Recent content by RustyWiring

I had exactly the same problem. It turned out to be a cracked head. I also had tell-tale white smoke on start up from coolant leaking into a cylinder and burning.

Mike, I am new to the hobby - I bought my first A ('31 AA, actually) last spring and rebuilt the engine. It is a driver, not a show car. I plan to license it for parades and August-only driving here in MI. As for keeping the spouse happy - I totally agree with Doug. So, what did I do? I...

John, that is how mine is, too. However, I don't know if it indicates original or repro. I'm guessing that external appearance is indeterminate and only the 'guts' provide the indication.

Thanks Tom and Bill - maybe I could tighten the packing nut a bit more. I'm not familiar with the pencil filter. There is not one present now. However, the (Zenith) carb inlet has a pencil-like filter.

I drained the tank in order to disassemble the valve. A descent amount of crud in the gas. The tank had been cleaned and sealed by the prior owner but I guess that doesn't mean it's perfect. Anyway, I got the valve apart, replaced the o-ring (it's a repro valve) and cleaned out the cylinder...

John, I am in the same leaky boat. There is a rebuild kit available which uses a graphite packing ring and some lube. However, it only works with an original, late '31 valve. I will be checking mine tonight and then I will either buy the kit or a new valve or an inline valve (to save $...

I was able to get a reply from Snyder's: I need to verify if my current valve is original or repro. The kit works with original.

Hi everyone. Now that Al is tucked away for the winter months, I have a few little things to finish up. The shut-off valve, located on the indented firewall, leaks out the end of the tube. Not much, but... Can someone please confirm that the rebuild kit, shown below, will work for this late...

So, yesterday, here in southern Michigan, it was 70 degrees. Today, it's 34 and snowing! Guess which day I had available to finish reassembly? Yup, today. Anyway, Al is back together and fired right up. I mean, I didn't even have to reset the timing. I have similar compression in all four...

@100IH: It's the latter part of your final sentence: The seat was not ground concentric with the centerline of the valve guide. The valve is perfect. That being said, it's ok now. It just took two hours of grinding. The remaining gaskets showed up today. I'll report back this weekend with...

@John: I had the radiator cleaned out at our local, highly-reputed radiator shop before installation. And, yup, it's the bigger rad. Thanks for the input.

Got the piston back in and had some time soooo...I had a lap dance with the valve again. And, yes, I feel dirty :rolleyes: Took another hour of fire starting but it seats now as well as all the others. I sure hope I got all the grinding compound off the engine. The pan gasket arrives...

Thanks Tom. One more item for the casting pile.

Hi gang. In another thread, we all learned of how my #3 cylinder became a swimming pool. A shot of the crack is below. While I have a replacement head I'll be using, does anyone think this one can be repaired (so I can have a spare)? If so, can you please describe the process so I can find...

:mad::mad::mad: I lapped enough to burn a national forest. Barely tightened the gap. The valve is uniformly ground but the seat is not. I will contact the machine shop that performed the work originally and see if there is a better way to do this job short of towing the truck to him...