In the words of Chester A. Riley...

[Steve Jelf]

What a revoltin' development this is!

A few years ago this head developed a tiny coolant leak near the M in MADE. I patched it up and had many trouble free miles.

But recently another tiny leak appeared just to the left of the #1 bolt. So yesterday I ground out the little crack and filled it with JB weld.

This afternoon I smoothed the patch and started filling the cooling system to see if I had plugged the leak. Well, I had. The little leak was gone. But a bigger leak quickly welled up in the bolt hole. Looks like I'm in the market for a better head.

[Dallas Landers]

But Steve, how will we know its you if you get another head???

[TXGOAT2]

That seems like an odd pattern of failure. Is the head badly corroded on the inside of the water jacket?

[Henry K. Lee]

Steve,

Have plenty cleaned and ready if you need one!

Hank

[perry kete]

I wonder if any of the young folks know who Chester A. Riley was? William Bendix American actor Born January 14, 1906 died December 14, 1964 . Many movies and TV shows to his credit.

[Steve Jelf]

Is the head badly corroded on the inside of the water jacket?

Three different leaks would seem to suggest so. I wasn't in the market very long. After posting I phoned Model T Haven, and within ten minutes I had a replacement head lined up. I'll pick it from Mark at the club meeting Thursday night. I should be back on the road by this weekend.

I first heard The Life of Riley over KFI in Los Angeles, the local NBC station. Chester A. Riley worked for the fictional Cunningham Aircraft Company and lived in southern California with his wife Peg, daughter Babs, and son Junior. Riley's neighbor Gillis was often the source of bad information that got Riley in trouble, and the popular character Digby "Digger" O'Dell the undertaker (John Brown) gave good advice that got Riley out of trouble, while giving plenty of undertaker jokes. John Brown also played Irma Peterson's boyfriend Al on My Friend Irma, and the two characters sound so very different it's hard to believe they were played by the same actor.

I missed the 1948 TV series, with Jackie Gleason as Riley, because we didn't have a TV set.

The second TV series, with William Bendix back as Riley, began in 1953 and ran to 1958. I did get to see that series, which included neighbor Waldo Binney (Sterling Holloway) and his little dog Lakme, and co-worker Otto Schmidlap (Henry Kulky).

[TXGOAT2]

I was once able to listen to KFI here in Texas. About 1969 or so, it was known as KFI Coast and played a top forty type format. I don't recall ever hearing any other California AM radio station.

[Steve Jelf]

I don't recall ever hearing any other California AM radio station.

50,000 watts clear channel and at 640 pretty low on the dial. My aunts told me they got it occasionally here in Kansas.

[Duey_C]

Been dealing with a similar leak on an OT topic engine. Durn it.
I never listened but know about Chester A. Riley even tho the rhythm of the name reminds me of the Mad mag character.
Which I can't recall.
Interesting.

[CudaMan]

Alfred E. Neuman!

[Art M]

Alfred E Nueman attempted to run for president in 1968. I should have saved some bumper stickers. No birth record and was presumed to be too young.
Art Mirtes

[Norman Kling]

Returning to the subject, That head has either corroded out from rust, or more likely has been frozen with the ice expanding causing the crack. One other possible cause would be pouring cold water into an overheated engine. If the coolant level in the engine was very low the cold water would suddenly contract the hot head causing it to crack. Anyway, used heads are easy to find, and new ones are available as well.
Norm

[RichardG]

AM I THE ONLY ONE TO REMEMBER THE LIFE OF RILEY ? WHAT A REVOLTING DEVELOPMENT THIS IS, WATCHED THAT SHOW MANY TIMES ONE THAT WAS WORTH IT.