The Ford Barn

RatrodShoebox · 02-14-2025, 09:21 AM

So I picked up an 8BA that hasn’t been running for a while. Everything is free and it looks good all around except for one spot on the #2 cylinder wall. I don’t know if a ring broke at one point or what. I haven’t checked the compression yet, or pulled the piston. But just assuming the rings are intact, would this spot be of any concern? How cooked is my goose?

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corvette8n · 02-14-2025, 01:24 PM

When I changed the oil in my first flathead a ‘50 Ford pieces of rings came out of the drain hole. We found two cylinders with broken rings, my dad borrowed a hone and did all 8 cylinders. We bought 2 new pistons and a set of rings, rod bearings and gaskets and put it back together. Being 17 at the time I beat on that car for the next two years until I bought something a little newer.

deuce5wndw · 02-14-2025, 01:29 PM

Is that a hole at the bottom of the fan shape? That would account for the fan shaped clean spot leaking coolant into the cylinder. If the rest checks ok looks like you will need a sleeve.

19Fordy · 02-14-2025, 02:04 PM

Probably will have to re sleeve that cylinder and bore it to specs.

tubman · 02-14-2025, 02:29 PM

While you have it apart, you might just as well buy new pistons and bore it to 3 5/16". Saves the price of a sleeve.

Bored&Stroked · 02-14-2025, 02:53 PM

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It looks to me like there is NO ring wear in that funny area? Take a closer look - are the hone hatch marks still intact in that area? Tough to tell in a photo.

If so, then the problem was probably with how it was bored/honed in the first place. Are there any oversize markings on the tops of the pistons?

Either way, you need to decide how much time, effort and money to put into it. Given that it has been sitting, if I was mine I'd tear it the rest of the way down, inspect the bearings, inspect the rings, check the valves/seats, etc.. You're already this far - might as well really know what you have to work with. Once you know the details, then we can help you with recommendations.

That Bore: If you have a precision dial-bore caliper or know a local machine shop, have them mic that top area of the cylinder to see what is going on.

RatrodShoebox · 02-14-2025, 04:10 PM

Thanks for the responses so far fellas. I guess what is really taking the wind of of my sails here is that both machine shops within 2 hours of me are about a year out if you take them anything

Ggmac · 02-14-2025, 04:16 PM

Was it laying on that side ? Meaning laying with that cyl bank on the floor and possibly some fluid/ cleaner sat there and washed that area . Thats the best case , worst case is that the cyl wasn’t properly bored . Check carefully . After enlargement it looks loke the rings did , at one time , make contact with the cyl wall . Can you feel anything with your finger ?
Where do you live ?

38 coupe · 02-15-2025, 07:26 AM

In the pictures it appears to have a pit at the bottom of that fan shape, and a gouge at the top. Pictures can be misleading, what are we actually seeing?
If the only work the engine needs from a professional machine shop needs is that one hole sleeved you could ask it they could squeeze that in between whole engine jobs. Really need to see the rest of the block, rotating assembly, and pistons to make that call.

02-14-2025, 09:21 AM	#1
RatrodShoebox Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2025 Posts: 5	8BA cylinder wall issue? So I picked up an 8BA that hasn’t been running for a while. Everything is free and it looks good all around except for one spot on the #2 cylinder wall. I don’t know if a ring broke at one point or what. I haven’t checked the compression yet, or pulled the piston. But just assuming the rings are intact, would this spot be of any concern? How cooked is my goose? IMG_5904.jpg IMG_5908.jpg

02-14-2025, 01:29 PM	#3
deuce5wndw Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Liberty, KY Posts: 1,024	Re: 8BA cylinder wall issue? Is that a hole at the bottom of the fan shape? That would account for the fan shaped clean spot leaking coolant into the cylinder. If the rest checks ok looks like you will need a sleeve.

02-14-2025, 02:04 PM	#4
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 11,916	Re: 8BA cylinder wall issue? Probably will have to re sleeve that cylinder and bore it to specs.

02-14-2025, 02:29 PM	#5
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 12,139	Re: 8BA cylinder wall issue? While you have it apart, you might just as well buy new pistons and bore it to 3 5/16". Saves the price of a sleeve.

02-14-2025, 02:53 PM	#6
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,906	Re: 8BA cylinder wall issue? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) It looks to me like there is NO ring wear in that funny area? Take a closer look - are the hone hatch marks still intact in that area? Tough to tell in a photo. If so, then the problem was probably with how it was bored/honed in the first place. Are there any oversize markings on the tops of the pistons? Either way, you need to decide how much time, effort and money to put into it. Given that it has been sitting, if I was mine I'd tear it the rest of the way down, inspect the bearings, inspect the rings, check the valves/seats, etc.. You're already this far - might as well really know what you have to work with. Once you know the details, then we can help you with recommendations. That Bore: If you have a precision dial-bore caliper or know a local machine shop, have them mic that top area of the cylinder to see what is going on.

02-14-2025, 01:24 PM	#2
corvette8n Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 36 miles north of Albany NY Posts: 3,323	Re: 8BA cylinder wall issue? When I changed the oil in my first flathead a ‘50 Ford pieces of rings came out of the drain hole. We found two cylinders with broken rings, my dad borrowed a hone and did all 8 cylinders. We bought 2 new pistons and a set of rings, rod bearings and gaskets and put it back together. Being 17 at the time I beat on that car for the next two years until I bought something a little newer.

02-14-2025, 04:10 PM	#7
RatrodShoebox Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2025 Posts: 5	Re: 8BA cylinder wall issue? Thanks for the responses so far fellas. I guess what is really taking the wind of of my sails here is that both machine shops within 2 hours of me are about a year out if you take them anything

02-14-2025, 04:16 PM	#8
Ggmac Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Lake worth Florida Posts: 1,466	Re: 8BA cylinder wall issue? Was it laying on that side ? Meaning laying with that cyl bank on the floor and possibly some fluid/ cleaner sat there and washed that area . Thats the best case , worst case is that the cyl wasn’t properly bored . Check carefully . After enlargement it looks loke the rings did , at one time , make contact with the cyl wall . Can you feel anything with your finger ? Where do you live ?

02-15-2025, 07:26 AM	#9
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,135	Re: 8BA cylinder wall issue? In the pictures it appears to have a pit at the bottom of that fan shape, and a gouge at the top. Pictures can be misleading, what are we actually seeing? If the only work the engine needs from a professional machine shop needs is that one hole sleeved you could ask it they could squeeze that in between whole engine jobs. Really need to see the rest of the block, rotating assembly, and pistons to make that call.