Corvette: Possible head gasket

Got a friend who now has brown coolant and watery oil (if you know what I
mean) and am going to try and confirm a blown head gasket for her. I was
planning on taking off the valve cover and seeing if there's water being
pushed up through the oil passages. My question: is there anything else I
should check or look for? Unfourtanetly at my present location I dont have
access to any air tools and will be unable to safely jack it up as well.

Thanks in advance.

In <4dvqb.36161$columbus.rr.com>, "J M" <net> writes: 

For a quick check on a car with a conventional-flow
radiator (upward out of the engine into the radiator
then downward): With the car cool, remove the
radiator cap and with the engine idling, keep filling
the radiator up to the very brim. Watch for some
"belches" of combustion gas. Getting exhaust bubbles
is a good clue. (This scheme doesn't work as well on
newer iron with crossflow or reverse/upward flow
cooling systems.)

Not getting bas bubbles isn't proof that there isn't
a leak--some head gasket leaks only show up
at higher combustion chamber pressures. (If you lack
tools right now, you sure don't have a dyno. And, it
won't help with a leak that's just between the water-
jacket and a gallery return).

Regards, "Mike"
-- mikeellison3xxxatzzzyahoo.com --