Whoops!.. What would U do?
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 98
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Whoops!.. What would U do?
so i decided to help my friend get his motor back together today. spent all day doing valve lash adjustment, installing carb, remounting front components like air, waterpump, alternator, etc. all the connections from hoses and electrical, exhaust manifolds, valve covers, distributor, and last but not least before starting motor was the spark plugs.
he had installed the heads and intake a couple of months ago(by himself) he didn't rebuild the motor, just the heads and installed a new cam and intake....when i went to install the last spark plug today, i noticed the AC wire that goes to the compressor was mysteriously dissapearing into the motor toward the back cylinder. after closer inspection, i noticed that the wire was pinched between the head and the block. looking around, i see it reappear out of the middle of the back of the head between the block and head. somehow, when he installed the head, that wire had slipped between the head and the block along the back corner above the last cylinder and he didn't see it. went ahead and torqued down the head, sandwiching the wire.............NOW WHAT???? the motor is all put back together in the truck, and ready to fire up.
he had installed the heads and intake a couple of months ago(by himself) he didn't rebuild the motor, just the heads and installed a new cam and intake....when i went to install the last spark plug today, i noticed the AC wire that goes to the compressor was mysteriously dissapearing into the motor toward the back cylinder. after closer inspection, i noticed that the wire was pinched between the head and the block. looking around, i see it reappear out of the middle of the back of the head between the block and head. somehow, when he installed the head, that wire had slipped between the head and the block along the back corner above the last cylinder and he didn't see it. went ahead and torqued down the head, sandwiching the wire.............NOW WHAT???? the motor is all put back together in the truck, and ready to fire up.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Glade Hill, VA 24092
You are correct all the way down the point of "ready to fire up". It will be ready to fire up as soon as ya'll pull that head back off and remove the wire. Would probably be a good idea to replace that head gasket also. Just my opinion but it would not be a good idea to drive the truck with this issue. The wire could be compromising water jackets, oil passages and/or the piston cylinder itself.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Laramie Wyoming
X2 on replacing the headgasket. There's a good possibility that it's put a nice little indentation in the gasket that could prevent it from sealing once the wire is removed.
And, as stated, do NOT try and fire up the truck with the wire in there. I would get that removed ASAP because with the head torqued, it could be pushing up on that side of the head, and might be causing it to warp. I'd be tempted to get that head checked against a machinist's straightedge just to be sure.
And, as stated, do NOT try and fire up the truck with the wire in there. I would get that removed ASAP because with the head torqued, it could be pushing up on that side of the head, and might be causing it to warp. I'd be tempted to get that head checked against a machinist's straightedge just to be sure.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 141
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From: Glade Hill, VA 24092
X2 on replacing the headgasket. There's a good possibility that it's put a nice little indentation in the gasket that could prevent it from sealing once the wire is removed.
And, as stated, do NOT try and fire up the truck with the wire in there. I would get that removed ASAP because with the head torqued, it could be pushing up on that side of the head, and might be causing it to warp. I'd be tempted to get that head checked against a machinist's straightedge just to be sure.
And, as stated, do NOT try and fire up the truck with the wire in there. I would get that removed ASAP because with the head torqued, it could be pushing up on that side of the head, and might be causing it to warp. I'd be tempted to get that head checked against a machinist's straightedge just to be sure.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,437
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From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
Tear it back down and install new gaskets (Intake and all). If $$'s real tight and you dont mind doing it or a third time you could try re-using gaskets. I doubt you warped the heads if they're cast iron
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Phoenix, AZ
well, against all advisory, we fired it up 
runs like a champ! no leaks on the exterior, or smoke or anything odd in the exhaust. i can't believe it. this motor is runnin with the AC compressor wire sandwiched between the head and the block. of course we cut the wire as close to the block as possible because i knew it would have shorted out.
he had aquired a good used motor to put in it, otherwise we wouldn't have entertained the thought of starting it up. it was all put back together anyway, and our curiosity got the best of us. runs great. i think i'm gonna have to take a video of this and put it up on youtube. a compression test would be interesting too. i'll keep ya posted
runs like a champ! no leaks on the exterior, or smoke or anything odd in the exhaust. i can't believe it. this motor is runnin with the AC compressor wire sandwiched between the head and the block. of course we cut the wire as close to the block as possible because i knew it would have shorted out.
he had aquired a good used motor to put in it, otherwise we wouldn't have entertained the thought of starting it up. it was all put back together anyway, and our curiosity got the best of us. runs great. i think i'm gonna have to take a video of this and put it up on youtube. a compression test would be interesting too. i'll keep ya posted
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happens when people do stuff like that? I've got first-hand experience, my
favorite quote from that thread is: