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Engine Jeep Soup set back ...

Engine Jeep Soup set back ...

Jeep Soup

Jeeper
Donator
Posts
170
Thanks
65
Location
Westfield, Wisconsin
Vehicle(s)
1950 CJ-3A (Stock)
1/4 ton Military Trailer (Stock)
2004 Grand Cherokee (set up for expeditions)
GOOD NEWS first.
The weather came out of the Artic Sub Zeros! Started Jeep Soup.

Jeep Soup is running like a Sewing Machine. Really quiet, and NO lifter noise. STARTED Easily, with minor Carb Adjustments. !!

Well, SUMS a BISCUITS !!!!

I "Disturbed" 2 head bolt nuts to remove the Air Cleaner Tube crossing over the engine to remove the Manifold.

I have a weeping antifreeze leak at the head gasket by these two head bolts. Cranked them down to No Reprieve !!

Oh Happy Happy Joy Joy, I get to replace a Head Gasket.
 
On removing the head on a Flathead L134 "Go Devil" that has been on there before the beginning of Income Taxes !!! was a little bit of Patience and Compound Cussing. It separated at the Head Gasket fairly easy,
BUT, I don't know where that Black Carbon Gunk comes from on Head Bolts/Studs on something that is to be a Sealed Fasteners !!
Lots of Liquid Wrench penetrant,
Wiggling, Wobbling, Duck Taped Multiple Pry Bars, Blocks of cut wood and IT finally gave up her prize possessed Head !

Here's the Dirty Look after removal.
PXL_20260211_190019305.webp PXL_20260211_192535358.webp

And this head must have been "Shaved" in it's past. The intake valve is leaving the mark in the carbon on the head.

PXL_20260211_192542901.MACRO_FOCUS.webp
 
Now in my own Defense......
Here is what I found causing the Antifreeze Leak.
A bad CHEAP Head Gasket was use by a PO
You get what you paid for !

It rusted through at a Water Jacket Port, and then creeped through the layers of the Head Gasket.



PXL_20260211_190153977.webp

I could not find any markings on the old head gasket for a manufacturer.
I ordered a MADE IN USA "Copper" Head Gasket. Yes it was double the price of a "Best Made in China" composite gasket "Copy".

It is to be here by the 19th of February.

So I am cleaning everything up.
Soaking the head to get the carbon cleaned off, chasing ALL the head studs and bolts threads.
And going to Helicoil repair two Stud Holes in the Block as when I removed the Studs, some of the Threads came out with them.

This is my Go To Product for Non Solvent Tank cleaning. It actually works better on softening carbon. I mixed it a little longer for this application. Been using this Stuff since the Late 70's.
Excellent engine/frame/firewall Degreaser that doesn't kill your
Lawn or Dissolve your Driveway when washed off.
PXL_20260211_192616834.webp

After about a hour soaking most of the carbon came off with just a putty knife.
I let it soak overnight and will hit it with the Wire Wheel Cup in the Drill today.

PXL_20260211_231136960.webp
 
Maybe 85 years ago they didn’t need to name their gasket. :wtf:
 
Maybe 85 years ago they didn’t need to name their gasket. :wtf:
Blaahaha.....
I did Government Work......
I don't sign anything!!

Well we know it is NOT a original part. Back then, everything had a manufacturing stamp, parts number, and if Army Surplus, would even have a Gov. Contract Number on it.
These ancient parts that even have a casting number on them has saved me hours of searching for new parts replacements.
Once you have a part number or manufacturer, you are Golden to find parts.
 
Yeah I was a subcontractor for the gov for almost 4 decades. Back in the early days of when computers showed up, they even numbered the mouse for the keyboard. Keeping track of government property was a big thing. Now they just hope to keep track of a laptop from disappearing into the abyss
 
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Good Morning,

Hope All had a "Rewarding Valentine's Day" ........

Over the last few days I cleaned up the head and block.

AND things we learned about Jeep Soup.

This is a replacement engine from a CJ3a donor in it's past from a Previous Owner. The VIN number by the Water Pump begins CJ3-XXXXX.

The body tub is from a Pre March 1942 MB, and I am thinking the Frame is TOO. There is a Machine Gun Mount Bracket in the Frame
Lining Up with the "Half Moon" mount Area in the Tub Floor.

And as mentioned above, Someone has been into this engine before. Finding hidden "Farmer Fixes" here and there.
 
In cleaning up the Head and Block, de-carbon'd both. Soaking the Head made easy work with the Cup Wire Wheel and Drill.
(Just to note, graciously accept tool gifts. This Chinesium Drill was a Father's Day gift 30+ years ago. And has been relegated to
jobs like this, instead of burning up a Good Milwaukee drill in a constant run use. Surprisingly it is holding up!)

PXL_20260214_004958395.webp
PXL_20260213_231801860.webp

As in the above post, getting the Head Off was a Real Pain with the carbon build up around the Head Studs, so a good clean of these holes was Done.
Don't forget to Clean Out the Water Jacket holes also. I use proper size drill bits.

PXL_20260213_232832592.webp
Then a Good Surface Cleaning with the 3M Scotch Brite attachment just for this work.
(These are Cheap at Swap Meets and Horrible Freight might even have them now)

PXL_20260213_234314764.webp

And the cleaned up Head.

PXL_20260214_010035992.webp
PXL_20260214_030658840.webp
 
Other Hidden Fun Finds ......
As I started to remove the head studs knowing that they thread all the way through into the Block Water Jacket to reseal them.
First I should post this picture of the Head Tightening Sequence to reference which Studs we are talking about.

49 (1).webp
 
Studs 15 & 9 when I removed them, parts of the Block Threads came out with them TOO. So I had to Helicoil repair them. Then the following studs of they didn't want to turn without major effort, I just left them in.
(This is going to Haunt Me Later!)

Also on Disassembly, the Original Head Stud/Bolt Hardened Washers are MISSING. Some had regular washers, some Not Any At ALL. So another trip to the Parts House.....
15 Hardened Head Stud Washers later and I am $31.00 light.......

I already have Copper Gasket Spray Coating, and used it as Recommended by the Head Gasket manufacturer.
Had to do some wiggling to get the New Head Gasket over the Studs onto the Block, set the Clean Head on and started the Torque Sequence in two phases.
First to 40 ft lbs, then to 65 ft lbs.

AND stud #13 wasn't tightening up at the 65 ft lb .......
(See Above ..... I'm getting Butt Bit Here)
Well DAMNIT, the stud is Pulling out of the Block !! Double Pump the Brakes Here !!
I couldn't get it to turn out during the cleaning up phase, BUT NOW it is coming out?!!!
Well I am able to unthread it, and it has carboned up threads, and
Someone has "Whittled" a 1/4" or so of the Stud with a Torch !!
Knowing that they Thread All the Way into the Water Jacket ....
I Put a Regular 7/16" bolts in, to hold it so the Copper Gasket Coating doesn't cure up, while I do a "Lights and Sirens" run to my Farm Machine Salvage Yard and get a Few Used Head Studs and Head Bolts.
Upon returning, swap in a "Head Bolt" instead of a Replacement Stud thinking that it will Reach all the way through into the Water Jacket and what is left of the Threads will Hold.
I brought it up to the 40 ft lbs and "Hand by Feel Tightened" it up the rest of the way.
SO ALL HOLD HANDS HERE and Say Prayers of Success when I add Coolant and fire it up today.
I wanted all the Sealants cure a few days.
 

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