The Ford Barn

Art Newland · 04-17-2018, 10:31 AM

I'm going to check on another block for sale. How far can the blocks be decked to remove surface pitting?

JSeery · 04-17-2018, 10:35 AM

Flathead decks were thin to begin with, and it may have been decked before during previous rebuilds. I don't know the maximum amount you can deck a flathead and it still be a usable block, but you need to keep it to the minimum amount possible.

flatheadmurre · 04-17-2018, 10:41 AM

The bad rust is usually around valves and actually inside the combustion chamber.
Only the sealing areas needs to clean up for it to work and most important around the fire ring area.

Seth Swoboda · 04-17-2018, 10:55 AM

Hard to tell from your photo but that deck looks like it would clean up fairly easily. I'd be more concerned about any deep pitting that would require more surfacing.

Art Newland · 04-17-2018, 11:16 AM

It's a standard bore so I doubt it's been decked... but you never know. I hope to get a good look at it in person soon. I imagine some slight pitting wouldn't be too consequential.

Digger · 04-17-2018, 12:46 PM

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Crusty is too rusty

petehoovie · 04-17-2018, 12:51 PM

Looks like using a head gasket with a lot of 'squish' is what you will need....

philipswanson · 04-18-2018, 12:24 PM

Use Copper Coat on the head gaskets. It will fill in the pits.

Art Newland · 04-18-2018, 02:36 PM

I'll be taking a look at it tomorrow. I'll bring a cordless drill with a wire brush and remove some of the rust.

JSeery · 04-18-2018, 03:48 PM

Take it easy on the deck surfaces, very easy to cause damage.

tubman · 04-18-2018, 06:21 PM

Seriously, if that were mine, I'd rig something so I could hang it from my "cherry-picker" and immerse the block surface in a pan of "EvapoRust". I wouldn't try anything too harsh at first.

Art Newland · 04-18-2018, 10:13 PM

It's hard to tell how bad it is from the pictures, I'll lay eyeballs on it tomorrow.

Tinker · 04-18-2018, 10:42 PM

If it's a experimental engine, maybe skim coat the deck with jb. Ok I'm kidding....

Art Newland · 04-18-2018, 11:01 PM

Hmmm, maybe I wouldn't need to use the head bolts?

Tinker · 04-18-2018, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Newland

Hmmm, maybe I wouldn't need to use the head bolts?

permanent fix.

Art Newland · 04-19-2018, 02:34 PM

Well, Seth called it. Just some light surface rust easily rubbed away with a scotch-bright pad. I'm always leery about why a standard bore engine was taken out of service, no valve to cylinder cracks to be seen by eyeball anyway. The engine turns easily by hand. Maybe it will be a keeper... we'll see.

Seth Swoboda · 04-19-2018, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Newland

Well, Seth called it. Just some light surface rust easily rubbed away with a scotch-bright pad. I'm always leery about why a standard bore engine was taken out of service, no valve to cylinder cracks to be seen by eyeball anyway. The engine turns easily by hand. Maybe it will be a keeper... we'll see.

Hey I've seen worse than what you have there in that block. Now get it magnafluxed by a machine shop and if good there, let the fun begin. A machine shop could probably take off a thousandth and it will really clean up nicely. Maybe you just need a cylinder hone job and your good?

I recently did a rebuild on a 59A block that was all standard bore and the crank journals were standard too. The cylinders only required a honing and the crank went 10/10. Now that ain't bad!

P.S. please don't tell the other guys here I was right.

Art Newland · 04-19-2018, 07:23 PM

Looks to be a Canadian block, which isn't surprising because I picked it up in BC

JSeery · 04-19-2018, 08:25 PM

The deck looks good!

Art Newland · 04-19-2018, 08:52 PM

Appears to be an aluminum cam gear.

04-17-2018, 10:35 AM	#2
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: How rusty is too rusty? Flathead decks were thin to begin with, and it may have been decked before during previous rebuilds. I don't know the maximum amount you can deck a flathead and it still be a usable block, but you need to keep it to the minimum amount possible.

04-17-2018, 10:41 AM	#3
flatheadmurre Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,045	Re: How rusty is too rusty? The bad rust is usually around valves and actually inside the combustion chamber. Only the sealing areas needs to clean up for it to work and most important around the fire ring area.

04-17-2018, 10:55 AM	#4
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 3,795	Re: How rusty is too rusty? Hard to tell from your photo but that deck looks like it would clean up fairly easily. I'd be more concerned about any deep pitting that would require more surfacing.

04-17-2018, 11:16 AM	#5
Art Newland Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Lynden, WA Posts: 1,564	Re: How rusty is too rusty? It's a standard bore so I doubt it's been decked... but you never know. I hope to get a good look at it in person soon. I imagine some slight pitting wouldn't be too consequential. __________________ "whatever works!"

04-17-2018, 12:46 PM	#6
Digger Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pacific Grove, CA Posts: 1,210	Re: How rusty is too rusty? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Crusty is too rusty

04-17-2018, 12:51 PM	#7
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,137	Re: How rusty is too rusty? Looks like using a head gasket with a lot of 'squish' is what you will need.... __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 Last edited by petehoovie; 04-18-2018 at 12:28 PM.

04-18-2018, 12:24 PM	#8
philipswanson Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Bonita, CA Posts: 1,374	Re: How rusty is too rusty? Use Copper Coat on the head gaskets. It will fill in the pits.

04-18-2018, 02:36 PM	#9
Art Newland Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Lynden, WA Posts: 1,564	Re: How rusty is too rusty? I'll be taking a look at it tomorrow. I'll bring a cordless drill with a wire brush and remove some of the rust. __________________ "whatever works!"

04-18-2018, 03:48 PM	#10
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: How rusty is too rusty? Take it easy on the deck surfaces, very easy to cause damage.

04-18-2018, 06:21 PM	#11
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,316	Re: How rusty is too rusty? Seriously, if that were mine, I'd rig something so I could hang it from my "cherry-picker" and immerse the block surface in a pan of "EvapoRust". I wouldn't try anything too harsh at first.

04-18-2018, 10:13 PM	#12
Art Newland Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Lynden, WA Posts: 1,564	Re: How rusty is too rusty? It's hard to tell how bad it is from the pictures, I'll lay eyeballs on it tomorrow. __________________ "whatever works!"

04-18-2018, 10:42 PM	#13
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: How rusty is too rusty? If it's a experimental engine, maybe skim coat the deck with jb. Ok I'm kidding....

04-18-2018, 11:01 PM	#14
Art Newland Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Lynden, WA Posts: 1,564	Re: How rusty is too rusty? Hmmm, maybe I wouldn't need to use the head bolts? __________________ "whatever works!"

04-19-2018, 08:25 PM	#19
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: How rusty is too rusty? The deck looks good!