Engine uses water

[MilesP]

After getting my 55  out of the various shops It  uses water one half gallon in 6  miles. I have a 53 block totally rebuilt with a 55 cylinder head could this be a problem ? A local expert tells me it is either a bad head gasket or a bad weld on a sleeve . I noticed two different part numbers for cylinder heads and grasping at straws hope this could be the trouble.   What think?

[joefrazer]

Cylinders heads on all 226 engines, regardless of year, are interchangeable. You can use a 47 head on a 55 block without a problem. The problem could be a bad head...I had one crack on a 53K and it allowed coolant into the #2 cylinder. Have you tried swapping heads to see if the problem persists? A head from any year Kaiser 226 will work.

[dpledger]

I had something similar happen once and it was  failure of the gasket to seal due to a slightly warped head. This can have the same effect as a crack. A head swap will be the best check, as with the other. Before doing that, try re-torquing the head bolts-they can loosen up amazingly fast after a reassembly. Quickest thing to try.

[mbflemingkf]

Miles, are you getting white smoke out of your exhaust pipe?  If not, other than noticing its using water, what other signs or symptoms are you having?  I'm having the same problem of using water but not nearly to the degree that you are.  I may need a valve job and a new head gasket (already did the head gasket once; didn't help).  I'm unsure where to turn myself.  Have retorqued the head bolts a couple of times; no improvement.

Mike

[mbflemingkf]

I had the head shaved as well just to be sure before doing the head gasket replacement.  Still could be warped I presume; I haven't tried another head.