Notices
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

flathead question guy's

Old Aug 23, 2010 | 03:58 PM
  #1  
55 f350's Avatar
55 f350
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
flathead question guy's

ok doke i finally got the dain valvetrain swapped out and am in the rpocess of cleaning everything up . i cannot for the life of me after scraping the old head gaskets off , get this dain " reidue " off and get the surfaces perfectly clean . i have even tried gas and kerosene on clean rags . is there a really fine scotchbright pad or something that can be used too clean this all up real good before slapping the heads on and ending up with another freakin' leak ??? should i , with the composite head gaskets , use copper coat or sealer ???? if this was a late model i'd have it covered , but with my finicky ol' beloved flatty .... WELL .......................
 
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2010 | 07:15 PM
  #2  
38 coupe's Avatar
38 coupe
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,927
Likes: 135
From: Houston
I always use a dull pocket knife that won't dig into the cast iron and spend a lot of time scraping. I don't like composite head gaskets, I prefer the copper ones. I put copper coat on both sides of the head gaskets.
 
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2010 | 07:21 PM
  #3  
havi's Avatar
havi
I'll have the Roast Duck
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 110
From: Northshore, MN
Club FTE Gold Member
I have those scotchbrite 3" roloc pads for an air sander set on low speed. Works pretty good.
 
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2010 | 07:49 PM
  #4  
Julies Cool F1's Avatar
Julies Cool F1
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,641
Likes: 21
From: Poway, Ca.
Try a rotary brass wire brush on your angle grinder or drill. Have you tried spraying some diesel on it and let it sit overnight?
 
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2010 | 08:06 PM
  #5  
55 f350's Avatar
55 f350
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
done everything but contact an elder for some sort of ritual dance to get the residue off . welp we shall try soaking it again , go find me a soft brass rotary brush , and some real fine scotchbrites then . i was going to pick some up , scotchbrites super fine , at the parts house during a trip for 52 parts today { they are what i used on all the late model stuff } but figured i better ask . maybe it's just me 38 , and my lack of playing with anything as diff as my now present flatties , but i cant bring myself to seeing a copper gasket sealing worth a fiddle fart , even though my gramps , unk , and pops ran 'em on some of their race stuff . who knows i might just give it a try ............................ but that's all for another day now ............ the work week begin's anew ..................
 
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2010 | 08:28 PM
  #6  
38 coupe's Avatar
38 coupe
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,927
Likes: 135
From: Houston
The copper gaskets have a steel fire ring around the combustion chambers and crush rings around the water passages. I have never blown one out or heard of anyone else blowing one out.
 
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2010 | 09:33 PM
  #7  
ALBUQ F-1's Avatar
ALBUQ F-1
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
Originally Posted by 38 coupe
The copper gaskets have a steel fire ring around the combustion chambers and crush rings around the water passages. I have never blown one out or heard of anyone else blowing one out.
Nothing wrong with the copper, but FelPro's "blue" with the slick coating are excellent gaskets, too. Detroit Gasket makes some good ones, as does Best. The beauty of flatheads is they've been around long enough for everyone to know what works. The copper gaskets need a definite "tooth" on the head and block surfaces to seal effectively. In 55 F350's case, he's going to have a pretty smooth surface, I think a composition gasket like the FelPro might seal better.
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 02:10 AM
  #8  
55 f350's Avatar
55 f350
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
got the best brand gaskets from egge too use . came pretty recomended so ............. been sitting here gathering dust as it is now . just a lil' concerned as too what needs to be done as i really dont want too be changing out head gaskets every couple of years ........... even on a flatty it can be a pain !!!!!!!!!!! thanx for the info fella's and julie ...........
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-7

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 09:39 AM
  #9  
1952's Avatar
1952
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
Originally Posted by havi
I have those scotchbrite 3" roloc pads for an air sander set on low speed. Works pretty good.

A second to this!!
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 09:41 PM
  #10  
jbrittonjr's Avatar
jbrittonjr
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Whiting, NJ
Club FTE Gold Member
Scotchbrite pads on an air grinder & acetone for the solvent.
Be careful not to get too close to an open flame.
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2010 | 09:50 PM
  #11  
ALBUQ F-1's Avatar
ALBUQ F-1
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
Permatex sells Gasket Remover, has Methyl-ethyl Ketone, serious stuff...
 
Reply
Old Aug 25, 2010 | 02:05 AM
  #12  
55 f350's Avatar
55 f350
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
again thanx for the info ! knowing how different things can be with these ol' girls just wanted to make sure , and didn't want any more leaks .
 
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:58 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-6
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE