Head Gasket

[Twiss58]

Coolant/water is seeping out the edge of my head gasket. The last time I changed the head gasket was in 1992. Do I need to replace the gasket or will a re torque help. The engine runs great

[Mitch]

Definetly try a retorque first and welcome to the VFF

[DaWizard]

Hey Twiss58, WELCOME to the VFF!!

Definitely try a retorque to at least 55#, but drain the coolant out to below the head and use the back off 1/8 turn to break loose the friction of the nut. Only one nut at a time.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

DON'T BACK THE NUTS OFF!!!!!

[DaWizard]

Well Bill, I won't argue with you, but those nuts have been welding themselves to the head since 1992. If it was a fresh head gasket, I'd say go for it without backing the nuts off, but since it isn't, those nuts will not give you a good reading. I would actually do a bit of oil or PB Blaster on them too, just to insure you get a good slip-n-slide.

[Sunnybrook Farm]

I would torque them again and add a some of the old granular stop lead stuff from an auto parts store.

[Sunnybrook Farm]

Can't type, stop leak stuff not stop lead. That stop lead stuff might be a new invention I have to look into.

[Mitch]

Head Torque ?

https://www.vintagefordforum.com/forum/model-a/4519-interesting-read-in-service-bulletins-on-re-torquing-head

[Dennis]

I would never use oil or penetrating fluid on a bolt or nut that has a specific torque value. Torque ratings are usually with dry threads.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Regular Old BARS-LEAKS works very well & SAFE!
Bill Dribble

[Mitch]

K-seal is the new modern day technician in a can trick

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I "thought" you DIDN'T use "TRICKS IN A CAN"?
KDad

[Mitch]

When you work on modern used car lot junk and things like that one needs all the tricks available. On my own stuff i prefer to fix the problem correctly

The three C's

Complaint
Cause
Correction

K-ssonn

[BNCHIEF]

You forgot cash check or credit.

[Twiss58]

Well, I couldn't stop the leak, and when I drove it it pushed coolant out the top of the rad, so I pulled the head to see what was up. The gasket did not require any scraping to remove it. If you look closely at the head you can see that it appears to have been welded at some point between 2 and 3. 5 of the studs came out with the nuts so it looks like I will be putting in new studs as well. Took the head off without the aid of a head puller.

[George Miller]

What are you going to do about the crack in number 2 cylinder

[Twiss58]

George, I went out and looked again at the block and there isn't a crack. I think what is showing in the picture is carbon from me cleaning/scraping the carbon off before I wiped it down.

[Mitch]

I saw what George was talking about WHHHHEWW glad it's ok

[George Miller]

It sure looked like a crack. Glade it is ok

[JDupuis]

Well I guess you're going to keep yourself busy for a day or two! . Jeff

[Tom Wesenberg]

Good time for a high compression head.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Make sure the head is FLAT!!
Dad

[sunnyorm]

here's a precautionary tale: a fellow Model A'er, in our small group purchased a nice little '29 pickup a few years back, so he decided to purchase a high compression head 6.?, so, get's it installed and the group makes a short half day run. Sooo, off he goes, why he was passin every thing in sight, according to my first Model A mentor. up the hill, and down the hill, then all of a sudden he was in the dust, then he stopped, then oops. So, am i against high compression heads?, no just be careful how you step on the accelerator. blew a rod.