Getting stuck aluminum flathead heads off???

I thought I could get em, but man they are not budging! I am being very careful however as not to damage the heads. I got this engine a week ago, been squirting penetrating oil on each stud every day since! I have tried cranking it over with the plugs in, made some T handle pullers using spark plugs to thread into the holes, tapped and tapped on em all over...they will just not budge. Anyone else run into some suborn ones? How did you get em off without damaging anything?

 

I know I'm not even on the same level as a Flathead "novice" but is it possible to take the studs out through the heads? Like, twist a pair of nuts against each other and unscrew the stud out using the bottom nut.. Unless there's not enough thread sticking out of the block to do that. Or it hurts the heads somehow.

Just a random thought. If you're laughing at my lack of knowledge of all that is Flathead, then disregard this post.

 

No, that is an idea...I tried it! Problem is theres simply not enough sticking up.

 

Yeah.. Kinda looked like it in the pictures.

Good luck, man.

 

I once saw an article about this, maybe in Hot Rod Mechanix?
Evidently the aluminum is swedged into the threads of the studs when the nuts are tightened, making the heads difficult (or impossible) to remove. The fix was to find a piece of thin wall tubing with an ID that slid snugly over the head stud. Cut teeth into one end of the tubing (similar to a hole saw) and use it like a hole saw to remove the offending layer of aluminum.

 

try some beeswax melted onto threads. bet the heads were tight on the studs and "galled" locking them in place. here is what i would try remove the plugs and fill the cylinders with rope and slowly turn engine over. what about building puller that would thread into each plug hole and slow and even apply pressure across the heads with heat. thing is if it takes a week and you get them off without busting them it will be worth it, good luck!

 

Pull all the plugs - put one of the end pistons just BTDC - pour a pint of 30/wt oil through the plug hole and reinstall that plug. Gently rotate the crank by hand and try to push the head loose. If you overdue it you'll bend a rod but it might work.

 

Hi Chris. You might be lucky with the thin cutting tube thingy trick. I'm trying the same thing at the moment with an 8BA and I'm struggling. The heads have been on since '94 and want to stay there. Keep trying . .

Hit it!

Ouch!
CM . . .


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

I'd say pump half a dozen pumps of grease into one of the center plug holes and then replace the plug and crank.

 

modify the 8 plugs for grease fittings and pump grease in with a grease gun. try to get even pressure on all 8.it is amazing how much pressure a good grease gun will put out.

 

We shifted a set of stuckoriginal aluminium heads in the 60's by backing all the head bolts/studs off a few turns and simply firing her up! She idled for a few minutes, then the heads popped off, one by one. Leaving the studs partly in meant the heads didn't go flying across the garage.

Cheers, Glen.

 

Yep, I had one that was really stuck and all it took was cranking it over for a few minutes with the starter. Knocked them loose enough to get them moving.

 

Could weld a nut to the end of each stud, and remove them that way. The heat from the weld might loosen things up too.

Rob

 

this is what I would try , mig weld a nut on the end and use an impact turned down and ease em out. I think the heat from the weld and the slight jarring or vibration from the gun, studs should back out...hopefully not snapping one

 

I'm wondering if you'll find copper gaskets underneath, and the two metals formed a battery and fused.

 

WITH ALL THE STUD NUTS OFF, JUST START HER UP !?? "OH " AND PLEASE STAND BACK,,, NOW DON'T LAUGH IT WILL WORK,,,, IF THIS DON'T DO IT YOU GOT A REAL PROBLEM...

 

Push a high-pressure washer nozzle to the plug holes and give each cylinder a blast. The ones with the valves closed will pop the head up. Block the crank from turning, then turn it so another hole is on the right stroke and do it again. You won't bend rods this way. Might take several tries, just keep at it.
Dontcha jest LOVE head studs?
You can also get your machinist to cut a couple of head nuts thinner so you can lock two together and pull the studs, but be aware that some might break if they have set up in the aluminum really solid.

 

I had this issue once and my sollution was to loosen the headbolts and leave the nuts on about half way .Get out an air chisel with a dull point bit and rattle each bolt enough to loosen the electrolosis . You will actually see the aluminum dust climb out as you use the air chisel .In conjunction you may also have to apply head and penetrant .

 

I have the same problem right now.

I used a 4x4 chunk of wood on one side. Took the manifold off and laid it across the top of each head. A few taps and the head was loose enough to fit a putty knife under it. Worked the putty knife around carefully and it came out.

The other side is not budging.

 

I have soemhardwood wedges that the Ol' man made gawd knows when just for getting stubborn flat heads off. There is usually a place to start on and you tap and wiggle. The Ol man called it worrying them off. It is tedious work and one of the things that got relegated to me an a very yound age.

Might be worth trying if all else failes.

Also that make a tool, it may be called a stud puller, that you can put on the end of the stud and pull the stud. You will have to replace the stud when you are done but studs are with a lot less than heads.

 

There used to be a guy around here we called ROPE, he worked on motorcycles, he would push a bunch of small rope down the spark plug hole and turn the motor over and the head would pop off, might work on a V8??? Chris

 

^^^^^ this, no huge mess like with grease / oil. feed chunks of cotton rope into the end cylinders, crank over by hand.

 

I wouldn't do anything that would put stress on the spark plug threads. Those threads are pretty flimsy to begin with.

I think your head is glued to the studs with aluminum oxide. That stuff is like concrete. I'd try soaking with CLR and try to get the studs out (or at least rotating a bit) first.

 

CLR I never thought of that. That stuff works like a champ on corroded stuff.

 

If it'll run then do that first. If not take your Rose Bud out and start heating the heads ever so gently. Also have a beeswax candle going and drip it onto the studs. As both are heated there should be enough space to let the beeswax lube up the studs. You are fighting electrolisis and you have to break the barrier. Running it is the best though as it's a controlled way to vibrate the joint loose on each and every stud evenly.


Good Luck,

Tim

 

I made a puller and used the spark plug holes with no problem. Not on aluminum heads, however.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=510805&highlight=flathead

 

The CLR sounds like an interesting possibility.

 

Thanks a lot, I think this is the way to go!

Chris

 

Did you scrool down far enough to see the hollowed out spark plugs?

 

Yeah, I think I'll do that. How do you hollow em, just bust the porcelain out??