They said it would happen

[Jim Parker Toronto]

Use a fine flat file on both surfaces and a little bit of RTV. Worked great for me for years.

 

[Mike V. Florida]

For the ignorant among us, what is the issue with the water neck that causes breakage and what is the "match trick"?

Steve

Place two paper matches on either side of the neck where the bolt holes are, as far out as possible.

The reasoning is that the nut pushs down on the edges of the neck more then the center, cracking the neck. Placing the matches under the edges make the edges higher then the center and prevents cracking.

 

[Special Coupe Frank]

Just unwrapped my new "tapped" neck from Snyders this morning, and inside was a little slip of paper with printed instructions for "the paper-match trick"; "guaranteed to work!"...

Call me stupid, but I'm putting mine together with the OEM copper sandwich gasket and no matches.... if it worked at River Rouge, it should work today...

I did run a file over the mounting boss on the head and the flange of the neck - took some high spots off both.

SC Frank

 

[firerod]

Great response to the water neck gasket. What do you guys use on the other gaskets?

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

I spray Copper-Coat on both sides of the copper head gasket, and water inlet and outlet copper gaskets. The copper carb and exhaust gaskets I leave plain.

BTW, the original water inlet and outlet gaskets I've removed from Model A engines have been brass, rather than copper

 

[Jim Parker Toronto]

Yes, I joined this club at least 4 times, you would think once would be enough, but I'm a slow learner on some things.

 

[Jim Parker Toronto]

Yes, been a member of the broken neck club for a while, thankfully theres no annual dues! or wait, maybe there is....

 

[Special Coupe Frank]

Copper vs Brass:

I pulled the water inlet off the side of my block during the head job, and inside was a metal-clad sandwich gasket; the metal appears to be yellow-brass, as opposed to copper.

It looks good, so I will probably give a smear of silicone and re-use.

I like Permatex "Spray-Copper" too...

 

[MODELA30]

hold on a minute !!!!! here you go. Back then your torque wrench you have was the 8th wonder of the world !!!!!! Torque wrenches yeah right. Make sure the neck is clean and straight make sure the head is clean and straight. Install gasket and put some shellac that was used back in the day. Now a day rtv would be good. Then tighten up not torque the rest of the head is torqued but the neck is another animal in its self. Just tighten take the car run it hot then tighten up some more does it leak no!!!! Then leave it alone!!!!!!! Knuck from indiana.