Follow up on poss blown head gasket.

[Maclab58]

I couldn't find a leak down test tool but I had a compression test gauge. I had compression measurements of 32,30,30 and 30. I looked carefully at the head and noticed that there appear to be cracks coming around the two studs that I thought were leaking. What do y'all think.

[Maclab58]

Here is the second pic

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Maclab, We're rootin' for you, maybe it's JUST the head. Any water in the oil? Bill W.

[Maclab58]

Hey Bill,
No water in the oil. Cylinder walls still show the hone marks from the rebuild. There was no water in the cylinders. A great friend has another head that has already been surfaced. He is bringing it to me tomorrow. I am pulling all of the studs to clean them up. The block deck looks good no cracks. Funny, the head gasket which i thought was the problem, looked good with no obvious damage.
Jim

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Maclab58

Hey Bill,
No water in the oil. Cylinder walls still show the hone marks from the rebuild. There was no water in the cylinders. A great friend has another head that has already been surfaced. He is bringing it to me tomorrow. I am pulling all of the studs to clean them up. The block deck looks good no cracks. Funny, the head gasket which i thought was the problem, looked good with no obvious damage.
Jim

HEY! THAT'S DANDY!!!!! Bet that made your DAY! Wanna' borrow my torque wrench, thet "Son" Mitch//pa gave me!!!! Bill W.


Bill W.

[1931 flamingo]

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32,30,30,and 30!!!???? Pretty low IMO. Perhaps with the head off I'd look at valve clearances, at the least lap them. I'm trying to remember but is not this a rebuilt engine with h/c head?? Please keep us updates.
Paul in CT

[quickchange]

32 30 30 30 ????????, sure you are reading right ??? or is it a metric guage??? hi comp head , new engine , ( has hone marks in bore )) something not adding up unless gasket blown on all pots , You can fart higher than that, Try the new head, copper felpro gasket with copper spray ,Make sure head nuts don,t bottem out if head been planned , also do the correct re torque system , least 3 times , back off each nut in turn then re torque, Derek from a real hot dry NZ

[Maclab58]

I thought it was low too. The history of the engine is second hand info. Rebuilt by a well known fellow in Dallas area named Rowe several years ago but very few miles since rebuild. It's balanced and babbitted runs very smooth. It appears to be a stock head not high compression. It doesn't burn oil. My plan was to replace the head gasket and go through the normal torque procedure then remeasure the cylinders. Opinions?

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

This is a prime example how a Leak-down test would answer many of your questions. The cracks in the head would likely leak water or show bubbles if under air pressure. The piston rings would be leaking air past into the crankcase if they were worn. Valves not seating would be leaking air into their respective manifold. Based on your elevation, IMO you should be seeing readings of nearly double what you are finding.

[jkeesey]

Should be putting around 60 at least. Since the heads off definitely check valve clearances and piston slap.

[Bob C]

Did you have the throttle wide open when you did the test?

Bob

[Bob/Kansas City]

With a stock head and an engine in reasonably good shape you should be seeing compression figures around 60 to 65 psi. It may be time to pull the head and take a look at the valves and seats for poor sealing.

[Maclab58]

Terry I agree, there is something else going on here for sure. A friend has a good head for me and I'm going to put it on and retest the compression tomorrow. I will order a leak down tool and do that ASAP. Will keep everyone posted.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Make sure the cam isn't a tooth off, which it probably isn't since you said it runs very smoothly.
Something is causing too low a pressure reading.
Is the battery good and the cranking speed correct for a good reading?

[colin1928]

Originally Posted by Bob C

Did you have the throttle wide open when you did the test?

Bob

yea X2

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Maclab, Dog here, DON'T let them folk's WHAT IF? WHAT IF? WHAT IF? WHAT IF? Wurry you!! We shouldn't WURRY! Wurry is jist playing them WHAT IF? tapes, over & over in yo' head 'til you convince yo' self thet all is LOST & UNREPAIRABLE. You tole 'em it looked good inside & IT RAN GOOD! BUT they jist DON'T listen, or don't READ very well, ur they DRINKIN' HOOCH ur eatin' PICKLED PIG'S FEET, ur SUMPTING?? Buster T.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

I subscribe to a different theory than the Dogs in that peace of mind comes from knowing all the facts where I do not need to worry later about things that were possibly overlooked. My time, --also like many others here, is a precious commodity and I do not have the extra time to 're-do' something just because I did not take a few extra moments to thoroughly analyze everything before I spent the time making incomplete repairs.

Again, please consider taking the time to thoroughly diagnose everything now so you won't find yourself driving on a tour and worrying later about the condition of other items that were overlooked in haste..

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

HEY! THAT'S DANDY!!!!! Bet that made your DAY! Wanna' borrow my torque wrench, thet "Son" Mitch//pa gave me!!!! Bill W.


Bill W.

hey dad,
make sure you take care of that torque wrench it's worth big $$.. i wouldn't let it out of your sight, keep it under your pillow next to your gun -N-money.. you can also use it as a beater
son

[Maclab58]

Follow up......... Head back on and torqued to spec. then fired it u warmed it up, shut it down and proceeded to retorque the head to specs. The last pull on the last head nut on the water neck and I heard a faint "chink" sound................... U guessed it broke the ear off the water neck. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't have a spare. Screw it! Rolled it in the garage and called it a day. Friend is bringing me a replacement tomorrow. Ugh!

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by Maclab58

Follow up......... Head back on and torqued to spec. then fired it u warmed it up, shut it down and proceeded to retorque the head to specs. The last pull on the last head nut on the water neck and I heard a faint "chink" sound................... U guessed it broke the ear off the water neck. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't have a spare. Screw it! Rolled it in the garage and called it a day. Friend is bringing me a replacement tomorrow. Ugh!

What did you use for a water neck gasket?