HEED this WARNING!
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
-
Topic author - Posts: 302
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:24 pm
- First Name: Bill
- Last Name: Robinson
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '21 Depot Hack, '25 Touring Car, '26 Roadster Pickup, '27 Tudor, & another '27 Tudor
- Location: Salty Bottom, ALABAMA AL
- MTFCA Number: 22487
- MTFCI Number: 17887
- Board Member Since: 1999
- Contact:
HEED this WARNING!
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.
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.
-
- Posts: 5339
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:09 am
- First Name: Henry
- Last Name: Lee
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Many
- Location: South Pittsburg, TN
- MTFCA Number: 479
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
Re: HEED this WARNING!
Bill Great Reminder.
I retorque my heads multiple times!
Have never blown one.
Hank
I retorque my heads multiple times!
Have never blown one.
Hank
-
- Posts: 4357
- 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: HEED this WARNING!
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 !
-
- Posts: 308
- Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:48 pm
- First Name: Tommy
- Last Name: Coffey
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '21 Touring
- Location: western NC
Re: HEED this WARNING!
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.
-
- Posts: 4094
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
- First Name: Norman
- Last Name: Kling
- Location: Alpine California
Re: HEED this WARNING!
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
Norm
-
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:53 pm
- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Blaydon
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 Touring
- Location: PA
Re: HEED this WARNING!
How does one know when they blow a head gasket? And is any permanent damage caused?
1923 Touring
-
Topic author - Posts: 302
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:24 pm
- First Name: Bill
- Last Name: Robinson
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '21 Depot Hack, '25 Touring Car, '26 Roadster Pickup, '27 Tudor, & another '27 Tudor
- Location: Salty Bottom, ALABAMA AL
- MTFCA Number: 22487
- MTFCI Number: 17887
- Board Member Since: 1999
- Contact:
Re: HEED this WARNING!
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.
-
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:55 pm
- First Name: Walt
- Last Name: Berdan
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '18 Speedster had 25 touring and 26 coupe
- Location: Bellevue, WA
- MTFCA Number: 16421
Re: HEED this WARNING!
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.
-
- Posts: 5459
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:56 pm
- First Name: Frank
- Last Name: Brandi
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Speedster (1919 w 1926)
- Location: Moline IL
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: HEED this WARNING!
Would have been nice to know what type of gaskets blew... too much to ask how they were prepped.
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
-
- Posts: 1302
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 2:42 pm
- First Name: Frank
- Last Name: van Ekeren
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 touring, 1916 pick-up, 1924 coupe, 1926 touring, 1927 touring
- Location: Rosedale Vic Australia
Re: HEED this WARNING!
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.
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.
-
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:28 pm
- First Name: Douglas
- Last Name: Keppler
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Touring
- Location: Fredon N.J.
- MTFCA Number: 49716
- Board Member Since: 2016
Re: HEED this WARNING!
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.
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.
1924 Touring car
There's No Substitute for Proper Lubrication
There's No Substitute for Proper Lubrication
-
- Posts: 4357
- 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: HEED this WARNING!
Blue Loktite should be every Model T owners friend & in the tool kit !