Aluminum heads
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Jebby
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,412
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
I have both aluminum heads and an aluminum big block. I casually mentioned painting the whole engine orange and my engine builder had a shocked look on his face. I really wasn't going to paint the engine. With aluminum, you do have to worry about "white rust," the engine aluminum surface will eventually corrode and not look very good. I sprayed the engine with satin clear. I think it was an Eastwood clear paint. High temperature and UV resistant. Brodix heads, Keith Black block. 492 cubic inches. Calles crank and rods. Internally balanced.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 26
From: Blue ridge Georgia
Well this project was supposed to be a simple head swap and get her back running, BUT !!!! While cleaning the firewall I bumped in to the heater hoses which then just fell to the floor with the brass pipe still attached to the hose. So now I have to tear out the dash and replace the heater core. More money, more money,more money. At least I have the rest of winter to get her back running.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,509
From: Virginia
Well this project was supposed to be a simple head swap and get her back running, BUT !!!! While cleaning the firewall I bumped in to the heater hoses which then just fell to the floor with the brass pipe still attached to the hose. So now I have to tear out the dash and replace the heater core. More money, more money,more money. At least I have the rest of winter to get her back running.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 26
From: Blue ridge Georgia
Need some advice. As you know I have replaced my cast iron heads with aluminum heads. Here is the problem. One spark plug only went in half way. The rest went in just fine so I pulled the bad one back out and can see where the threads are getting crossed threaded . So I tried a thread clean out tool to see if there was something stopping the spark. Well it broke off in the spark plug hole. I was able to get all the pieces out thank goodness but now the spark plug hole won’t take the 14mm plug. Do I have to take the head back off and have it re threaded or can I use a 14mm thread chaser and re thread the hole myself. If I take the head back off can I reuse the gasket or is that gasket done.
thanks
scott
thanks
scott
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Take the head off and helicoil it.....some people like timeserts better but you have to remove more material around the offending thread. If you have not fired the engine the head should pull away clean from the gasket......if you are concerned, paint it with copper spray-a-gasket...you will be fine....just make sure to follow your torque pattern of course and do it in two steps (40-65lbs.)
Jebby
Jebby
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 26
From: Blue ridge Georgia
Take the head off and helicoil it.....some people like timeserts better but you have to remove more material around the offending thread. If you have not fired the engine the head should pull away clean from the gasket......if you are concerned, paint it with copper spray-a-gasket...you will be fine....just make sure to follow your torque pattern of course and do it in two steps (40-65lbs.)
Jebby
Jebby
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Jebby
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 26
From: Blue ridge Georgia
Well ran into a bit of a snag. Got the intake all un bolted distributor out but intake will not come lose from heads. It’s like it’s welded to it. The engine was never fired up. I did not put any RTV on the intake gaskets that face the intake. So don’t know what is holding it on. I am afraid of cracking the intake trying to pry it off .. very frustrating and to boot when I took off the upper radiator hose the inlet tube just broke off the radiator. So now I have to get a new radiator. 😡
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Well ran into a bit of a snag. Got the intake all un bolted distributor out but intake will not come lose from heads. It’s like it’s welded to it. The engine was never fired up. I did not put any RTV on the intake gaskets that face the intake. So don’t know what is holding it on. I am afraid of cracking the intake trying to pry it off .. very frustrating and to boot when I took off the upper radiator hose the inlet tube just broke off the radiator. So now I have to get a new radiator. 😡
Jebby