Follow-up ? on 59A diasassembly

M

MikeTaylor

Junior Member
Several of you have recommended pressure testing, something I'm not familiar with. The car came with an AL radiator and higher pressure cap, how much higher I don't know but I drove the car 600-700 miles before I starting tearing it apart and it didn't leak water or oil, not even on the garage floor. Is that a sufficient test or should I still have the test done?

Thanks, Mike
 
They make a plate that bolts to the heads and allows you to put higher pressure on the block but considering most flatheads are running 4psi or less I would agree with Mart unless you are about to sink a bunch of money into it.
 
MikeTaylor said:
The car came with an AL radiator and higher pressure cap, how much higher I don't know...
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Hi MikeTaylor, I have no idea how much pressure is used when pressure testing a block, I'd be interested in knowing.

If you are curious, you can look at the newer style pressure caps and they will have their pressure rating marked on them, usually. Might be in bars (like .9 or 1.1) or might be in PSI. That would tell you the rating of the pressure valve that opens to allow flow to the coolant overflow tank.

Still, not sure any of this is able to be related to pressure testing a block during rebuild.
 
If it were my engine and I built it for me, I'm on Marts team aswell. You have evidence that it didn't use water or leak in the real world (driving it)
Martin.
 
VeryTangled said:
Hi MikeTaylor, I have no idea how much pressure is used when pressure testing a block, I'd be interested in knowing.

If you are curious, you can look at the newer style pressure caps and they will have their pressure rating marked on them, usually. Might be in bars (like .9 or 1.1) or might be in PSI. That would tell you the rating of the pressure valve that opens to allow flow to the coolant overflow tank.

Still, not sure any of this is able to be related to pressure testing a block during rebuild.
Click to expand...

Most shops pressure test to 40 psi.

R
 
It sounds like you have an engine with a proven track record - so pressure testing is probably not needed. I'd still have it magged.

The reason I've done pressure testing is on a block that I'm going to do a large overbore and/or extensive port/relief work - really don't want to invest too much time on the block until I'm as sure as I can be about it. I bought a pressure testing kit from Speedway a few years ago - works great, just takes some time screwing around with it (one bank at a time).

Truth be told, I should pressure test them AFTER all the work has been done and before assembly . . . just too lazy to do it. (I'm sure I'll regret that someday!). :cool:

Best of luck,

B&S
 
I've got a couple of blocks I would like to test (8BA's). I've looked at the pressure testing setups available commercially, and believe I could do it a lot cheaper if I made my own stuff. As I understand it, the cooling passages on each side are completely inmdependant of each other, and therefore I would need to make only one plate for the head area and one for the water pump. Is this correct?
 
I have read of shops using up to 100 psi, is there any danger of damaging a block with high pressure?
 
Mike, I agree with the concensus here. If you ran the engine significantly prior to disassembly you don't have any obscure water jacket cracks. There is still the possibility of cracks not involving any water jackets, that although are not causing any problems now, would be a shame to overlook prior to the big investment in a rebuild. I'd get it magged.
 
I have a cylinder head that has been modified for honing the block with it torqued down. With water pump block off plates, I use it to pressure test the block to 50 lbs. THis is the same as my local machine shop doz it.
 
I'm with Ron, Make a gasket with only bolt/ stud holes. Bolt/ torque on a stock head, then ad a water pump with a plug or use a block off plate for pump. Works fine and cheap to test your own block.
 
When you guys pressure check the block no matter what pressure you choose / How long do you leave it pressurized waiting for leak down ??
 
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