head gasket problem

[kevin powles]

Hi, Took the carrier to a local show today, on returning from a 2 mile run, I was getting alot of gurgaling from the expansion tank and the radiator cap joints started passing steam.

The engine I have in the carrier is a 24 stud 8BA which came in the carrier when I got it and has given 5 years reliable service. She has always run a little hot and top radiator temp was 125 degrees C on shutting down, (hotter than normal).

I am going to do a compression check on the piston bores and coolant system this week, can anyone tell me what peek pressure can I expect on a healthy bore, I have yet to check condition of the oil. I did fire up my CO meter but its a bit old and unreliable and did indicate CO with radiator cap removed and the engine not running.

I am hoping this is a head gasket failure and not a cracked block, I think the radiator relief valve is working correctly as i have overhauled it previously, Head gasket change on these looks very straight forward but I am open to any ideas or comments.

kev.

[Stew Robertson]

Hi Kevin
take the rad cap OFF and run the engine until it comes up to nomal operating temperature then watch in the rad opening and rev the engine to check for bubbles nine times out of ten of there is bubbles, you have valve seat / wall cracks a typical overheated ford flat head issue
Stew
P.S while the engine is warming up also check the rad for bubbles, if they are
there before it gets warmed up it is probabley just the gaskets

[carrierbarry]

Thats a sad sight !!!

Hope everything is ok


Barry

[kevin powles]

Hi, Had the engine cover off today, turns out the fan belt was sherreded, got a new one on for £13, overhauled the cap, changed the oil and coolant. Now running as before, lucky escape and I would advise any carrier owner to check your fan belt condition and it is the correct one, also carry a spare.

kev.

[charlie fitton]

[QUOTE=kevin powles; turns out the fan belt was sherreded,

Hi Kev

Should be "belts" - and check your water pumps to see if they are the cause of the shredding..

Took me forever to figure out that the left pump would sieze "every now and then" - didn't leak, or even squeal all the time.

Dead simple rebuild.

f

[ajmac]

I remember kev said he has an 8ba fitted, if it is original condition then it only has provision for one belt, has it got the distributor up top by the RH cylinder bank kev?

Glad you sorted it...I have just started my 81a 3.6L 24 stud rebuild and all I can say is flatheads are not easy to work on when they have some carbon and corrosion in them!

[kevin powles]

Hi Charlie, Only one belt on my carrier as its an 8ba with single pulley on the pumps, Carriers run two belts to make them more reliable?, Cant see a difference in loading between a carrier and ford pilot or mecury, any one know why military spec is two belts~?.

kev.

[ajmac]

Think we cross posted there!
As far as I know twin belts were specified for trucks and single for cars in the US, over in England we were more reserved and retained twin belts throughout flathead production into the 50s. In my view twin belts were for reliability and during wartime when flatheads began to be supplied from the US and Canada, the British spec simply followed what they were procuring from Dagenham. Hence the twin belts and the British reluctance to move to the 239ci.... I am still sure that British built carriers never deviated from the 221ci, T16s and from people say Canadian carriers both went with 239ci power units.

[Lynn Eades]

Al. This has been argued about before, so I will post it again. See the opening pages from a British manual below.
I'd guess the British built MkII unversals and Mortar carriers at least with 239 cu.in. engines.

On the fan and waterpumps. I would suggest in the carrier situation, the h.p. required to drive the fan is probably higher than in any other Ford application of the time. The fan blade was special and it has to work hard to force air through a highly restricted flow path. Our carriers weigh in at about 4 ton and along with the design causing air flow dificulties, they also operate often at a low ground speed. As a result there would be virtually no air flow, that is not fan driven.
I personally wouldnt be trying to run without the twin belts.
The ford v8 by design is elsewhere described as a "hot" motor, because the exhaust gases have to flow through the block. couple that to an increased capacity motor (8ba,239 cu.in.) an exhaust system designed for a 65 h.p. v8 (a morris minor sized pipe)
As you go up in cu.in., the requirement for cooling increases.
Suggestion: Dont take shortcuts with your cooling system.