The Ford Barn

corndog · 03-26-2013, 05:19 PM

I recently bought a bunch of original Model A parts at an estate sale. One of the things I bought was a Model A head with the letter B on the top. It has much tighter combustion chamber. Today I put it in my glass bead cabinet to clean it up and much to my dismay I discovered it has been brazed in between cylinder 2 and 3 on the drivers side. It appears that it has been surfaced and used since it was brazed, but I am skeptical of it. Is this head a candidate for the scrap pile??

Chuck Sea/Tac · 03-26-2013, 05:31 PM

Along the water jacket holes? Is it surfaced within 002"? I have one that I had welded and surfaced there still is a small combustion leak into the water, but no water into the head. I put some non pressurized stop leak in it , and its better. Was going to change it, but never got around to it. It's been two years now. It added 10 miles an hour up the steep hill from the valley to the hill I live on. Chuck

tudoor · 03-26-2013, 05:31 PM

Many blocks and heads have been repaired that way. I would try it and see what happens

TinCup · 03-26-2013, 05:35 PM

My buddy drives a 1930 town sedan with an original B Head. It is brazed down the top of the water tunnel and between 2 and 3. When I asked him if he was worried about it he said he was for the first 10 years.

Joe K · 03-26-2013, 05:49 PM

Water jacket only right? This one sounds like a "keepah."

Joe K

Rowdy · 03-26-2013, 07:30 PM

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I have scrapped a couple of standard heads repaired this way, which was np big deal as stock heads are plentiful. I would have definately saved them if they were a Police head. Even if the old repair is leaking it could still be repairable by cleaning up the crack and pinning or other repair methods. Rod

CarlG · 03-26-2013, 09:42 PM

I have a "B" Police Head that is cracked in the water jacket (got frozen), but not anywhere in the combustion areas. Only kept it in case someone wanted to try and revive it.

luckyal · 03-27-2013, 08:30 AM

Unless you are desperate for a head and can't find another, why would you ever take a chance? I have found used heads to be very cheap !
Al

Rowdy · 03-27-2013, 08:32 AM

You have found Police heads cheap? Rod

eagle · 03-27-2013, 08:40 AM

"Unless you are desperate for a head and can't find another, why would you ever take a chance? I have found used heads to be very cheap !
Al "
Whats the worst that can happen? Leak a little? If it does, take it back off and bring it to a reputable "engine guy" and he will tell you if it is repairable. Or better yet, bring it to him now.

corndog · 03-27-2013, 09:04 AM

Thanks for all the advice. The head had already been repaired and yes it is in only the water jacket. It was that way when I got it but I did not see it until I media blasted it. Based on what I have read here, I think the head is usable. Thanks again, I am glad i asked before I tossed it.

Mike V. Florida · 03-27-2013, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckyal

Unless you are desperate for a head and can't find another, why would you ever take a chance? I have found used heads to be very cheap !
Al

At some time there won't be and abundance of cheap heads and if the cracked ones are junked where will the hobby be?

Ed in Maine · 03-27-2013, 10:22 AM

I recently purchased a Model A and it was good enough to drive through the summer. In the fall I started the restoration and found that the head had a six inch long crack down the center that had never been repaired. It did not leak all summer long, it must have been sealed with rust. But now that new head copper head gaskets are running $25.00, why would you go thru the work of using it? Ed

03-26-2013, 05:19 PM	#1
corndog Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: northern Indiana Posts: 1,618	Cracked Model A head been brazed... I recently bought a bunch of original Model A parts at an estate sale. One of the things I bought was a Model A head with the letter B on the top. It has much tighter combustion chamber. Today I put it in my glass bead cabinet to clean it up and much to my dismay I discovered it has been brazed in between cylinder 2 and 3 on the drivers side. It appears that it has been surfaced and used since it was brazed, but I am skeptical of it. Is this head a candidate for the scrap pile?? __________________ Unspoken gratitude is helpful to no one.

03-26-2013, 05:31 PM	#2
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Cracked Model A head been brazed... Along the water jacket holes? Is it surfaced within 002"? I have one that I had welded and surfaced there still is a small combustion leak into the water, but no water into the head. I put some non pressurized stop leak in it , and its better. Was going to change it, but never got around to it. It's been two years now. It added 10 miles an hour up the steep hill from the valley to the hill I live on. Chuck

03-26-2013, 05:31 PM	#3
tudoor Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 62	Re: Cracked Model A head been brazed... Many blocks and heads have been repaired that way. I would try it and see what happens

03-26-2013, 05:35 PM	#4
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: Cracked Model A head been brazed... My buddy drives a 1930 town sedan with an original B Head. It is brazed down the top of the water tunnel and between 2 and 3. When I asked him if he was worried about it he said he was for the first 10 years. __________________ Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group.

03-26-2013, 05:49 PM	#5
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: Cracked Model A head been brazed... Water jacket only right? This one sounds like a "keepah." Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

03-26-2013, 07:30 PM	#6
Rowdy BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80 Posts: 4,893	Re: Cracked Model A head been brazed... Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have scrapped a couple of standard heads repaired this way, which was np big deal as stock heads are plentiful. I would have definately saved them if they were a Police head. Even if the old repair is leaking it could still be repairable by cleaning up the crack and pinning or other repair methods. Rod

03-26-2013, 09:42 PM	#7
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,115	Re: Cracked Model A head been brazed... I have a "B" Police Head that is cracked in the water jacket (got frozen), but not anywhere in the combustion areas. Only kept it in case someone wanted to try and revive it. __________________ Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club

03-27-2013, 08:30 AM	#8
luckyal Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: wherever I am today, whatzit matter Posts: 431	Re: Cracked Model A head been brazed... Unless you are desperate for a head and can't find another, why would you ever take a chance? I have found used heads to be very cheap ! Al

03-27-2013, 08:32 AM	#9
Rowdy BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80 Posts: 4,893	Re: Cracked Model A head been brazed... You have found Police heads cheap? Rod

03-27-2013, 08:40 AM	#10
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Cracked Model A head been brazed... "Unless you are desperate for a head and can't find another, why would you ever take a chance? I have found used heads to be very cheap ! Al " Whats the worst that can happen? Leak a little? If it does, take it back off and bring it to a reputable "engine guy" and he will tell you if it is repairable. Or better yet, bring it to him now.

03-27-2013, 09:04 AM	#11
corndog Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: northern Indiana Posts: 1,618	Re: Cracked Model A head been brazed... Thanks for all the advice. The head had already been repaired and yes it is in only the water jacket. It was that way when I got it but I did not see it until I media blasted it. Based on what I have read here, I think the head is usable. Thanks again, I am glad i asked before I tossed it. __________________ Unspoken gratitude is helpful to no one. Last edited by corndog; 03-27-2013 at 09:10 AM.

03-27-2013, 10:22 AM	#13
Ed in Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL Posts: 1,106	Re: Cracked Model A head been brazed... I recently purchased a Model A and it was good enough to drive through the summer. In the fall I started the restoration and found that the head had a six inch long crack down the center that had never been repaired. It did not leak all summer long, it must have been sealed with rust. But now that new head copper head gaskets are running $25.00, why would you go thru the work of using it? Ed