Where’s my water going?

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by busmania

I guess I will try to be more patient and see what happens in a few hundred miles. I did have seeping head studs, but all of that has stopped. Heads have been retorqued probably 10-12 times (overkill) after every single drive after any drive in which the engine was warmed up. It is to the point where when I retort them they are all on spec.

I see in your build post that you are using aluminum heads. What type of head gasket (material - metal or composite) did you install?

[busmania]

Oh Pete…the head gaskets caused me all kinds of issues when I installed them. I’ll see if I can dig up the thread. I had a ton of leakage with copper so at the end of the day, I ended up with the graph tite gaskets and that stopped my leaking into the cylinders (or so I hope). This is why I’m so paranoid about water finding its way into the cylinders.

Here’s the head gasket thread.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=333499

[busmania]

Here’s my plugs. I thought I was running rich but I guess not. Might be running a little lean? Anyone have thoughts on these? I’ll resize when I get to my computer.

IMG_4336.jpg

IMG_4337.jpg

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by busmania

Here’s my plugs. I thought I was running rich but I guess not. Might be running a little lean? Anyone have thoughts on these? I’ll resize when I get to my computer.

They look fine to me...

[busmania]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Have you done a pressure check on the cooling system?
You can also use a Ultra Violet leak detector dye kit.
https://www.bing.com/videos/rivervie...1356&FORM=VIRE

Question: Are your radiator hoses collapsing inhibiting coolant flow?

Remove the thermostats and see if there is any difference.

I did a pressure test and it held overnight when I was having head gasket issues before I first fired up the engine. I definitely will be doing another one probably tomorrow and we’ll see.

[Ggmac]

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Number 3 plug looks a little bit more white on the porcelain but not that much .Id not worry about it . Something I noticed was the amount of thread that could be in the chamber . Did you check it when you had the heads off ? Maybe a thread or 2 . Its not a problem now or when you remove the plugs every few hundred miles but getting hard carbon on-exposed threads could be a problem down the road .
I’m glad its holding pressure.

[Bored&Stroked]

What heads do you have on this engine?

[busmania]

Edelbrock heads.

[pistonbroke]

Please don't be offended, have you retightened all your hoses since the install ? You may just have a couple of weepers where the coolant evaporates as it seeps out. Sometimes we over think things. I was surprised at the depth of you spark plugs . The Edelbrocks I ran back in the 80's definitely didn't have that much thread depth. Tim

[busmania]

I confirmed when the heads are off that the plugs fit perfect. The electrode just barely stuck out into the chamber. These are actually what Eden rock recommends.

Pistonbroke, it’ll take way more than that to offend me! I have checked tightness of clamps and such. When I first started the motor, some of the studs weeped. When that happened it “stained” the new heads. Once I was pretty sure they stopped weeping, I cleaned the heads and so far, there are no signs of the same stains I had when I knew they were leaking a touch.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by busmania

Edelbrock heads.

[flatford8]

Try the pressure test again….and try it with the motor up to temp….next thing is a catch can on your overflow tube. Put the tube all the way to the bottom of the container, with it cut at an angle…….Mark

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by busmania

I guess I will try to be more patient and see what happens in a few hundred miles. I did have seeping head studs, but all of that has stopped. Heads have been retorqued probably 10-12 times (overkill) after every single drive after any drive in which the engine was warmed up. It is to the point where when I retort them they are all on spec.

Then don't do it again. The last thing you want is to snap off a stud/bolt. If it keeps coming up to spec, they are at spec.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by pistonbroke

Please don't be offended, have you retightened all your hoses since the install ? You may just have a couple of weepers where the coolant evaporates as it seeps out. Sometimes we over think things. I was surprised at the depth of you spark plugs . The Edelbrocks I ran back in the 80's definitely didn't have that much thread depth. Tim

The new Edelbrock heads use .750" reach plugs

[tubman]

Nothing to do with the original post, but it looks to me like the Plug Number starts with an "R". I think on Champion that means "Resistor". Are you running those plugs for any particular reason?

[Bob C]

This is from the Edelbrock web site. "Recommended spark plugs are Champion RC12YC or equivalent 14mm x 3/4" reach with flat gasket seat"