To Do Or Not To Do

[james curl]

Don't do it until you need to do valve work or re-ring.  I do not think you will find any carbon to speak of in the head or on the piston unless you are burning oil.  With compression at 125psi across the six cylinders I would be reluctant to mess with it because these engines are hard enough to torque and keep sealed.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I dare you!...I double dare you!...I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!!!....

 

Its a matter of pride. You have this performance part sitting on a shelf. WHY?

Why do you have this car? It's a hobby, it's a challenge, it's what keeps our minds sharp....

 

It needs to be done. Not because its broke, not because its slow, not cuz its needs beautification.....

 

Its needs to be done because that's who you are....a car guy! 

 

Now get your "no frills, common sense tools out" and give us a tear down report on a great running engine. 

 

48D

 

it's jut the thing to have on your shelf that drives everyone else crazy...lol

 

it's cast iron, eats nothing, can't go anywhere on it's own..it will be there when needed..

 

Seems some folks can't stand prosperity..

 

No sense to eat the eggs if you need chickens on the farm..

Edited March 28, 2013 by Plymouthy Adams

[Don Coatney]

 give us a tear down report on a great running engine. 

48D

 

 

I can do that without leaving my desk chair. Here you go and I will try and be brief.

 

Was running great. Tore it down. Found and fixed nothing.  Put it back together. End of report. 

[Don Coatney]

Spitfire rebuild

 

http://www.bitoffun.com/video_vault/spitfire-rebuild.htm.

[James_Douglas]

Don,

 

I would be interested in knowing how much tapper at the top of the cylinders you have since the original rebuild if you measured it.  I have an 86 year old machinist here just south of "Frisco" :-) that tells me that the blocks on the flathead six's seem to go out of shape relatively early due to soft cylinder walls. So, anyone that built one up in the last 10 years and thus uses new oils and rings...and then pulls off a head off after 5K or 10K miles...I would like to know how much of a ridge and/or the actual tapper they get.

 

Best, James 

[Don Coatney]

When I pull the head I will let you know.

[dezeldoc]

 Yes there is....I am hungry!!!!

 

No sense to eat the eggs if you need chickens on the farm..

[Desotodav]

I'd be putting the Spitfire head on Don as I don't reckon that I could have something that good sitting around my place without being on the vehicle! Surely Murphy's Law doesn't apply all the time!

 

Just as a matter of interest though (for someone not very mechanically minded like me) - I believe that the Spitfire head will increase your compression, do you have to do any other minor adjustments like changing the timing or modifying fuel mix etc after you put a performance head on?

 

Desotodav

[randroid]

Don,

 

I've been keeping my nose out of this so far but the time has come to speak my piece:

                                          Dyslexics of the world UNTIE!

 

I've been keeping my nose out of this so far but the time has come to speak my peace:

                                          You should agonize over it longer.

 

-Randy

[Andydodge]

Don..........its RED.........it must go faster, better, longer, higher......go for it!.

[ptwothree]

Use the 'Search' button....This may or may not be of help.

[Robert Horne]

I dare you!...I double dare you!...I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!!!....

 

 

 

If I had a Red "Spitfire" Head like that, I would be the happiest kid in the world, but my Dad would

 

not buy me one.         He said, I would drop it on my toes, and I would not be able to talk along

 

time because of all the soap in my mouth.........

[Scruffy49]

I've got a beam in the garage that would look great lag bolted to...

[Don Coatney]

I would not be able to talk along

time because of all the soap in my mouth.........

How many here (besides me) actually had there mouth washed out with soap as a kid for cussin?

[Merle Coggins]

It wasn't pleasant, as I recall.

[Plymouthy Adams]

poor Ralphie went blind due to that...

[oldodge41]

It was s s soap poisoning! I remember not enjoying the experience myself.  

I'm not a real redhead guy. Paint that thing brunette and you've got something special!

Edited March 30, 2013 by oldodge41

[Labrauer]

Back in the days to get rid of carbon on the valves and pistons we would set the throttle up a few RPM's and pour some ATF down the carb slowly till the car would almost die or would die. Let it set a few hours and crank it back up and boy would it smoke but the carbon would be gone. After a few minutes of running it the smoke would clear up and besides the smoke does wonders to these Texas size mosquito's around here for a while.

[Robert Horne]

Back in the days to get rid of carbon on the valves and pistons we would set the throttle up a few RPM's and pour some ATF down the carb slowly till the car would almost die or would die. Let it set a few hours and crank it back up and boy would it smoke but the carbon would be gone. After a few minutes of running it the smoke would clear up and besides the smoke does wonders to these Texas size mosquito's around here for a while.

I have never heard of pouring ATF in the carb, but have heard of spraying a little cold water in the carb.

[DCurrent]

Back in the days to get rid of carbon on the valves and pistons we would set the throttle up a few RPM's and pour some ATF down the carb slowly till the car would almost die or would die. Let it set a few hours and crank it back up and boy would it smoke but the carbon would be gone. After a few minutes of running it the smoke would clear up and besides the smoke does wonders to these Texas size mosquito's around here for a while.

I have heard of this, but in a different manner. A guy I know mixes ATF with one tank of gas once a year for his Indian Motorcyle. He swears it keeps his heads clean. I haven't tried it, but I wiould like to know for sure if it works.

Darren

[RobertKB]

So Don, what's happenin' or not happenin'? You started this thread looking for advice so you need to let us know what you are going to do? Curious minds want to know!

[55 Fargo]

Hi Don, did you'tally up" the yays and nays. We are waiting on you..

[52b3b Joe]

How many here (besides me) actually had there mouth washed out with soap as a kid for cussin?

 

I unfortunately experienced that more than once....

 

I say go for the swap...I'd like to see it on the car at the show in May!

[48Dodger]

This thread is incomplete.....no report or reply from the thread starter.

 

• Did you respond to the "double dog dare"?

• Did ya drop it on your toe?

• Did Murphy bite you a good one?

 

     ----------------------------------------------------

Ya, ma Pa'er busted ma mouth wit da Ivory soap a few time or two.....

      ---------------------------------------------------

ATF has Hydraulic Detergents that clean things up good fer the engine/injectors and such purty good.   

 

48D     

Edited May 23, 2013 by 48dodger

[larryconnors]

If I have a good running, good driving car during prime season I drive it. If I have a problem that takes it out of that category I fix it. If I have nice to do that won't take it out of that category, I'll do it. If I have a nice to do that may tie up my car for awhile I'll wait until the off season to do it. That being said, I'd do a proper fix on your radiator and wait until the off season to do the head unless you are confident that you can do it quickly without complications..