How bad did I mess things up ?

james hitchcock

james hitchcock

Well-known member
I was having lots of fun tinkering with my recently acquired 31 pu (soon to be Huckster) I cleaned up the engine, pulled the head (all looked great inside) replaced all gaskets, new plugs, filled her up with oil. Thought that today I would try to get her started and rigged up a small plastic jug to get her some gas (haven't cleaned out the tank yet) Then I remembered I hadn't put any water in the radiator. I'm filling the radiator when I see water dripping from all around the head. I stopped the water and quickly drained the radiator. I was able to crank down the head bolts a bit more. This may sound stupid but, was I to put on some sorta gasket seal on the new copper gasket. How bad can this be. I pulled a plug out and didn't get any water. As of first thing I didn't get water on the dip stick. I'm hoping I didn't wreck everything I had done previously. Do I now need to pull the head ? Drain all the oil ? What should I do. I'm so disgusted with myself. Suggestions welcome.
James.:mad:
 
I always spray Copper Coat on both side of any head gasket. If it was my car I'd remove the head and spray both sides of the gasket and try it again. Remember you need to torque from the center out in several steps, like 20,30, 40, 55 lbs. torque. And you need to retorque a couple more times after running the engine to make sure each nut is holding 50 lbs. Loosen the nuts 1/8 turn and torque to 55 one at a time on the retorques.
 
If you didn't run it very long, you didn't hurt anything. Drain the oil and water, pull your head, inspect the gasket to make sure nothing has gone sideways, then do as Tom suggests above. Add your fluids back in. You should be OK.
 
Original head. I'm ashamed to say I forgot to torque. I got ahead of myself.
I should be removed from the Ford Barn. I've heard of guys forgetting to put oil in, I always thought "How silly". Well silly me.
 
Jim,

It's easy to get ahead of yourself when you're ready for the first start of the "new" engine.

At times, I have to just stop and reset myself so that I don't make a simple mistake when I'm finishing a big project.

Marc
 
Well if you forgot to torque it, you really don't have any problems. Just proceed the correct way. Don't kick yourself, as your excitement was the cause. I've never forgotten to torque, but I have forgotten other stuff I'm to embarrassed to mention.
 
:rolleyes:I "ALLWAYS" place clear silicone between the edges of copper gaskets. Like a ice cream sandwich. I peel up the copper some and press in silicone and also put around all open edges within the gaskets. Then as Tom Said, torque the head from the center out..
 
james hitchcock said:
Original head. I'm ashamed to say I forgot to torque. I got ahead of myself.
I should be removed from the Ford Barn. I've heard of guys forgetting to put oil in, I always thought "How silly". Well silly me.
Click to expand...

Embarrassed maybe, but not ashamed. And no reason to be "removed" from the Barn. I would bet there isn't a single guy or gal here who hasn't done something that would fall into the same category as your goof, or worse.
 
You may not need to pull the head or drain the oil. I would pull the plugs and let it air dry. After a day or so loosen the pan plug and see if any water drips out. the water falls to the bottom. if none shows tighten the plug. you can drain it if you want but it might not be needed.
 
Thanks guys. You've eased my mind. So I'm going to stick around the barn. Someday I might be the one offering the new guy some advise. Thanks again.
 
James, could you have a cracked head? Or uneven head? Or something wrong with the head that would cause it to leak water????? If you take it off again, you may want to check for that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top