Block pressure test.
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Topic author - Posts: 463
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 12:32 am
- First Name: Erik
- Last Name: Barrett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 speedster 1924 touring 1925 dump truck
- Location: Auburn, Ca.
Block pressure test.
I have put this up before but thought it could use a reboot. All T blocks that come here for work are first given a pressure test. I made tooling and bolt down a head with a reusable rubber gasket. Then the whole thing is filled with water and pressurized to 20 psi with a radiator pressure tester. More than a few times I have found leaks that would only have come up after I built an engine and a customer put water in it. Not a phone call I want to get.
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- E03107CB-9463-4B47-8508-A2425B666261.jpeg (60.33 KiB) Viewed 1460 times
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- Posts: 1035
- Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2021 3:11 pm
- First Name: bryant
- Last Name: shafer
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 tudor
- Location: myersville maryland
- MTFCA Number: 51736
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Block pressure test.
Thats a nice set up you got there!
How long do you usually let it set to see if pressure drops?
what are common leak areas you find?
Bryant
How long do you usually let it set to see if pressure drops?
what are common leak areas you find?
Bryant
“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t-you’re right.”
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- Posts: 605
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:15 am
- First Name: Andrew
- Last Name: Clary
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Runabout 1926 Coupe. Mercury Speedster #1249
- Location: Usa
- MTFCA Number: 24057
Re: Block pressure test.
I run a heat gun across the popular crack areas as some cracks open up when warm. The passenger side especially under the overhang and also around the freeze plug holes and through the gap between 2 and 3.
Andy
Andy
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- Posts: 6411
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- MTFCA Number: 51486
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Block pressure test.
That's a very good idea. Adding a small amount of dish detergent, like Dawn or Ajax, to the water in the block will help find leaks. Ford tested new blocks to 50-60 PSI. I think limiting pressure to 20 PSI is a good idea for blocks today. I'd make an effort to get the block and head completely full of water, with no air bubbles.
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- Posts: 4111
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:31 pm
- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Hatch
- Location: Alabama
- MTFCA Number: 49974
Re: Block pressure test.
I like the test plate sold by a vendor. You can see inside the valve seat area. It works on heads too.
I modified my KRW engine stand so I can turn engine over and see all sides. Dan o
I modified my KRW engine stand so I can turn engine over and see all sides. Dan o
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- Posts: 117
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:44 pm
- First Name: Rich
- Last Name: Chillingworth
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 C-Cab TT
- Location: Tulsa, OK
- MTFCA Number: 30527
- MTFCI Number: 23207
Re: Block pressure test.
Here is my block pressure testing setup. I fill the block with water using the head inlet to as high as it will let me. This assures the block water jacket is completely flooded. Next I attach the air supply to the head inlet and pressure it up. Then look for water seepage. Needless to say before filling the block with water I cover the block’s water inlet, and if needed, the so called freeze plug openings. On this particular block I initially forgot about those freeze plug openings! I had to sacrifice a set of brass plugs, not having any steel ones sitting around and I didn’t want to take the time to try and manufacture three plugs from nickels.
Rich C.
By the way the pictured block is a 1918 I bought from Erik Barrett at the Tulare swap meet earlier this year. It had a water jacket crack in the usual place, but was otherwise a nice block. It gave me a good opportunity to improve my Lock-n-Stitch skills. The water jacket was not rusted thin at all, making it an easy fix using the overlapping pins. I sent Erik photos of my stitching work so he would know the block was fixed and tested.Rich C.
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- Posts: 4070
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
- First Name: Norman
- Last Name: Kling
- Location: Alpine California
Re: Block pressure test.
I don't think detergent is a good idea! It might be good for finding leaks, however very hard to clean out! I once had a Model A in which I used some detergent in the cooling system to clean it out. Even after flushing it out many times, for weeks it was like Lawrence Welk's bubble machine!
Norm
Norm
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- Posts: 4308
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Tomaso
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
- Location: Longbranch, WA
- MTFCA Number: 14972
- MTFCI Number: 15411
- Board Member Since: 2001
Re: Block pressure test.
Been a while since I posted this - always had a coolant leak - once I removed all the solder & JB Weld this is what I found !!! Not sure the stitch method would work on this crack !
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- Posts: 4111
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:31 pm
- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Hatch
- Location: Alabama
- MTFCA Number: 49974
Re: Block pressure test.
I got some test plugs for the Welch plug holes.
I use these to plug up valve guides to check for cracks in them.
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- Posts: 4070
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
- First Name: Norman
- Last Name: Kling
- Location: Alpine California
Re: Block pressure test.
Steve, is Longbranch near navigatable water? That block would be good for a boat anchor, but I think you should look for a better one to use in your T.
Norm
Norm
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- Posts: 4111
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:31 pm
- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Hatch
- Location: Alabama
- MTFCA Number: 49974
Re: Block pressure test.
Steve: That block could be fixed with LocknStitch method, but is it worth it. I have seen it do amazing things. But maybe cheaper to find a new block unless it is rare one.
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- Posts: 4308
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Tomaso
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
- Location: Longbranch, WA
- MTFCA Number: 14972
- MTFCI Number: 15411
- Board Member Since: 2001
Re: Block pressure test.
Wasn't my block - came in the shop years ago to see where it was weeping and yes Norm, we're walking distance from the water !
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- Posts: 4111
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:31 pm
- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Hatch
- Location: Alabama
- MTFCA Number: 49974
Re: Block pressure test.
I had one like that come in years ago. Had been rebuilt and always leaked. Not bad just stayed wet, same place as that one. After I got all the JB crap off, found someone tried to weld it up. It had cracks going everywhere. Got new block.
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- Posts: 4308
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Tomaso
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
- Location: Longbranch, WA
- MTFCA Number: 14972
- MTFCI Number: 15411
- Board Member Since: 2001
Re: Block pressure test.
Too busted up for me to mess with so a buddy up in Canada took it home to practice welding on !