upper Plenum, then the LIM and after the that its the block and heads, i mean wit the U and LIM removed i can see the pushrod and all of the jackets.

Correct. You'll see all sorts of neat things with the LIM removed, including the pushrods, rockers, and other cool stuff, including the troublesome LIM gaskets. That'* as far as you need to go for the typical hydrolock.

Once the repair is complete and the new UIM is installed, then you can crank it without the spark plugs and that will all but drain the cylinders. That should fix almost every hydro-locked engine.

Reinstall the plugs, and as soon as it fires up, burns off any remaining coolant, and starts running smoothly, shut it down and change the oil. You can't change the oil enough during something like this.

thread moved to proper section

Chances are, the engine is fine. It filled when not running. But each time you try to crank it you jam a dry bearing and risk damage, so no cranking it until the plugs are out. Replace the plugs with new after you fix the leak. It'* going to run real bad for a little bit, but will smooth out. Replace LIM and UIM gaskets along with the UIM.

OP... do not reuse that UIM w/o plugging the coolant holes or replacing it. Was the LIM full of coolant? The LIM gaskets should have a very tough time of filling the cylinders with coolant if they are bad. Becuase the chance of coolant running from one port on the head to three others w/o seeping into the valley or externally would be nearly impossible.

If you had coolant in the LIM, then look in the EGR hole of the UIM. You will find a crack or weakness that allowed coolant into the engine.

As for plugging those ports. It keeps this problem from ever being able to happen again. 95NASTA has done this many times, I've done this multiple times..it'* not a bad thing. You just want to do a good job and be neat about it.

day 3, i just finished puttin everything back together. all bolts and nuts hoses elecetrical connectors. lettin it dry and will start the crankin test tomorrow afta i get off work.

i was jus thinkin, should i disable the fuel system and leave the thermostat out until im completely done after i change the oil about 3 or 4 times ?

my fingers are still crossed.

Pull the fuel pump fuse and crank it a bit. then put the fuse back and start it. No need to leave the thermostat out.