New Guy with problem

J

JBohannon

Senior Member
Just bought a 28 model A I can get the motor to run but have not got it all checked out yet as far as compression and such. But I think I may have a problem. I had the radiator cap off watching my coolant level while trying to start it. I think it backfired and coolant shout out the top of the radiator like a geyser. I am afraid to ask but what could that be.
 
garrisonm89@yahoo.com said:
It ain't that hard to pull a head and look. Head gaskets are "relatively" cheap. As a matter of fact I've got a house full of cheap relatives.
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If that snot funny, you shouldn't be here! But seriously, the coolant system should not be affected by a back fire. The barrier between the combustion and coolant is the head gasket. There are other possibilities, but this is the "Keep it simple" diagnosis. This is a job you can handle with a little help from your friends. :)
 
I realize when I said backfire I probably meant that I had a compression stroke to far advanced and it coughed back. Does that make sense. Thanks, guys. Joe B.
 
Makes good sense, but I still think y'oughta pull the head off and look where exhaust was passing across the coolant border. We like pictures too!
 
Remove the fan belt,idle engine & watch for bubbles in top tank of rad.If so,then combustion gases are likely leaking into cooling system.If rad is badly plugged,then water could be forced out cap or overflow.
 
The exact same thing happened to me the first time we attempted to fire up a new rebuild two motors ago. It turned out that the rebuilder had left a shop rag tucked in the cylinder head. The water pump did what it could to deal with it, but local overheating quickly caused a geyser out the radiator. Probably not your situation.

A straw to grasp at before tearing things apart is to try retorquing the head bolts. You didn't say if your motor is a recent rebuild or maybe head replacement, but if so there is a good chance retorquing will fix it--unless you persist in running it loose, which will truly blow the gasket.

Steve
 
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