Bad day working on the boat.

Brief history ski challenger motor, with points ignition mallory unit. I decided to convert to pertronix ignition as well as swapping out the intake manifold for a edelbrock performer. I get everything started and I notice my thermostat is leaking badly straight into my valve cover with some new amazing gasket that did not work. . I then spot a leak on the opposite side valve cover and its milky oil (sigh) So I assume its the intake is leaking internal, fast forward 2 hours, replaced all gaskets drained oil replace etc. So I fire it up again left valve cover off and its still a little milky, there is not one leak of water anyware. Im going to drain it again on thursday and hope that it is just left over from the previous episode, what are your opinions? Thanks
Nate

Also does anyone know any forums on older ski boats?

Run a leak-down test. Could be a head gasket. You don't want to run it with water in the oil, it'll ruin the bottom end pretty quick.

Well before I did the tear down, it was running fine I changed the oil before I did the intake and it was perfect. I don't think its a head gasket but thanks

You're probably right about the head gasket. It wouldnt just randomly start leaking unless you overheated it. I'd guess you dont have a good seal where one of the water passages on the manifold meets up with the block. This water can get into the oil through the hole that the distributor shaft goes through to meed up with the cam gear.

DKJ

This site has some good forums on engine topics, but not limited to ski boats:

http://www.boatered.com/forum/

If you have to take off the intake again use a straightedge on the mounting surface.. seen a few that were not straight. Also are you using the thicker gaskets?

on the mounting surface I used a wire wheel to get all of the old gasket off. I then applied RTV black around all the ports and laid down the gasket. Im just hoping its left over oil? I hope this intake is not cracked, sense it is used.