f head head gasket

got my f-head apart today. it was smoking bad so I figured new rings and inspect all the berings. I got the head off and it seems to be looking like two of the push rod holes in the head gasket waas leaking into the combustion chamber. hopfully a new head gasket will fix this. anyone else have this probelm? the rest of evertyhing looks great. the odometer has 25000 miles on and I assumed it was 125000 but after getting the motor apart it may only have 25000 mikes on her. anyway I guess I will install the new rings sime I have them anyway.

 

I bought a 56 CJ5 jeep that had a bad head gasket with leaks like yours. It had set up and the two inside cylinder walls had some rust. The motor was locked up.

I did an in frame (without pulling the motor) ring job and she is running like a champ. I also had my head reground and put in new intake valves while in the process. Probably spent close to $400 for the entire job. Not as hard a job as it sounds like. Did take a few evenings working on it after work.

And some of the guys may suggest you pull the motor and do a complete overhaul. Might not be too bad of an idea. Just depends on you and your jeep. If you pull the motor out, this is also a good time to replace the clutch.

You can rent the honing tool and ridge reamer from Auto zone and not have to buy them.



Good Luck.


Cliff

 

If you're going to replace the rings, you should replace the rod bearings too. That and a valve grind makes up the old-school overhaul.

Doesn't take much to keep a 134 running.

 

I have a set of rod bearings too that I am going to replace. the old ones looked great hardle any where but still goo to replace them. only some carbon the cylinder head to clean. clutch looks good too but maybe a new one would be great.

 

If the surface of the block or head are warped, a new head gasket wont last long.You might want to consider having both milled just to make sure. I would seriously consider getting a valve job done,my '55 smoked badly untill I did.I went ahead and did a complete overhaul, but maybe not needed in your case.