leaking head gasket?
 

I was driving down the road 3 days ago in my 30 Tudor and noticed a foam coming out of Radiator cap. I found the level down about a quart and after adding more coolant (while running), I noticed a lot of small bubble like in a carbonated beverage. The small bubbles do not go away. I am guessing a head gasket has blown. I am used to seeing bubbles in coolant on modern cars when a gasket goes but much larger bubbles. Then again as it only has a 4.2 compression ratio and cyl pressures would be much lower is that the reason for small bubbles
Thanks

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Try re-torquing your head and see if it stops. Easy enouph, can't hurt, might help.

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Also be sure the water pump packing is tight, could be sucking air past the packing.
JB

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Just be sure to torque only to 55 lbs.

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

On a related note don't fill the radiator like a modern car. Fill it about just to start to cover the baffle you see with the cap open, the baffle the overflow tube comes out of. Any funny exhaust...smell, steam, fluid?

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

retorqued head and found 3 at 30 ft lbs. Took car for drive of about 10 miles ran fine no boil over but after arriving home checked radiator and the coolant looks like beer froth. As to the water pump it is the leakless pump with seals not packing. Looks like time to put a new headgasket in and true the head.

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Changing the head gasket might just do the trick. However, when you have the head off, be sure to have it magna-fluxed to check for cracks and also see if the head needs to be surfaced. You need to do this to ensure you will have no leaks when you put it back together...

FWIW: If your head is cracked and not repairable, I would purchase the 5.5 head as a replacement. You will not regret it.

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

My foaming was from the head gasket leaking.

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Did you have to change the head studs when you changed to the 5.5 head?

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Beer froth, I had that once in an mondern, I flushed the cooling system with some chemicals flushed again, put in fresh antifreeze all was good !

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Radiator replaced 3 months ago all new antifreeze.

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Auto parts store for coolant test kit.

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Rocket1, am confused, coolant test kit to test for what?

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Standard head studs will work with the 5.5 head.

I think post 12 is referring to the test to see if your coolant has any exhaust gasses.

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

You don't have to change the studs, but many people do – it's not too expensive to order new Grade 8 studs and nuts, and if you don't know much about the history of the car it's cheap insurance.

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Amen, Brother
J

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

$40 for new studs and nuts is not too bad as the new head is $325. I am pulling the head off this weekend and will have it checked at the machine shop. If no issues will put back on. If,on the other hand there is a problem I will order the studs and 5.5 head. I was wrong on the first assessment of the torque setting as there were 5 under 35 lbs. All five were in the front of the head for cyl 1 and 2. I don't think I need the exhaust gas test. I watched the coolant flow and the faster the engine ran the more bubbles it created. Besides it will give me a clue as to the engine condition. The man I bought it from ah it for 20 years and never had any work done. He stated that he and his wife drove it from Newport News Virginia to Ohio a few years back and had no issues. Hope no surprises

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Not that this is the problem, it is just an observation. Head stud torque drops for a couple reasons, gasket compression, stud/nut stretch or the threads in the block.

I suggest when making a gasket change the stud holes in the block need inspection.

Some will cringe here, but I use a stud and hardened washers to test the block. Assemble and torque each hole location. If you pull the threads it is easier to fix without the head in place. It only took one motor to pull the threads on the final torque to learn that lesson.

John

Re: leaking head gasket?
 

Good Evening...The head on a Model A Ford should be re-torqued once a year to 55 pounds if stock. Your head bolts were really loose...do you know when the last time the head bolts were re-torqued as part of your maintenance. When you change the gasket, torque to 55...drive 25 or so miles, let it cool and torque it again...some bolts will move...drive another 50 miles and torque it again...then go 100 miles and torque it one more time...it should be pretty stable by this point...then once a year...for ever...Ernie in Arizona...