The Ford Barn

jchochole · 12-28-2015, 09:15 PM

Gents,
I want to pose this dilemma- I have my engine ready for paint but I am thinking about of changing the head gasket. I tried to remove the first stud-nut and that sucker won't budge! I don't want to risk snapping it- so what would you do?

The car runs great, has at least 85K on the engine. if not more, but should I risk ripping into it? Are the stud nuts normally frozen and how easy is it to break off a stud? This is my first A but have done many T's.

Thanks in advance,
Jim

Pete · 12-28-2015, 09:30 PM

If there is nothing wrong, STOP! Leave it alone.
You say it runs great.
Head studs have a habit of breaking when stubborn.

If you just need something to do, watch soap operas....lol

loubob · 12-28-2015, 09:36 PM

X2

If it ain't broke-Don't fix it!

Tom Wesenberg · 12-28-2015, 10:54 PM

I agree to leave it alone.
Actually with 85,000 miles it may have already had one or two engine overhauls or rebuilds.
Count your blessings that you have a good running engine.

jchochole · 12-28-2015, 11:05 PM

Hallelujah- that's some great advice and I'll smoke a cigar instead!

Thanks guys!
Jim

Mike V. Florida · 12-28-2015, 11:13 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Let this be a lesson to all, if it ain't broke don't fix it!!

If you want, take a wire wheel and run it along the gasket edge to clean it up. You can then use pin striping tape and mask off the gasket edge to keep the engine paint off the cleaned edge. Same with the nuts, brush and tape off, then paint.

Bruce Adams · 12-28-2015, 11:16 PM

I have no clue why you would want to change head gaskets, but if you want some assurance its good, perform a compression test as described in "Model A Mechanics Handbook" by Les Andrews, available at the usual vendors and MAFCA and MARC Model A Clubs.

C26Pinelake · 12-28-2015, 11:17 PM

If it runs great, enjoy it....don't mess with it! Wayne

Larry Jenkins · 12-28-2015, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loubob

X2

If it ain't broke-Don't fix it!

Aw.. Come on.. Latest is now,

"If it ain't broke, fix it till it's."

Done that a few times. Have you?

Larry

kevinwalshe · 12-29-2015, 12:40 AM

Must have been built mid week, on a beautiful day. I've had some motors in the past that were probably built on a friday afternoon when the guys were trying to leave!

J Franklin · 12-29-2015, 01:39 AM

After you paint, oil the nuts with light oil or penetrating oil, and then light oil. Then when you do have to change your gasket it might let you get the nuts loose without breaking things

jimalabam · 12-29-2015, 08:20 AM

Enjoy the cigar and leave your engine alone. If you still want to paint, carefully mask ALL areas and pieces not to be painted. Smoke one for me, I quit many years ago and still get an urge for a wood tip once in awhile. jiml...

crock · 12-29-2015, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Jenkins

Aw.. Come on.. Latest is now,

"If it ain't broke, fix it till it's."

Done that a few times. Have you?

Larry

I thought that if it doesn't move, FORCE IT, if it breaks then it needed to be replaced anyway!

1931 flamingo · 12-29-2015, 02:11 PM

Been smoking cigars since I was 16 (now 71). Used to do EverMores, now MuniMakers (dark). Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, 2-4 a day.
Paul

bikejunk · 12-29-2015, 08:00 PM

Did not want to but now I have to -- my new project a 1913 Maxwell engine turd over by hand with really great compression -took the intake manifold off found hand fulls of nuts jammed around the valves 20 hrs later still almost have this crazy L shaped head off better safe than sorry I guess...

12-28-2015, 09:15 PM	#1
jchochole Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oswego, IL Posts: 394	Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? Gents, I want to pose this dilemma- I have my engine ready for paint but I am thinking about of changing the head gasket. I tried to remove the first stud-nut and that sucker won't budge! I don't want to risk snapping it- so what would you do? The car runs great, has at least 85K on the engine. if not more, but should I risk ripping into it? Are the stud nuts normally frozen and how easy is it to break off a stud? This is my first A but have done many T's. Thanks in advance, Jim __________________ "Whether you think you can, or think you can't- you're right." H. Ford

12-28-2015, 09:30 PM	#2
Pete Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,407	Re: Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? If there is nothing wrong, STOP! Leave it alone. You say it runs great. Head studs have a habit of breaking when stubborn. If you just need something to do, watch soap operas....lol

12-28-2015, 09:36 PM	#3
loubob Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Syracuse,NY Posts: 264	Re: Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? X2 If it ain't broke-Don't fix it!

12-28-2015, 10:54 PM	#4
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? I agree to leave it alone. Actually with 85,000 miles it may have already had one or two engine overhauls or rebuilds. Count your blessings that you have a good running engine.

12-28-2015, 11:05 PM	#5
jchochole Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oswego, IL Posts: 394	Re: Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? Hallelujah- that's some great advice and I'll smoke a cigar instead! Thanks guys! Jim __________________ "Whether you think you can, or think you can't- you're right." H. Ford Last edited by jchochole; 12-28-2015 at 11:06 PM. Reason: spelled hallelujah wrong

12-28-2015, 11:13 PM	#6
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Let this be a lesson to all, if it ain't broke don't fix it!! If you want, take a wire wheel and run it along the gasket edge to clean it up. You can then use pin striping tape and mask off the gasket edge to keep the engine paint off the cleaned edge. Same with the nuts, brush and tape off, then paint. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

12-28-2015, 11:16 PM	#7
Bruce Adams Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northport, NY Posts: 1,597	Re: Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? I have no clue why you would want to change head gaskets, but if you want some assurance its good, perform a compression test as described in "Model A Mechanics Handbook" by Les Andrews, available at the usual vendors and MAFCA and MARC Model A Clubs.

12-28-2015, 11:17 PM	#8
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? If it runs great, enjoy it....don't mess with it! Wayne

12-29-2015, 12:40 AM	#10
kevinwalshe Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 73	Re: Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? Must have been built mid week, on a beautiful day. I've had some motors in the past that were probably built on a friday afternoon when the guys were trying to leave!

12-29-2015, 01:39 AM	#11
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,959	Re: Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? After you paint, oil the nuts with light oil or penetrating oil, and then light oil. Then when you do have to change your gasket it might let you get the nuts loose without breaking things

12-29-2015, 08:20 AM	#12
jimalabam Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lee County Alabama Posts: 828	Re: Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? Enjoy the cigar and leave your engine alone. If you still want to paint, carefully mask ALL areas and pieces not to be painted. Smoke one for me, I quit many years ago and still get an urge for a wood tip once in awhile. jiml...

12-29-2015, 02:11 PM	#14
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? Been smoking cigars since I was 16 (now 71). Used to do EverMores, now MuniMakers (dark). Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, 2-4 a day. Paul

12-29-2015, 08:00 PM	#15
bikejunk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: beautiful down town Passaic NJ Posts: 293	Re: Should I Remove Head Nuts? Rish Damage? Did not want to but now I have to -- my new project a 1913 Maxwell engine turd over by hand with really great compression -took the intake manifold off found hand fulls of nuts jammed around the valves 20 hrs later still almost have this crazy L shaped head off better safe than sorry I guess...