The Ford Barn

hydropower · 03-26-2014, 03:56 PM

New here, hoping the brain trust can offer some advice?
I have a 36 ford truck with a 48 engine and 8BA heads. It has been parked for 7 years. It ran good when parked. The engine had recently "in miles" been rebuilt. The other day I looked in the radiator and no fluid visible then checked the dip stick and had to much oil. I drained the oil this morning, there was about two quarts of coolant that came out first.
Just wondering what you all think I should take apart first or some test before I take it apart?

Thanks Hydropower

Mart · 03-26-2014, 04:07 PM

I'm guessing that it doesn't go below freezing in Hawaii??

(I just googled it - It goes NOWHERE near freezing in Hawaii!)

If that is the case, it might be head gasket related.

And hello.

Mart.

flatjack9 · 03-26-2014, 05:42 PM

Welcome. Check the torque on the headbolts. I torque to 50 ft lb.

hydropower · 03-26-2014, 07:50 PM

Well I pulled the plugs one of the plugs was not firing right, put a flashlight in the hole

the seat was out of its recess keeping the valve from closing. I guess I have at least two problems.
Hydropower

Clem Clement · 03-26-2014, 08:10 PM

It does snow in Hawaii on the top of them 2 hills on the big island.

ford38v8 · 03-26-2014, 09:27 PM

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Parked for 7 years... No freeze, but "Raindops keep falling on my".... Carburetor?

itsa52 · 03-26-2014, 09:49 PM

Rusted frost plug?

flatjack9 · 03-26-2014, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsa52

Rusted frost plug?

The 48 has no "frost" plugs.

66miles · 03-27-2014, 01:02 AM

My '47 Merc with older, possibly 39/40 merc motor ended up with water in the oil just after Xmas. Changed the head gaskets, and have seen no more probs.

deuce lover · 03-27-2014, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

It does snow in Hawaii on the top of them 2 hills on the big island.

Yes, 3 times this winter

Snouts out · 03-27-2014, 02:30 AM

What I'd tell you,flat heads are notorious for blowing head gaskets,or worser,warp heads.

Ray Balukas · 03-27-2014, 02:40 AM

I had the same issue with my 8BA. It was a head gasket. The Flathead King is giving it a total rebirth.

hydropower · 03-27-2014, 01:49 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I took both heads off all of the sealing surfaces looked good the bores were all perfect no ridge. The truck when it was shipped from long beach 7 years ago got bumped for some military cargo. Possible it froze one of those nights the coolant was brown and nasty when I got it. I am pulling the motor to fix the valve seat hopefully the block is not cracked!

I had the same issue with my 8BA. It was a head gasket. The Flathead King is giving it a total rebirth.

Did it look like the head gasket had failed when you took it apart, was there water in the bore?

The block has a triangular water inlet hole in the middle upper the head has a round hole and the gasket has a round hole with metal seal ring for newer head does not look like it was leaking into the bore though.
Hydropower

Ray Balukas · 03-27-2014, 07:20 PM

Hopefully Walt will chime in on this. He is the one who tore it down. One piston was real clean.

billwill · 03-27-2014, 07:25 PM

Check head bolts for tourgue and take compressiontest good luck

Sixseven · 03-27-2014, 08:06 PM

You say you found coolant in the oil. Is that green coolant as in antifreeze or just plain water?

hydropower · 03-27-2014, 11:27 PM

Yes antifreeze. Pulled the motor today, will tear it apart tomorrow.

Mart · 03-28-2014, 04:07 AM

If the car hasn't run since being shipped to Hawaii, it may have been cracked beforehand. This could get messy.

Good luck.

Walt Dupont--Me. · 03-28-2014, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Balukas

Hopefully Walt will chime in on this. He is the one who tore it down. One piston was real clean.

Ray's engine had a broken head bolt, it was the bottom bolt of the 3 bolts that hold the oil filter to the head. When I pulled the head you could see the fire ring imprint around all the cyl. The imprint was very light around that broken bolt and a water hole is right close to that broken bolt. I could see signs of water that had been setting in the cyl about 2in, down. Mag engine, looked real good. NO, I didn't pressure test the block so don't ask me. Should be running the engine on the test stand in a couple of weeks. Yea I know, that will ruin the engine. I've got a lot of ruined out there. Walt

hydropower · 03-28-2014, 01:05 PM

The truck probably ran for less than 1 hour after changing oil and coolant 7 years ago. There was no mixing of the oil and coolant in the oil pan. Should know more this afternoon wish me luck!

