coolant in combustion chamber

[wilf]

Tough times John, but remember Churchill, who implored us all to never, ever, give up.

For my part, I can't see what block-related calamity allows cylinders on opposite banks to fill with coolant. And head gasket failure at the same time on both heads is another mystery to me. My money still rests with the IM, for what it is worth.

A few days off should allow you to regain impetus! Many of us have been "there" with our cars, but we get there in the end.

[John E.B.Goode]

Wilf, thanks for your words of encouragement,
This whole thing has been a mystery from the off, just as you think you have a handle on it, something happens to change your perception.
Right from the get go, it was cylinders 1 and 8 which were problematic and various combinations since mainly involving both banks.
I assumed it was all about the IM which was the general concensus but now the rusty coolant has come up ( literally ) plus the fact it still coming out of 5,6,7 and 8
when the IM is not even on.
A real conundrum for sure !!!

[Mark S]

Did you take the inlet manifold off without draining the block? If so, coolant would probably have gone into 5,6,7&8 inlet ports. It could take time and a fair amount of cranking before it all blows out of the cylinders.

[John E.B.Goode]

Each time I've refitted the IM I have syphoned the rad before removal and refilled to test, not drained from bottom hose, I don't know if that would make a difference.
It's a good point though and it generally doesn't take too many cranks to realise it hasn't worked.
I'll give it a good go without the manifold on.
Thanks for the suggestion, hadn't considered that. It might explain why it's the back four cylinders.

[Mark S]

Draining from the bottom hose won't make any difference because it goes up to the water pump and water won't fully drain from the heads. The front "venting" holes would be dry but the rear slots still below water level. If you got a flood of water in the vee when you removed the manifold it would probably have gone down the rear inlet ports as well.
How do I know?...

[John E.B.Goode]

Could it really be something that simple after all this??
Fingers crossed, I'll try syphoning out any excess that may be in there, keep cranking it to try and dry it out and go again .

[flying farmer]

Unfortunately the inlet ports always get filled when you remove the inlet manifold as Mark S mentioned, unless you remove the block drain plugs.
If the back 4 inlet valves are closed you will see a pool of water sitting on the back of the valve (assuming they are seating properly), but there will always be at least one of them open and the water will go straight into the cylinder.
If the head gaskets are from LD parts they won't be the problem, its cheap crap from ebay I worry about (and the ones I had problems with came from a major supplier)
Neil