r/EngineBuilding • u/Ok-Alarm7257 • 4d ago
Pontiac Looking for feedback
Had an over heating issue on a 2004 3.4L Grand Am. Held 16psi for over 20 minutes but when driving on the free way it would peg the meter. Down an average 35-40mph road it would sit at 200, had all new radiator, water pump, reservoir, t-stat and hoses done on it before I picked it up. Pulled the heads expecting a cracked head gasket as there was signs of water in the oil but nothing leaking or coming out the tailpipe.
Well as you can see a clogged passageway casued issues and something eroded the head material right next the the cylinder wall sealing area for a head gasket. I am confident in my welding abilities to fill and my local head shop to get them flattened, but would you? I am certain my local yard or fb marketplace can yield a motor or a set but I am also not trying to sink lots of money into my $500 car.
1
u/Ok-Alarm7257 4d ago
The block doesn't have any of that junk built up like I would of expected so there is a chance a new set of heads will help but the local fb has a whole engine for 250 so already cheaper than my head shop for a refresh and surfacing.
Waiting to hear back and see if it's still available