51 V8 teardown

timcharles

timcharles

Junior Member
I've never done this before. My shop manual is my guide. My engine is a flathead that's stuck. Three of the combustion chambers have had water in them and those are the pistons that are stuck. I've removed two of them along with three others. The third piston that has had water in it is still stuck. It's at top dead center. The crank moves the other two pistons about an inch , but the stuck one being at topcenter doesn't move at all....yet! That's because the crank is movin the rod horizontally at that position. I'll keep working with the penetrating oil. Wish me luck.
My next question is......The shop manual shows some specialty tools to get the retainer clip off of the valve guide. Are they available anywhere? Also....after the retainer clip is removed , does the valve assembly come out the top ? I think that's what I'm reading but not sure.
I need some help with the correct sequence. I'm having fun trying this on my own. grease, oil, crud and all. Thanks, Tim :)
 
Play around on this site a little, Tim, and see if it will help you. It sounds like you are doing this the right way. Patience means a lot here. I've seen these tools available on Ebay and elsewhere. A lot of us just use homemade stuff. If you get in a position where you're lost, post back- I would entertain letting you borrow them for a limited time. Mine hangs on the wall more often than not...slim
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_valveremoval_tools-2.htm
Caution: This is addicting work! The victim starts out slowly with one old flattie which leads to another. Soon you need a garage (or in my case) a storage container to hang all your tools, parts, blocks, and finished engines...slim
 
Try finding 100% Bio-Diesel, this is the best I found for unsticking a piston. Note the stuff at truck stops is only 20%.
 
Hey Denversllim, thanks for the Van Pelts page. I've been there before but not to that page. I'm going to try to make those tools. It would be better if I had the actual dimensions though. I belong to a group that's learning some blacksmithing. I've already made some spoons , a ladle and some decorative stuff. The valve spring tool looks easy enough. and the clip tool starts with just a rod. It'll be fun trying. I'll try to get some measurements from my engine block and valve springs. It'd be nice to have a vavle guide in hand though. Maybe one will be loose enough to come out easy..........Right!!! Tim
 
All kind of valve tools on my website. Pages 4&5. They are not for sale but I could loan you some if you want to pay the shipping out & back.

Jim
 
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