'34 Fordor Dlx Overheating

[petehoovie]

Wow! Worked, not like a charm, but good enough to get enough separation to rock the head to get it past the studs.

Now head is off, not crack found in block, gasket looks pretty good though one center water jacket and one valve metal ring separated from gasket upon removal. Pistons each have some carbon buildup, cylinder walls feel smooth, intake valves reasonably clean (beige), exhaust valves have carbon build up (black).
Head water jackets are a lot clearer than block jackets.

I'm familiar with 4 cylinder overhead cam German heads, this is my first exposed flathead. What is the proper/best way to clean-up the block and head. I was thinking a vacuum rather than air to assist in the cleaning up of the block along with solvent (kerosene) on microfiber and toothbrush,

Sound reasonable?

New gasket, fiber or copper?
My local parts (Sacramento Vintage) only sells copper.
So Cal folks carry both.

Cheers!!

You should use a fiber gasket...
See > https://bestgasket.com/vintage-engine-gaskets/

HEAD GASKET (GraphTite™)

507G

Ford V8 1932-38 (21-stud)

 

[Savvy]

Ordered
Cheers!!

 

[38 coupe]

Do whatever it takes to clean the crud out of the block water passages. Screwdrivers, a piece of cable in a drill, shop vac with home made extension, regulated air, whatever, to get the crud out. Probably have to take the lower radiator hose off (a miserable job) to properly flush it all out. Be prepared to meticulously clean the cylinders and valves (best to protect them if possible) after crud removal and before before turning the crankshaft or reassembling the engine. Many engines have sand in the bottom of the water passages.

 

[Bored&Stroked]

Did you clean off the top of the piston on the rear, or was it that way when you pulled the head? If it was clean like that, then I suspect you have a leaking head gasket and/or potentially a block issue (lets hope not).

BTW: The exhaust valves are the ones that are chocolate milk colored.

Using a vacuum and a good gasket scraper should get the block clean. I have a long-handled screw-driver type tool with a wide and sharp gasket cleaning end on it (about an 1" wide) - really helps. I also use an old-style razor blade holder andl use that as well. The cleaner, the better!

Make sure you use anit-seize on the sides of the studs and the threads (to make a future removal easier).

 

[Bored&Stroked]

Also, looks like a lot of rust in the water jackets. Do some searches on here for some methods of flushing and de-rusting blocks. Getting as much rust out as possible is a very good idea.

Best of luck!