Bad Luck or just careless

[kenparker]

Thot some of youse guys would like to see a very big oh-oh. For the last 6 months each time the coupe would throw some water out the radiator cap I would top it off 1 or 2 cups when I got home. After 6 months of that the Anti Freeze was so diluted This happened last week. Coolant was still light green just warnt strong enuff to hndle 19 degrees for two nights look carefully - four cracks. ken.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Ken,

FWIW:

Have one just like it -- while away from home some 52 years ago, called a friend to drain my radiator -- he was not familiar how to start a Model A & the battery went completely dead -- 2 days later, while still away, it went down to 8 degrees -- luckily, only the head raised up high in one place relieving pressure which saved the block.

Anyway, now you have a wonderful unique tool -- keep it.

Next time you extract or install a perfectly painted engine, place this head on the block & allow the chains, bolts, and/or hooks to hit & rub this cracked head thus not marring your beautifully painted engine head.

Greatly admire your virtue of humility while sincerely trying to teach others what to avoid -- acquiring happiness after such an event appears to be a lot about attitude.

Thanks.

[MikeK]

And the block is . . . ???

[Russ/40]

I see six

[CarlG]

That's about the way the head looked on my PU when the shipper didn't drain or put antifreeze in before shipping it up north to me -- like he said he would. It was shipped from Southern California, had never had anti-freeze in it for the past 20 years or so -- didn't need it there.

[TDO]

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I put an over flow tank on the fire wall, run a piece of copper tubing from over flow tube to over flow tank, that way you can put what you lose back in. You could also use a rubber hose instead of copper tubing. This will save you from buying anti- freeze.

[Del in NE Ohio]

I have two heads like that. One busy winter approx. 15 years ago, I forgot to drain both of the A's. We had a cold snap at Christmas, below 0! When family came to visit over the holidays, they wanted to see the "A"s, so we trudged through the snow to the pole barn and found the heads on both cars as your photo! I called Larry Brumfield and bought two heads ($!). The barn is now insulated and a propane ceiling mount heater, but I get a postcard from a fellow A'er every November reminding me to drain the "A"s.

[CarlG]

I also have a little shirt pocket hydrometer that tells me instantly what I'm protected to.

[Mitch//pa]

no comment

[chopo]

good time for a high compression head.

[Purdy Swoft]

I had a head freeze and crack back in 1969 I opened the drain petcock and walked away with the water draining. Some crud in the system blocked the petcock and the draining stopped. I never walk away untill i'm sure that it is through draining now. I then probe the petcock with a short piece of welding rod to make sure that there is no blockage.

[JBill]

Originally Posted by CarlG

I also have a little shirt pocket hydrometer that tells me instantly what I'm protected to.

Where did you get that??

[jmeckel]

Originally Posted by JBill

Where did you get that??

I have one also, picked it up at Walmart.

[kenparker]

Followup. H L. Thanks for the compliment.
Russ, two of the cracks make a Y, thus one could count 6 cracks.
Kinda late, but from now on I will keep antifreeze under the workbench for topoff.
What triggered all this to begin with. Several months ago I was going to sell the coupe, so I pulled the Brumfield off and put on a stock Model A head. That is when the overheating began. You can bet the Brumfield is going back on the coupe and NOPE she is not for sale - at least not now. ken

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by carlg

i also have a little shirt pocket hydrometer that tells me instantly what i'm protected to.

Originally Posted by jbill

where did you get that??

n a p a

[[email protected]]

I always have run with 50 / 50 antifreeze but I recently chickened out and drained the antifreeze from my Model A tudor kept in my garage. Had antifreeze in for most of this winter but I wasn't planning on being in several Polar Vortexs. It was hitting -20 and the garage door would be open to the elements as I snowblowed out my driveway from the constant snow falls. I just didn't want to gamble on it and decided this winter to be better safe then sorry.

[Neal]

Originally Posted by Purdy Swoft

I had a head freeze and crack back in 1969 I opened the drain petcock and walked away with the water draining. Some crud in the system blocked the petcock and the draining stopped. I never walk away untill i'm sure that it is through draining now. I then probe the petcock with a short piece of welding rod to make sure that there is no blockage.

I had the same thing happen many years back. Only good thing was it was a Chevy stovebolt. Now I always double check if it is drained and unscrew the petcock from the block if needed.

I seldom leave a motor dry on coolant over winter. Put enough antifreeze in to get it down to 0 degrees. I think it helps keep the rusting in check and have had less water pump failures.

Neal

[PC/SR]

Well, FWIW, and with sympathies and as a learning event for others, it is said that the A's water level will seek its own comfortable level and maybe 2-3 cups low was it for your car. It need not always be filled to the top. If it kept throwing water after the 2-3 cups there is a problem to address. But if that was the max, maybe it was just more comfortable at that level. Mine runs 2-3 cups below the overflow outlet. I used to fill it up too, but got tired of the spray and now just keep it there.

[SeaSlugs]

i wouldnt feel bad - not the first wont be the last




^^^good ol farmer fixes, aftermarket head that got cracked and welded back

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

After-the -fact, but a good reason to keep a gallon of 50/50 mix to top off your radiator vs. straight water............

Ditto, Dad always said to top off with 50-50.