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One area of concern. Some of the water passages in the head gaskets are clogged while some are partially clogged. Is this to be expected? I don't remember when I last put in new antifreeze. Should I flush the system before I add the new coolant?
Pics of one gasket on the block and the other off the head to show you the gunk.
Abe, I have extra pushrods from a 239 if you want me to send you a few.
I'd put it all back together and see how it runs, while knowing that pulling the engine for a rebuild is the next step. Just remember, "it's all in the name of fun!" Dive into that 239!!
Abe, I have extra pushrods from a 239 if you want me to send you a few.
I'd put it all back together and see how it runs, while knowing that pulling the engine for a rebuild is the next step. Just remember, "it's all in the name of fun!" Dive into that 239!!
Thanks, Brian. I think my pushrod is OK. It looks good to me. Before I got it out I called 3 of the four auto parts places in my town. I didn't expect any of them to have them in stock. NAPA said they could get one from Nebraska by Monday. When I got the rocker arm off and pulled the rod out I knew I didn't need a new rod. Thanks for the offer.
You are so right about the weight of the heads, I did mine solo and would not ever do it again. I hurt my back, added a few beauty marks to my fenders and dropped the drivers side onto the oil filter, luckily didn't hit the fuel pump. Your doing just fine on this project. The guys that know how give you feedback and you follow it, that's how we learn. Keep up the good work, and keep the pics coming, I really enjoy them
One area of concern. Some of the water passages in the head gaskets are clogged while some are partially clogged. Is this to be expected? I don't remember when I last put in new antifreeze. Should I flush the system before I add the new coolant?
Abe, a flush is never a bad idea - especially after a teardown. But with that being said, I think what you're seeing is perfectly normal. The coolant holes in the head gaskets are normally much smaller than the holes in the deck of the block and the heads and sometimes they may not have any holes in certain locations at all. The engine designers use these size of these orifices to tune coolant flow for even cylinder head temps. If you compare the old gaskets to the new ones you'll see what I'm talking about.
If you think pulling the heads off was difficult, wait till you try to carefully set them back on. An engine hoist or someone with large biceps will be helpful.
on that pictures I can't see a damage on the surface of the pistons. That's good! Meaning that the valve that got stuck, didn't touch the piston! otherwise that could have caused severe damage on the pistons and even
the crankshaft! But nonetheless You'll have to pull that valve and check, if
it is bent!
on that pictures I can't see a damage on the surface of the pistons. That's good! Meaning that the valve that got stuck, didn't touch the piston! otherwise that could have caused severe damage on the pistons and even
the crankshaft! But nonetheless You'll have to pull that valve and check, if
it is bent!
Abe, If you need it you can borrow my cherry picker.
With the pushrod...I had the same thing happen on my 215 6cyl after i got it home from out west. It ran and moved but it smoked and was very rough running. I figured it was shot but decided to take the valve cover off and see what was up inside there. I had 2 push rods complete off the rockers and all the rest were WAY out of adjustment, like 1/8" instead of .009 to .014 specs. the rods looked ok so i just put them back in and adjusted the valves to within specs. Started it back up and it ran like it was brand new. The smoke all cleared up after about 1/2 hour and now it doesn't smoke at all and has very good power. Maybe i got lucky but i was amazed that nothing was bent or damaged. I actually think someone redid this thing at one point and never adjusted the valves. I don't know how they could've all been that far out of whack. Needless to say it was very loud inside the valve cover and sounded like it was full of bb's.
Abe, If you need it you can borrow my cherry picker.
With the pushrod...I had the same thing happen on my 215 6cyl after i got it home from out west. It ran and moved but it smoked and was very rough running. I figured it was shot but decided to take the valve cover off and see what was up inside there. I had 2 push rods complete off the rockers and all the rest were WAY out of adjustment, like 1/8" instead of .009 to .014 specs. the rods looked ok so i just put them back in and adjusted the valves to within specs. Started it back up and it ran like it was brand new. The smoke all cleared up after about 1/2 hour and now it doesn't smoke at all and has very good power. Maybe i got lucky but i was amazed that nothing was bent or damaged. I actually think someone redid this thing at one point and never adjusted the valves. I don't know how they could've all been that far out of whack. Needless to say it was very loud inside the valve cover and sounded like it was full of bb's.
Thanks, Brian. I won't need it. Thanks anyhow. My BIL could not find any reason for the pushrod to come off the lifter, the lifter wasn't bent or worn. The lifter moved up and down when we turned the engine. The only reason would be that that valve needed adjusted.
I've seen and heard of these push rods come disengaged several times over the years. My theory is, it happens when a valve sticks open because of rust or valve stem deposits. Again, my thoughts only but when these old engines are awakened from storage, a valve sticks open and there is the disconnect. Lubrication to the rockers on these old engines is poor at best. IMO, we do not do these old engines any favors by starting and not warming them up fully during periods of storage. All this procedure does is promote moisture inside the engine and resultant rust. Frequent oil changes with good detergent oil and frequent use is, IMO, the answer to maintaining a healthy engine.
I would think an engine that had the valves so loose they would disconnect is highly unlikely. It would make as much noise as a compound threshing machine. Surely anyone would investigate.
As my BIL was prepping the block to put the heads on I was transferring stuff from the old heads to the new head. I took the water temp sending unit out I realized that the new head didn't have a threaded plug, just a port. We didn't know what what to do.
We thought about going to a machine shop to get it pulled out and pressed in. I called Dennis, pinto plumber, who I bought the heads from. He didn't answer. My BIL thought he could make something to pull it out. But he needed a welder.
So we went ahead and put the left head on. Then Dennis called me back. He explained how he made a tool with a nipple and some nuts welded to it to pull it out. And it should press into the new head. So knowing that my BIL took the old head home to Wellsboro, about an hour away. He'll make the tool and get it out. Hopefully he can return next week.
Here is the port that needs the threaded plug for the temperature sending unit.
