Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
> I can not agree that stretched studs is why combustion gases get into the
> coolant., but I'll consider that.

When my '84 7 passenger was given to me, in '91, it was because the
engine had failed.  When I inspected it, I could wiggle one of the cap
nuts and, of course, coolant escaped around that wiggly nut.

After tearing it down, I found that stud had stretched.  It looked like
a plastic sprue that someone had held a flame under then pulled on it.
It got skinny in the middle.

The engine had failed due to overheating and one of the valve stems had
frozen to its guide causing that push rod to bend and destroy that push
rod tube.

I wasn't there for the "Event" and the driver had no mechanical
knowledge so I don't know the details like what happened first.

Mike