John Gelfer Posted August 7, 2022 Share Posted August 7, 2022 Car is a 1928 Gardner Roadster. These motors were more commonly used in Auburns. Removed all 27 nuts off the studs and tried to lift the head off. Using an engine hoist, the car actually lifted off the jack stands and the head stayed on. Squirted PB Blaster on the studs the last 4 days and tried again today with no luck. the engine overheated enough to cause some coolant loss (white clouds from water vapor in the exhaust). Luckily, no water contamination in the oil. Any tips on getting the head off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted August 7, 2022 Share Posted August 7, 2022 Is it an aluminum head? They grow together over the years and resist coming off. Aluminum heads worse than iron, they used to sell a tubular cutter that slid down over the stud and cut around it. One guy had a similar problem with a Packard. He welded eye bolts onto 2 old spark plugs and screwed them into the head. Connected them with a heavy chain. Laid a steel plate on top of the studs. Put a hydraulic jack on the plate and used that to lift on the chain. Gave it all the pressure he dared and left it overnight then pumped it up again. It took a few tries but eventually the head came loose. Another idea is to use an air chisel to rattle the head and try to vibrate it loose. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gelfer Posted August 7, 2022 Author Share Posted August 7, 2022 Head is cast iron, not aluminum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFeeney Posted August 7, 2022 Share Posted August 7, 2022 Slow and easy is the method to use. Nothing is ruined yet Can you drive a old screwdriver between the head and block at several different places to start a rocking process that will let the oil start to move around the studs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 It has been awhile , well, long while since working on a flat head inline, of any kind. I was about 20-21. 1948 Pontiac. I simply bumped the starter a few times, if memory serves. Plugs in , leave a few nuts on head studs, or a few bolts in place. Try it, can't hurt. Ben 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 Ben Bruce I knew about that trick. Have also heard of starting the motor and letting it run for a few minutes until the gasket goes pfft - pfft - pfft indicating the head is coming loose. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFeeney Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 I have often thought removing a stuck on head could be done using your shop air compressor. On a inline 8 two cylinders at any one time should have both their valves closed. If you removed all the spark plugs and used a air fitting which screws into the spark plug hole you could determine which cylinders these were. Then put shop air (175 lbs) on the first and leave it set a while. If no luck put a second fitting into the other cylinder at the same time and let it sit. Perhaps other readers might have tried this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFranklin Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 Starting the engine with the head bolts/nuts loose will loosen it up as mentioned. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 Hang it from the gallows again and use a propane torch and warm it up around the studs. Will not hurt it a bit. leave it hanging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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