Guys I just bought a 49 coupe from a HAMB member and I am excited to get it on the road. The car was nicely restored years ago and then just never driven. The tank was full of **** and the fuel in the visible filter looked like coffee. It started and ran fine to get on the trailer and then i put about 5 gallons into a half full tank (not knowing the condition of the tank because the tank was new from resto and looked great on the outside) and then put a can of seafoam in the tank. My new tank cam in and I got the carb rebulit. Before hooking up the new tank I ran a remote tank to the carb to see how it ran. It was missing and running like **** and I was like WTF???? Started looking at points etc. After a few hours i removed the valve cover to find #1,2,5 and 6 intake valves stuck closed with 3 bent pushrods and one broke rocker. took off the ***embly and side cover and lifters are riding cam and cam looks ok. Just took off the head and will take it to the machine shop tomorrow. Would like to let him know what happened. Inspecting the bottom of the head the valves are all seated and don't appear bent. My best guess is the new fuel and perhaps the seamfoam hurt the valves guides. Since they are older guides and need unleaded or lead subsitute to lube them I thought maybe the cleaner gauled the guides and seized the valves. **** because i don't want to sink any cash in this 216 because i am building a nice 235 for the car. I just don't want to see it sitting there for some good cruising months waiting on the 235. Do you guys think my guide therory is true?
No. It isn't the lead that lubricated the guides way back when, that was in the fuel to keep the seats from wearing so fast. I suspect that the **** gas you had varnished up the valve stems and made them stick, resulting in bent pushrods and broken rocker. Chances are that freeing the valves up and replacing the damaged parts will be all that you need to have done. If the engine was redone way back when the car was nicely restored, then if you're lucky you have good tight clearances between the valve guides and stems, which is a good thing IF they are lubricated properly and not all varnished up.
. . Nailed it, I recommend going ahead and pulling the head and cleaning and checking the valves. Do it once and do it right. Good Luck!
+ 1 on EBB's info.... I cant count how many times I have had to pull heads to remove the red, gunky varnish ! The story always starts with " It has been sitting for a long time " Any vehicle or equipment with a vented fuel tank is a potential victim . Only 2 out of the 9 old cars / trucks we have " put back in service" in the last 2 years did NOT have red varnish problems ! Dave
Thanks for the education guys! I am really a decent mechanic but I am getting a real test of what I thought I knew after buying this 49. I have some performance question i need to ask about this 235 i am building. So look for the post you expert inline guys. Thanks Again!!!
The Jalopy Journal
