how much compression is enough?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 19
From: scotia. NY 12302
how much compression is enough?
we got the flattie running after a 22 year rest. doing the seafoam, oiling, etc. for compression, we have 85-90 LBS in 5,6,7,8. 1 is 85, 2 is 0, 3 and 4 are 30 LBS. we've been soaking the right side cylinders with seafoam, and will try MMO, etc. if that doesn't do it, we are going to take the right head off and free up the valves and take a look (pretty obvious that 2 is stuck open, 3,4 ??). we'll continue with the run/clean treatments and see if things continue to improve. Question: if we can get them all up 85-90 lbs will we have decent runner?? thanks, dick r
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,298
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Unless there's water shooting out of the spark plug holes, don't pull the head just yet! Pull the intake manifold and get SeaFoam onto the valve stems and the lifters especially, they are where varnish really builds up. Note that on a flathead you don't even need to drain the radiator to pull the intake! It's a 10-minute job! You'll also see if there is so much stuff built up that you want to vat it before going further.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 19
From: scotia. NY 12302
albuq f-1 and ftl8ford thanks for the replies. albuq, your advice makes great sense, we thought we might have to take off the manifold as well, but it makes more sense to do the manifold first and see what we can do from there without disturbing the head. while you are snowbound in NM, we in upstate NY near albany, just got about our 3rd inch of snow for the season (normal total ~70" for the season). it has meant my chief wrench (my brother in law) has been working on my truck instead of snowmobiling. been good for me. dick r.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,493
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From: Erie, pa
1. Don't be surprised what you find in the Valley. Oh and share with us, we like to laugh.
2. For the 48-53 Ford 8/BA/RT series compression was in the 90-120 range, depending on the year, heads etc. For a new stock engine.
2. For the 48-53 Ford 8/BA/RT series compression was in the 90-120 range, depending on the year, heads etc. For a new stock engine.
