How to properly warm up a Flathead

2

26 lakes

Senior Member
I figured the title would get you to look. I am in the process of braking down some stubborn flathead blocks. These were locked up and frozen real good. I fill the cylinders with a little brake fluid and use used paint thinner. I take a plumbers torch and light it. Use some common sense when doing this. No wind or flammables close by. Keep a five gallon bucket of water nearby. I will do this for an eight to ten hour period. I let it cool down between refilling the cylinders. The corrosion on the cylinder walls flakes off. I will shoot it all real heavy with the acetone and transmission fluid solution and let it sit for a week. I squirt down the valve assemblies at any angle I can get to them. I will do the other four cylinders the same way. With the heat you get expansion and the oil goes down around the pistons and the rings. If the block is froze up you have nothing to lose. Try it on your next block. It beats a B_H.
 

Attachments

  • Picture 032.jpg
    Picture 032.jpg
    110 KB · Views: 1,095
  • Picture 033.jpg
    Picture 033.jpg
    105 KB · Views: 835
  • Picture 034.jpg
    Picture 034.jpg
    102.3 KB · Views: 793
  • Picture 035.jpg
    Picture 035.jpg
    105.5 KB · Views: 791
I never saw four flatties on fire before. I do see how this could help get a lubricant to penetrate the tight spots, but it scares me at the same time.

Used paint thinner? I would think that used paint thinner would have diluted paint in it, no? I get it, you probably mean unused, leftover, and scrap paint thinner, but what kind?

A word to the wise: this can be VERY dangerous with the wrong chemical cocktail. There's lots of paint thinners out there--- everything from turpentine to laquer thinner to enamel reducer. Some of these chemicals are pretty explosive and a 5 gallon bucket of water will make matters worse with some, not to mention breathing the fumes and what that could do.

I don't mean to be a Killjoy. I've had my share of close calls and burned arm-hair in my past and learned some valuable lessons.
 
Last edited:
Yep, 5 gal of water might not be the right choice. Always have a quality (multi use or specialized petroleum) fire extinguisher on hand.
 
I like it!, Of course I always like playing with things that burn, or blow up! I passed on a bunch of froze up flatheads, about 20, last summer. I just might have to go back and get some, or all of them now. My wife is going to love that!
 
if it works great. but be very careful what you mix up and set on fire. or you may have to go a few blocks over to get your engine back.or pull it out of someones living room .lol
 
It is hard to ignite the paint thinner. That is why I use a plumbers torch. You have to hold it on there a couple of seconds to get it to burn. It is not like lighting gasoline. Paint thinner burns slow and produces low heat. I am a painter by trade. I have old paint thinner that I keep around. I recycle it this way. I am using PAINT THINNER or MINERAL SPIRITS. That is it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top