water in crankcase... stupid question...

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

Before I pull the block out...

It seems likely that the headgasket is on backwards -- or missing
-- or some other stupid problem. I'll pull the head, on the car,
to check. Easy enough and makes engine pulling easier anyways.

QUESTION: If I find the problem [say backwards head gasket] is
there any chance of drying this thing out without tearing the
whole thing down?

It got water in the crankcase, definitely. Quarts. But it never
RAN; there's no serious mixing and it never rose above room
temperature. The crankcase was clean when I installed the oilpan;
it had not been previously run with this problem [which really
makes me think someone removed/restored the head and did a crappy
job], there would have been evidence.

More, I brought up oil pressure days ago, multiple times, with no
water in it; I added water only this morning at the last minute
before cranking. However, I have to assume it pumped water through
the galleries.

Maybe run something hydrophillic through it, like alcohol and oil?

This seems desparate as I write it :-)