The Ford Barn

Bud · 06-07-2015, 08:54 PM

Last year I had quite a setback with rust in the cylinder bores of my B engine even though the engine was drained of coolant. I removed the cylinder head, cleaned it up with a wire wheel and did the same with the bores. I cleaned up everything as well as possible. I replaced the head gasket, using Indian Head shellac on both sides of the gasket. I torqued the head several times right after getting the engine warmed up. I did a compression check and everything looked OK. I ran the car for a couple outings and it ran well. Then for the winter I fogged the motor and turned it over several times to make sure the cylinders were lubricated.
I just fixed a couple carburetor leaks, did some ignition maintenance and other minor repairs and got the car started this afternoon. I noticed the exhaust manifold gaskets had failed, so I tore it down to replace them. Water trickled out of the exhaust manifold when it was loosened. I dried it up and cleaned the surfaces to install new manifold gaskets. Water reappeared in the rear 4 ports, but not in the first two. The water sat in the port as a bead about a .25" in diameter.
What's the verdict? Do I have a cracked block? I can't believe the head gasket is bad already. This is a B motor with a 6:1 Brumfield head. Any suggestions on my next steps?
Thanks.

James Rogers · 06-07-2015, 09:24 PM

Are the 2 steam holes in the middle of the block deck plugged? If not they will leak when using a Model A head or gasket.

Synchro909 · 06-07-2015, 10:05 PM

B motors are known to crack around the valves. Seems Henry took a good thing, the A block and stuffed it up. I suspect he was trying to save a few cents on each block by cutting them short on cast iron, it was depression time after all.

ursus · 06-07-2015, 10:12 PM

The exhaust ports for the middle two cylinders have very thin castings. Look for pinholes appearing in the port pockets and that is where the water is coming from. I have a block with the same symptoms and condition and am curious if the block can be saved by hogging out the castling and pressing in a sleeve.

colin1928 · 06-08-2015, 04:22 AM

It is possible the head gasket has failed and only inspection confirm that
as said in other posts B model blocks and heads cracking is common and they can be repaired
A pressure test is the easiest way to locate the source of the leak

Bob Bidonde · 06-08-2015, 10:29 AM

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You need to distinguish between condensation and a coolant leak. Consider running the engine with exhaust manifold off and see if steam occurs in the suspect ports.

Bud · 06-08-2015, 11:11 AM

The steam holes were plugged. I am operating with the theory that due to the head gasket replacement last summer and it only being on the road once since then that it is not the head gasket. I like the idea of the pressure test and also the steam test. Thanks everyone for your observations and suggestions.

Bud · 06-09-2015, 11:29 AM

Any other thoughts? Otherwise I think I will start with the pressure test.

06-07-2015, 08:54 PM	#1
Bud Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 819	Is the verdict a cracked block? Last year I had quite a setback with rust in the cylinder bores of my B engine even though the engine was drained of coolant. I removed the cylinder head, cleaned it up with a wire wheel and did the same with the bores. I cleaned up everything as well as possible. I replaced the head gasket, using Indian Head shellac on both sides of the gasket. I torqued the head several times right after getting the engine warmed up. I did a compression check and everything looked OK. I ran the car for a couple outings and it ran well. Then for the winter I fogged the motor and turned it over several times to make sure the cylinders were lubricated. I just fixed a couple carburetor leaks, did some ignition maintenance and other minor repairs and got the car started this afternoon. I noticed the exhaust manifold gaskets had failed, so I tore it down to replace them. Water trickled out of the exhaust manifold when it was loosened. I dried it up and cleaned the surfaces to install new manifold gaskets. Water reappeared in the rear 4 ports, but not in the first two. The water sat in the port as a bead about a .25" in diameter. What's the verdict? Do I have a cracked block? I can't believe the head gasket is bad already. This is a B motor with a 6:1 Brumfield head. Any suggestions on my next steps? Thanks.

06-07-2015, 09:24 PM	#2
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: Is the verdict a cracked block? Are the 2 steam holes in the middle of the block deck plugged? If not they will leak when using a Model A head or gasket. __________________ http://www.model-a-ford-4bangers.com/

06-07-2015, 10:05 PM	#3
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Is the verdict a cracked block? B motors are known to crack around the valves. Seems Henry took a good thing, the A block and stuffed it up. I suspect he was trying to save a few cents on each block by cutting them short on cast iron, it was depression time after all. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

06-07-2015, 10:12 PM	#4
ursus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,375	Re: Is the verdict a cracked block? The exhaust ports for the middle two cylinders have very thin castings. Look for pinholes appearing in the port pockets and that is where the water is coming from. I have a block with the same symptoms and condition and am curious if the block can be saved by hogging out the castling and pressing in a sleeve.

06-08-2015, 04:22 AM	#5
colin1928 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Australa Melbourne Posts: 878	Re: Is the verdict a cracked block? It is possible the head gasket has failed and only inspection confirm that as said in other posts B model blocks and heads cracking is common and they can be repaired A pressure test is the easiest way to locate the source of the leak

06-08-2015, 10:29 AM	#6
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,470	Re: Is the verdict a cracked block? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) You need to distinguish between condensation and a coolant leak. Consider running the engine with exhaust manifold off and see if steam occurs in the suspect ports. __________________ Bob Bidonde

06-08-2015, 11:11 AM	#7
Bud Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 819	Re: Is the verdict a cracked block? The steam holes were plugged. I am operating with the theory that due to the head gasket replacement last summer and it only being on the road once since then that it is not the head gasket. I like the idea of the pressure test and also the steam test. Thanks everyone for your observations and suggestions.

06-09-2015, 11:29 AM	#8
Bud Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 819	Re: Is the verdict a cracked block? Any other thoughts? Otherwise I think I will start with the pressure test.