HEED this WARNING!

[Bill Robinson]

While on the MTFCA Highland Rim Tour, I personally saw 4 T's that blew head gaskets. I was told that there were actually 7 T's that lost one. One car blew 2 because he failed to re-torque the head after a warm-up.

So, the next time you walk out to your shop, grab your torque wrench and RE-Torque the head on your engine(s). Don't gamble and don't assume.

3 minutes and you'll be done.

[Henry K. Lee]

Bill Great Reminder.

I retorque my heads multiple times!

Have never blown one.

Hank

[RajoRacer]

I'm in Hank's "camp" - a minimum of 3 heat/cooling cycles and I've probably installed over 100 + Model T & A heads & yet to have a failure !

[thom]

I would never change a head gasket and not retorque it. Matter of fact, I think I'll go out and check mine again now. I'll clean my plugs and wipe out the New Day timer while I'm at it. Thanks for the reminder.

[Norman Kling]

The first time I changed a head gasket, 67 years ago, I didn't re-torque it, in fact I just tightened down the bolts in any order. As soon as the engine warmed up, I blew the gasket a few blocks from home. Learned that lesson and have not had one blow since.
Norm

[Dan B]

How does one know when they blow a head gasket? And is any permanent damage caused?

[Bill Robinson]

One of the cases that I saw was in the parking lot at the fairgrounds. A Model T was coming off the city street "just 'a 'smokin". When the driver came by me his exhaust smelled like anti-freeze. This is just one of the signs.

[Ruxstel24]

How does one know when they blow a head gasket? And is any permanent damage caused?

Usually it'll overheat or run poorly.
Unless you get a bunch of coolant in the oil for an extended period of time...no real damage.

[walber]

Any blown gasket is a message to you to check the mating surfaces to ensure they are flat. In the case of head bolts, also time to verify the bolts don't bottom out in the block before getting fully tight. I check bolt/hole individually by laying the head on the block with no gasket and making sure they tighten up to the head rather than standing a bit proud. If the surfaces are flat, the bolts don't bottom out and are properly torqued (and retorqued) there shouldn't be any blown gaskets.

[TRDxB2]

Would have been nice to know what type of gaskets blew... too much to ask how they were prepped.

[Kerry]

A lot of variables on why a head gasket can blow, 7 are a lot in one tour! our nationals can have up to 140 T's for a weeks worth of driving and no head gasket problems.
Re-torque on the type of head, cast or aluminium, how it was done, surface condition etc, are usualy the things that contribute to a failure before you can blame the gasket it's self.

[Doug Keppler]

My engine is newly rebuilt and has maybe 25 miles on it, when I assembled it I carefully hand tightened All the bolts. While recently installing an air filter
with a bracket that bolts to one of the crankcase bolts I noticed the bolt wasnt very tight so I went around and checked every bolt on the engine and almost every one snugged up a little. So I think not only the head bolts need to be retorqued, check all the bolts, it might slow down some oil leaks also.

[RajoRacer]

Blue Loktite should be every Model T owners friend & in the tool kit !