Cylinder Leak

[Mike in NRN IN]

This is a follow-up to my earlier post about Rough Running.

I finally got the Coupe out and about today and all was going well until about 30 minutes into the drive.

It's relatively hot and humid today, and we started to overheat.

So, I stopped to get gas, and let the car cool before putting in another gallon of water.

When I got home, we were starting to overheat again.

So, we let it sit for a bit and then I drained the coolant (water and water wetter.)

I filled the car up and ran it without the fan belt (per Les Andrews book.)

Lo and behold, exhaust bubbles in the radiator (DANG) It was almost frothing!

I've suspected that there might have been a problem with the head gasket.

A quick compression check and got the following:

1 - 57
2 - 55
3 - 48
4 - 57

I pulled the head and found signs of water leakage into the #3 cylinder.

I cleaned the head and found a crack in the head between 2 and 3 (see picture) Is this enough to cause leakage and/or overheating?

Is this head beyond use?

I do need a new head gasket, but wonder if it would be good to get a new head as well.

Thoughts?

 

[Domino]

Used heads are readily available and at reasonable prices. I think I would replace the defective one.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

Cracks in that area are quite common, especially after the center oval hole was added in October, 1929. It may let some water seep to the stud, but shouldn't let water leak into the cylinder. Did you do the required retorques on the head nuts?