The Ford Barn

Willit Stop · 04-13-2016, 06:05 PM

I'm about to acquire a '33 21 stud that was rebuilt in the 60's but never installed. Until a couple of years ago, the owner would squirt a little oil in the plug holes and turn it over occasionally. I'm expecting the worst....my luck hasn't been the best lately so the engine will probably be stuck. I plan on backing off the head nuts a couple of turns,remove the plugs,find a cylinder that's close to firing position, squeeze a firecracker inside the cylinder and touch it off.I know... I don't think it'll work either.But I'll do it anyway.Whadda' you guys think? I've read most of the threads on this topic but I'd like to try a different approach.

A bones · 04-13-2016, 06:35 PM

No.

Firecrackers are for disturbing the neighbors!

Kurt in NJ · 04-13-2016, 06:41 PM

I would think that if it was put together and not run that the heads would come right off---even be so nice that the gaskets can be reused (I have reused the headgasket on my A 3 times)

aonemarine · 04-13-2016, 06:53 PM

if he has been oiling it for 40 of the 50 years it was sitting it should not be stuck

JSeery · 04-13-2016, 07:17 PM

Doesn't sound like something that would work to me (depending on what size of "firecracker" you are talking about). Be sure and post the outcome, should be interesting.

39topless · 04-13-2016, 07:27 PM

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Silly question but, before applying the explosives, have you tried to turn it over?

FortyNiner · 04-13-2016, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 39topless

Silly question but, before applying the explosives, have you tried to turn it over?

That's just crazy talk.

Willit Stop · 04-13-2016, 07:42 PM

No (39 topless). That's not a silly question. But thank you.I'll try that first with ATF and acetone. The way my luck has been going lately (failure to come to a complete stop at a stop sign,$345,A failed dental implant $3800X2,Grub worms in my lawn,Jury duty notice and the list goes on) it'll be stuck.Trust me.

JSeery · 04-13-2016, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willit Stop

No (39 topless). That's not a silly question. But thank you.I'll try that first with ATF and acetone. The way my luck has been going lately (failure to come to a complete stop at a stop sign,$345,A failed dental implant $3800X2,Grub worms in my lawn,Jury duty notice and the list goes on) it'll be stuck.Trust me.

The bright spot I see in there is your on the better side of the deal on the court notice!

GSCOV · 04-13-2016, 08:23 PM

It will all stop some day, so enjoy each one that you are vertical . Others go thru much worse. Be happy and work on old cars.

J Franklin · 04-13-2016, 08:44 PM

If the engine has been rebuilt in the '60s and not run, just why do you feel the need to pull the heads?

zzlegend · 04-13-2016, 08:55 PM

I agree with Franklin. Why not squirt a little oil in the holes and see if it turns over.

But just in case it doesn't,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Hide all your knives and ropes first and any other deadly utensils first.

cas3 · 04-13-2016, 09:33 PM

if its been oiled, its a runner. at worst, some sticky valves, or i've had just the oil pump stuck, only to find out after a complete tear down, or once broke the pump forcing it

Willit Stop · 04-14-2016, 10:00 AM

There is no reason for me to keep the engine.I'll sell it eventually but I want to make sure it's a good one. I want to pull the heads and intake for a quick visual. Then take it to a machine shop so they can give it a good going over. These early flatties are becoming scarce as many of them were tossed when swapped out for the new more powerful ones.I could probably get it to run as is but would rather spend a few bucks and make sure it is as good as it can be before I sell it to someone building their dream car.

J Franklin · 04-14-2016, 11:27 AM

If you are planning to sell it won't this just add to the cost to recoupe? Gaskets, machine shop, firecrackers, and hospital bills?

Willit Stop · 04-14-2016, 11:46 AM

Yes, yes, no and yes. I already have the firecrackers.Small ones.
Now I know how Columbus felt.Everyone laughed at him too.But here we are.

Mart · 04-14-2016, 02:34 PM

If you put one in each hole, just remember to light them in the correct firing order.

itsa52 · 04-14-2016, 02:54 PM

If you have ever used air pressure in a spark plug hole to hold valves in place to change springs, (OHV) you'll know the first thing to happen is for the piston to go to bdc.. That will happen long before the head comes off.. Speaking of that, why not just use air???

39topless · 04-14-2016, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mart

if you put one in each hole, just remember to light them in the correct firing order.

Too funny!!!

Pete · 04-14-2016, 03:17 PM

That is not as crazy as it sounds.
There was a vintage aircraft engine that was started with a blank shotgun shell.

