If your head gasket could talk.....or torque.....

[tbirdtbird]

About 60 members from our club just got back from 6-7 days in Yellowstone and Glacier Natl Park. Most trailered, one guy drove it. Some very steep passes there, especially in Glacier, the Going to the Sun road. The road is mostly 6% grade with some sections at 10%, and it is a brutal but majestic drive. No guard rails. One member has had trouble with blown head gaskets on his recent build, having replaced the gasket 3 times. This was just local Texas driving!, and he was quite worried about the Montana mountain roads. After some discussion about re-torquing, and pointing out the Ford recommendation to do so from page 375 of the Service Bulletins, he decided to try it. He was worried about breaking a stud, but if that happens, they needed to be replaced anyway. He used a fresh set of grade 8 studs, with a Snyder 5.5 head, and was extremely surprised at how much he could take up when he would re-torque. He did so a total of 4 times before the trip. Happily, his car performed flawlessly during the entire trip. There is a lesson here for everyone.

[Big hammer]

Wecome back Tbird got pictures?

[Boston Bruce]

What kind of gasket did he use and how many pounds did he torque it to?

[tbirdtbird]

The Best composite to 65#
In this shop we prefer the Best copper

[Beauford]

Tbird!!! Welcome back!

[pAAt]

Welcome back and a great trip cruising the beautiful Yellowstone area, but are you nuts, mechanical brakes and no guard rails !! P.S.- I heard you may have a opinion on Dave the engine builder from Jordan, Mn. ? Pat

[Mitch]

Dave is top notch!

[tbirdtbird]

Yes, Dave is top shelf. I recommend him enthusiastically. Tell him I sent you
A Model A that has been properly restored and maintained can handle the mountain roads.
After all, they did OK in 1930

[Larrys40]

About 60 members from our club just got back from 6-7 days in Yellowstone and Glacier Natl Park. Most trailered, one guy drove it. Some very steep passes there, especially in Glacier, the Going to the Sun road. The road is mostly 6% grade with some sections at 10%, and it is a brutal but majestic drive. No guard rails. One member has had trouble with blown head gaskets on his recent build, having replaced the gasket 3 times. This was just local Texas driving!, and he was quite worried about the Montana mountain roads. After some discussion about re-torquing, and pointing out the Ford recommendation to do so from page 375 of the Service Bulletins, he decided to try it. He was worried about breaking a stud, but if that happens, they needed to be replaced anyway. He used a fresh set of grade 8 studs, with a Snyder 5.5 head, and was extremely surprised at how much he could take up when he would re-torque. He did so a total of 4 times before the trip. Happily, his car performed flawlessly during the entire trip. There is a lesson here for everyone.

I agree good advice and points noted. If you do some quick retorques following replacement ( I too like the BEST brand gaskets) that you should be fine. I think some guys can get retorque crazy and that isn't good either....I've seen guys pull stud threads and that's not fun either.
I recently had a fellow passing through here that I helped quick with some tires ( he was from Texas) and they were traveling to west coast and back to Texas. As a quick check we checked the head torque and one of them was just a little more than hand tight. I can't believe he made it as far as he did and so a quick retorque and amazingly he made it to west coast and back home. Between tires and other things he did make the trip by the grace of God.

Larry