Rust found in head

Rubatoguy

Member
Perhaps this is a lesson on why using just water in the radiator is not a good idea. The engine kept overheating. I had the radiator cleaned out with the report there was quite a bit of gunk and rubber pieces. Then I took the head off and with a few light taps, this is what came out.

Is this typical?
 

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That's why it's a good idea to use a combo pump lube & rust inhibitor if you run water rather than antifreeze. I've scraped way more than that out of a few blocks.

PS: I've tried the lunchmeat that comes in those little tubs.
It looks and tastes just like that. 1000 real deli's here in Chicago. Ahhhh
 
That makes me feel better if you have scraped more than that out of blocks. Makes you wonder how much extra metal they have in them. :-)
 
Yup, I've seen more or less that much scale come out of early iron blocks and heads, not seen one leak yet from getting too thin. A few years ago, I took a sledge hammer to a junk block out of an old Falcon, and when I broke open the cylinder walls, there was NO rust whatsoever! Not even a thumb print of rust. Just clean gray cast iron. That really surprised me.
 
Arn,t you the guy that inquired about removal & instaling the head ?? If you are putting that head back on plus had radiator cleaned , suggest you put a filter or panty hose sock in outlet or your radiator will need cleaning again, Course down under the water flows the other way, ???
 
Yes, I am that guy. I actually plan to use a higher compression head, so will probably not be re-using the 'B' head. But if I do, I plan to have it cleaned out first. Great idea about the panty hose! I recall there used to be something called a guano filter that installed in the radiator hose to capture all the little nasty things floating in the coolant. Of course the block I have is probably just as bad - so I will have to figure out how to clean that out as well. From what I understand if you have the block boiled out it will destroy the babbit.
 
I've used the Gano Filter for years now and have kept more than that amount out of my radiator! They are a great short cut till you can COMPLETELY remove all rust from the head & block.
 
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