04-13-2016, 06:05 PM	#1
Willit Stop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Eureka Calif. Posts: 969	MacGyver approach for pulling heads I'm about to acquire a '33 21 stud that was rebuilt in the 60's but never installed. Until a couple of years ago, the owner would squirt a little oil in the plug holes and turn it over occasionally. I'm expecting the worst....my luck hasn't been the best lately so the engine will probably be stuck. I plan on backing off the head nuts a couple of turns,remove the plugs,find a cylinder that's close to firing position, squeeze a firecracker inside the cylinder and touch it off.I know... I don't think it'll work either.But I'll do it anyway.Whadda' you guys think? I've read most of the threads on this topic but I'd like to try a different approach.

04-13-2016, 06:35 PM	#2
A bones Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: CLAYTON DE Posts: 1,286	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads No. Firecrackers are for disturbing the neighbors! __________________ Enjoy yer day. Tom Hate can't fix what it started. Last edited by A bones; 04-13-2016 at 06:38 PM. Reason: waste not want not

04-13-2016, 06:41 PM	#3
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,188	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads I would think that if it was put together and not run that the heads would come right off---even be so nice that the gaskets can be reused (I have reused the headgasket on my A 3 times)

04-13-2016, 06:53 PM	#4
aonemarine Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Delaware Posts: 252	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads if he has been oiling it for 40 of the 50 years it was sitting it should not be stuck

04-13-2016, 07:17 PM	#5
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads Doesn't sound like something that would work to me (depending on what size of "firecracker" you are talking about). Be sure and post the outcome, should be interesting.

04-13-2016, 07:27 PM	#6
39topless Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,027	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Silly question but, before applying the explosives, have you tried to turn it over?

04-13-2016, 07:42 PM	#8
Willit Stop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Eureka Calif. Posts: 969	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads No (39 topless). That's not a silly question. But thank you.I'll try that first with ATF and acetone. The way my luck has been going lately (failure to come to a complete stop at a stop sign,$345,A failed dental implant $3800X2,Grub worms in my lawn,Jury duty notice and the list goes on) it'll be stuck.Trust me.

04-13-2016, 08:23 PM	#10
GSCOV Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Connecticut Posts: 963	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads It will all stop some day, so enjoy each one that you are vertical . Others go thru much worse. Be happy and work on old cars.

04-13-2016, 08:44 PM	#11
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 6,022	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads If the engine has been rebuilt in the '60s and not run, just why do you feel the need to pull the heads?

04-13-2016, 08:55 PM	#12
zzlegend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Reseda, Calif. Posts: 2,190	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads I agree with Franklin. Why not squirt a little oil in the holes and see if it turns over. But just in case it doesn't,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Hide all your knives and ropes first and any other deadly utensils first.

04-13-2016, 09:33 PM	#13
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,621	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads if its been oiled, its a runner. at worst, some sticky valves, or i've had just the oil pump stuck, only to find out after a complete tear down, or once broke the pump forcing it

04-14-2016, 10:00 AM	#14
Willit Stop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Eureka Calif. Posts: 969	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads There is no reason for me to keep the engine.I'll sell it eventually but I want to make sure it's a good one. I want to pull the heads and intake for a quick visual. Then take it to a machine shop so they can give it a good going over. These early flatties are becoming scarce as many of them were tossed when swapped out for the new more powerful ones.I could probably get it to run as is but would rather spend a few bucks and make sure it is as good as it can be before I sell it to someone building their dream car.

04-14-2016, 11:27 AM	#15
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 6,022	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads If you are planning to sell it won't this just add to the cost to recoupe? Gaskets, machine shop, firecrackers, and hospital bills?

04-14-2016, 11:46 AM	#16
Willit Stop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Eureka Calif. Posts: 969	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads Yes, yes, no and yes. I already have the firecrackers.Small ones. Now I know how Columbus felt.Everyone laughed at him too.But here we are.

04-14-2016, 02:34 PM	#17
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,804	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads If you put one in each hole, just remember to light them in the correct firing order.

04-14-2016, 02:54 PM	#18
itsa52 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nebraska Posts: 603	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads If you have ever used air pressure in a spark plug hole to hold valves in place to change springs, (OHV) you'll know the first thing to happen is for the piston to go to bdc.. That will happen long before the head comes off.. Speaking of that, why not just use air???

04-14-2016, 03:17 PM	#20
Pete BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,423	Re: MacGyver approach for pulling heads That is not as crazy as it sounds. There was a vintage aircraft engine that was started with a blank shotgun shell.