03-26-2014, 03:56 PM	#1
hydropower Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: kamaee hawaii Posts: 39	coolant in crankcase New here, hoping the brain trust can offer some advice? I have a 36 ford truck with a 48 engine and 8BA heads. It has been parked for 7 years. It ran good when parked. The engine had recently "in miles" been rebuilt. The other day I looked in the radiator and no fluid visible then checked the dip stick and had to much oil. I drained the oil this morning, there was about two quarts of coolant that came out first. Just wondering what you all think I should take apart first or some test before I take it apart? Thanks Hydropower

03-26-2014, 04:07 PM	#2
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,744	Re: coolant in crankcase I'm guessing that it doesn't go below freezing in Hawaii?? (I just googled it - It goes NOWHERE near freezing in Hawaii!) If that is the case, it might be head gasket related. And hello. Mart.

03-26-2014, 05:42 PM	#3
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: coolant in crankcase Welcome. Check the torque on the headbolts. I torque to 50 ft lb.

03-26-2014, 07:50 PM	#4
hydropower Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: kamaee hawaii Posts: 39	Re: coolant in crankcase Well I pulled the plugs one of the plugs was not firing right, put a flashlight in the hole the seat was out of its recess keeping the valve from closing. I guess I have at least two problems. Hydropower

03-26-2014, 08:10 PM	#5
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: coolant in crankcase It does snow in Hawaii on the top of them 2 hills on the big island.

03-26-2014, 09:27 PM	#6
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 6,635	Re: coolant in crankcase Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Parked for 7 years... No freeze, but "Raindops keep falling on my".... Carburetor? __________________ Alan

03-26-2014, 09:49 PM	#7
itsa52 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nebraska Posts: 603	Re: coolant in crankcase Rusted frost plug?

03-27-2014, 01:02 AM	#9
66miles Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wellsford - NZ 0900 Posts: 214	Re: coolant in crankcase My '47 Merc with older, possibly 39/40 merc motor ended up with water in the oil just after Xmas. Changed the head gaskets, and have seen no more probs.

03-27-2014, 02:30 AM	#11
Snouts out Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Covedale,oh Posts: 226	Re: coolant in crankcase What I'd tell you,flat heads are notorious for blowing head gaskets,or worser,warp heads.

03-27-2014, 02:40 AM	#12
Ray Balukas Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Deerfield N.H. Posts: 294	Re: coolant in crankcase I had the same issue with my 8BA. It was a head gasket. The Flathead King is giving it a total rebirth.

03-27-2014, 01:49 PM	#13
hydropower Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: kamaee hawaii Posts: 39	Re: coolant in crankcase Thanks for the suggestions. I took both heads off all of the sealing surfaces looked good the bores were all perfect no ridge. The truck when it was shipped from long beach 7 years ago got bumped for some military cargo. Possible it froze one of those nights the coolant was brown and nasty when I got it. I am pulling the motor to fix the valve seat hopefully the block is not cracked! I had the same issue with my 8BA. It was a head gasket. The Flathead King is giving it a total rebirth. Did it look like the head gasket had failed when you took it apart, was there water in the bore? The block has a triangular water inlet hole in the middle upper the head has a round hole and the gasket has a round hole with metal seal ring for newer head does not look like it was leaking into the bore though. Hydropower

03-27-2014, 07:20 PM	#14
Ray Balukas Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Deerfield N.H. Posts: 294	Re: coolant in crankcase Hopefully Walt will chime in on this. He is the one who tore it down. One piston was real clean.

03-27-2014, 07:25 PM	#15
billwill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: capemaynewjersey Posts: 653	Re: coolant in crankcase Check head bolts for tourgue and take compressiontest good luck

03-27-2014, 08:06 PM	#16
Sixseven Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 482	Re: coolant in crankcase You say you found coolant in the oil. Is that green coolant as in antifreeze or just plain water?

03-27-2014, 11:27 PM	#17
hydropower Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: kamaee hawaii Posts: 39	Re: coolant in crankcase Yes antifreeze. Pulled the motor today, will tear it apart tomorrow.

03-28-2014, 04:07 AM	#18
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,744	Re: coolant in crankcase If the car hasn't run since being shipped to Hawaii, it may have been cracked beforehand. This could get messy. Good luck.

03-28-2014, 01:05 PM	#20
hydropower Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: kamaee hawaii Posts: 39	Re: coolant in crankcase The truck probably ran for less than 1 hour after changing oil and coolant 7 years ago. There was no mixing of the oil and coolant in the oil pan. Should know more this afternoon wish me luck!