Head Repair

[55panFL]

Looking for advise as to where I can have a crack repaired ( between plug hole and valve) on my 1955 pan heads.

[Cotten]

Dennis!

Before others begin to list repairers,
Please pressuretest your crack if you can,
as often such cracks are superficial upon castings.
(But the forgiving ones are usually to the exhaust seat.)

Merely devise a way to put some decent airpressure upon the port with the valve installed. Some may leak by the valve, but that is not our immediate concern. If soapy water upon the crack produces it own bubbles, then indeed a massive repair is in order.

Good Luck!

....Cotten

[55panFL]

Dennis!

Before others begin to list repairers,
Please pressuretest your crack if you can,
as often such cracks are superficial upon castings.
(But the forgiving ones are usually to the exhaust seat.)

Merely devise a way to put some decent airpressure upon the port with the valve installed. Some may leak by the valve, but that is not our immediate concern. If soapy water upon the crack produces it own bubbles, then indeed a massive repair is in order.

Good Luck!

....Cotten

So if it don't produce bubbles then should I just run it?

[Cotten]

So if it don't produce bubbles then should I just run it?

Dennis!

You still have to fix everything else, of course.

....Cotten

[55panFL]

So if it don't produce bubbles then should I just run it?

Dennis!

You still have to fix everything else, of course.

....Cotten

Sorry if I am missing something but what do you mean by (everything else)?

[PanPal]

Your valve seats look deep. You should check to see if your valve stem height is in tolerance.

[Cotten]

Dennis!

It should be obvious that all other things must be in order.

Have you a local professional automotive shop to assist?

....Cotten

[55panFL]

I used a rubber frost plug to seal the exhaust poet and the crack dind't produce any bubbles, just bubbles between the valve and seat

I dont have anyone local that I would really trust to do any repairs to the crack.

[Cotten]

Dennis!

That is encourageing.

Often such cracks are peened with a sealer such as "Seal-Lock Fluid Weld".
Just for good measure.

How do you intend to have the rest of the overhaul performed?

....Cotten
(PS: I ain't offering anything but insight! Seriously.)

[Huck]

Mine are in worse shape, I’m running them by way of ignorance. Be sure to check the outside of the heads at and around the spark plug. Check the oil return galley for bubbles also. Mine leak mildly from the oil return to the exterior and into the combustion chamber. The crack to the outside of my set is invisible to the eye. Soap told the story, after they were re-valved and bolted up. Do your home work up front.

2 bits.

[55panFL]

I Originally removed the heads because of what turned out to be a broken valve spring collar(aluminum). the valve don't appear to have hit anything, it was just stuck open a bit and held by what was left of the broken collar. I discovered the crack when I was cleaning up the heads. the motor has only about 3000 miles since it was apart last time (20+ years ago) so I was original just going to have the valves checked by a machine shop and install new seals and new Steel collars. Since I had it apart I decided to remove the cylinders to paint them silver and install new rings and hone the cylinders. not sure what I should do with the crack now? how does the Seal-Lock Fluid Weld work Cotton? I haven't heard of it before. I'm not a mechanic by trade But I am a auto body collision repairer and painter.

[Hog54]

I have the same crack on my rear head and been running fine for 3 years now.

[58flh]

55panfl----If you take it to a cycle-shop, dont let them put new-seats-in!!!--The orig. are cast-in!---Any certified shop can weld the crack & machine back to original!.--You have to check guide to valve clearence!--Also if valves are sunk in far .you can get oversize valve on the head of it! & machine-cut a seat for it to seal to!.--THESE are ways to -(GET BY)& they work!,--To properly fix the heads you need somebody like DON S at HEADHOG!--CHECK the K-BASE & you will see & learn while at it!----Respectfuly--RICHIE

[hplhd]

theres a guy in Ill. that can do the work. great guy, no bullshitting around. if you want his info just holler.

[Cotten]

.... how does the Seal-Lock Fluid Weld work Cotton? ....

Dennis!

You may remember "pinning" as a means of crack repair.
"Fluid-Weld" has been used for decades to chemically fuse metal together when peened: http://www.silver-seal.com/results.cgis ... &x=11&y=11

It is not cheap.
If indeed the crack seems superficial, then I would blast thoroughly fill it with the Fluid-Weld before using a hammer and rounded punch to roll the edges of the crack together.

The chemistry is beyond me, but it is one of the few "sealers" that can withstand the environment of a combustion chamber.

....Cotten