V4 Dodge

[zenndog]

The head is not back yet from the welder

Today I stopped in at Rich's and we installed a "crash switch" in the line to the primer pump. I pulled it off a Taurus at Pick & Pull for $5.

I did some work on the Stude head which is in the tech section.

We looked at the roadster and chatted.

Not much to do till the head gets back.

Rich is trying to find somewhere closer than El Mirage to do a push start.....any suggestions? The street is not an option. Rich is thinking about a drag strip out towards Sacramento.

[zenndog]

Head is back from the welder, in a couple of weeks we will bolt it back on unless Rich decides to do it sooner. Then we will find out if the repair worked.

[RichFox]

Got the head back this afternoon. Much welding was required to patch the port floor that had rotted out. I don't think I'll blend it as I really don't want to take it back. I give up. Either it's to big or to small. How I hate these things, but it now works.

[Peter Jack]

Nice repair! 

If there's any seepage just throw in a bottle of Bars Leaks. Your weldor did good.

Pete

[Milwaukee Midget]

I think it's good that this is on the end port, rather than in the shared port, and I agree, given that you can't see what's going on in the water jacket, I'd skip trying to blend it in, and just leave it - at least for the time being.

Prove the concept, and then start tweaking.

Chin up, Rich - you've got a lot of very interested folks out here who know you can make this go. 

[desotoman]

Got the head back this afternoon. Much welding was required to patch the port floor that had rotted out. I don't think I'll blend it as I really don't want to take it back. I give up. Either it's to big or to small. How I hate these things, but it now works.

Rich,

The welder should be able to give you an idea on how much you can blend the port. What did he have to say about the weld? Did he grind out everything and put a plate in? Or?

Tom G.

[RichFox]

He ground out that which was to thin to weld to and then just started laying beads. He is kind of hoping I just run it as is. PS What I gave up on was trying to post the picture. But I tried and tried again and finally persevered.

[zenndog]

Quick update

Rich bolted the head back on.....when I showed up on Sat we hooked up the water lines and to our great dismay the head still leaked! Rich is going to take it back to the welder.

Despite the bad news, we located a spot where the drive shaft was rubbing a little and eliminated the rub.

We also checked the oil screen but it looked good at the pickup and it looked good.

Waiting for the head again.

[Peter Jack]

Depending on the amount of leakage you may want to try a bottle of Bars Leaks. I've found the pelletized stuff works really well. It's sometimes rather difficult to get old, dirty, brittle castings to seal up completely.

Pete

[RichFox]

I have used Bars Leak in the past and find it works very well. In this instance the rust out of the port floor is pretty extensive. more than what I would use Bars Leak for. And Bob, who owns the head paid for a weld repair which I believe he should get. Or his money back. We have lots of time right now until WoS 2013. So I will try again to have the head repaired. i did put together some parts so that the welder can use water to check his weld rather than air, which didn't seem effective.

[zenndog]

Quick update;

Rich picked up the head last I heard from him, still leaking.

Welder gave up, not sure what is next.

[Milwaukee Midget]

I'm thinking you may need to bore out the old port, weld in a sleeve and recontour.  Zenn, how far down the port is the leak?

[zenndog]

Rich is looking into some high temp epoxy that Buddy posted a link for on the Stude head thread. If that doesn't seem like it will work then he is thinking about powdered metal welding. We will see.

[V4F STR 60]

Update ~ Rich contacted us to help him work out the head issues.  We're going to pick the head up in a few weeks and take it back to Montana to have it pressure tested and magnafuxed.

We've unfortunately turned into the resident experts on cracked vintage Dodge banger parts 

If all goes well, the Fast Four Special crew will have Rich's car in our pits next August to crew for Zenon, and finally get the Morton and Brett on the salt!

Cross your fingers!

Pedro

[Kiwi Paul]

 Nice, Pedro. You have the resources and experience. Good of you to Volunteer for the task. Im looking forward to more progress, and to hear it run as well....