Weeping Head Gasket

01aford

01aford

Senior Member
I hope this post finds everyone well and wishing you all a Merry Christmas.

1940 Ford stock "A" block 85 hp.
For the past several months I've noticed small drips of antifreeze under my transmission. I checked all the hoses to the heater and to the head. Tonight I tracked it down.
It appears that there is some weeping going on at the back of the drivers side head. I checked to torque and all are at 75 pounds. It appears that it's comig from the gasket area.
I think I will run the car up to operating temp and retorque.
If it still leaks ( although its not much it drives me nuts) any ideas short of pulling the head and replacing the gasket?
 
K&W block seal, I have seen it make 1/2 " of missing headgasket --in the combustion chamber-first you need to flush out all antifreeze ---read the can.
 
if its weeping my guess is a warped head,, your right, get the engine hot. let cool then check torque, dont torque when hot, you will get a false reading, hot every thing is expanded, cold every thing is contracted which is when to check torque, small leaks can be fixed, not cured with stop leak, i dont like the metalised ones because i think the metal particals are hard on water pump seals, if you do use them drain radiator as soon as the leak is sealed
 
Over torque of the clamping studs can create at least as many problems as less-than-spec torque. 75 lbs. is over the roof. Almost any "Stop Leak" product will probably hold until you can remove the head and fix it "right".
 
Your right it should be @ 50 lbs. I have a NOS "A" head. I'll get a new gasket and switch it out on Sunday.
 
I got way ahead of myself. It was the temp sending unit leaking just a few drops that traveled down along head.
I'm glad I took a better look. As I get older I stand back and think a bit more then I use to. Years ago I would have dove into it with both feet.
One benefit of getting older:perspective
 
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