[Fot] Coolant conundrum

[tr4racing at googlemail.com]

If the head has collapsed there, the head is toast.

 

Cheers

Chris

 

From: Fot <fot-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Anthony Parker via Fot
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2023 2:54 AM
To: FOT Triumph <fot at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Fot] Coolant conundrum

 

Well...

 

Finally took the five minutes that I should have weeks ago.

 

Put a straight edge across the head.

The squish zone above the #2 cylinder is literally squished.

As much at 0.01" toward the center of the cylinder, but more importantly,
0.007" between the coolant passages and the gasket sealing ring.

 

Cost myself a lot of time, money, and frustration.

 

Live and learn.

 

Will try to get the head surfaced tomorrow first thing and then go from
there.

Could be cracked inside the water jacket and the valve seats could be warped
for all I know.

Though, I did lap the intake and exhaust in that cylinder and everything
seemed to be seating properly.

 

Thanks for everyone's feedback,

 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: Fot <fot-bounces at autox.team.net <mailto:fot-bounces at autox.team.net> >
on behalf of Anthony Parker via Fot <fot at autox.team.net
<mailto:fot at autox.team.net> >
Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2023 8:02 PM
To: Robert Lang <robertlangtr6 at yahoo.com <mailto:robertlangtr6 at yahoo.com> >;
FOT Triumph <fot at autox.team.net <mailto:fot at autox.team.net> >
Subject: Re: [Fot] Coolant conundrum 

 

Thanks Rich, Robert, and everyone else.

 

More digging..

 

White sludge in valve cover.

Watery oil in tappets.

 

Head is off and stripped, ready for the machine shop.

 

Strange that this morning before the third test, the oil was clear and
clean.

 

We'll see if the head or the block is the problem.  

With my recent luck, it could be both.

 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: Robert Lang <robertlangtr6 at yahoo.com <mailto:robertlangtr6 at yahoo.com>
>
Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2023 5:45 PM
To: FOT Triumph <fot at autox.team.net <mailto:fot at autox.team.net> >; Anthony
Parker <solarant at hotmail.com <mailto:solarant at hotmail.com> >
Subject: Re: [Fot] Coolant conundrum 

 

The cooling of the radiator and temp spike seem to indicate an air bubble in
the system. It could get there from spot temps causing localized boiling or
it could come from a pressure leak from the combustion chamber or head
gasket.

 

If you think you have a cracked head or bad head gasket, try pressurizing
the system and see if the pressure holds. Stant makes a tool like, there are
probably others, but buy or borrow this tool. It takes all the guess work
out of such problems. My rule of thumb is to bring it up to cap pressure and
see if it holds for at last 30 minutes (plus or minus a couple of lb is
okay, but loosing half or more in less than 30 minutes is a dead giveaway.

 

I would also verify that the ignition timing is not too far advanced. Not
that I ever had that problem. :-)

 

Note that you can also use the Stant gauge to verify "normal" system
pressure - you want to do that to make sure your cap pressure will keep the
coolant from boiling.

 

Good luck figuring out the problem.

 

Regards,

Bob Lang

 

 

On Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 02:05:24 PM EDT, Anthony Parker via Fot
<fot at autox.team.net <mailto:fot at autox.team.net> > wrote: 

 

 

I'm having cooling problems.

Need help being convinced that I have to do what I don't want to do.

 

Brand new short block, same old head, water pump, and radiator.

 

Over three trials, the engine will run fine and warm up with radiator hoses
and radiator warming properly. Then the hoses and radiator will cool and
coolant temp will spike to 230+. Radiator cold with sky high coolant temps.

 

Two more clues, hoses seem to pressurize very quickly and when I opened the
radiator cap this morning (after cooling all night) pressurized air and
coolant shot everywhere.

 

No thermostat and I have confirmed three times that system is completely
full

 

Seems I have combustion gases getting into coolant and then bubbles
eventually removing pump prime.

 

Don't know what else it could be.

 

Given the apparent direction of the leak, is there any use in trying some
"stop leak" product?

 

Is it time to pull the head again to look for warping or gasket leak?

 

I suppose it could be a cracked cylinder, but this block has been checked by
two different trusted engine machinists.

 

Desperately trying to get to the RunOffs, Anthony.

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