Rust Colored Plugs Valves Pistons

[@Holmes]

What the heck does this mean? Gasket seal was clean. MMT?

 

[franklinair]

Were you having some sort of problem? I don't see anything burned, warped or crispy. Valves/valve chambers get hot as hell, discoloring steel components. Remember, there are a LOT of high temp explosions occurring every ignition cycle.

Neil

 

[@Holmes]

All gas was bought at HEB. No noticible problems. Just never seen this color before. I think HEB is spiking there gas with mmt.

 

[admin]

Has this engine been sitting a while or driven often? Looks like condensation rust from an engine sitting for a long period in humid climate.

But if it's driven a lot then there goes that theory!

 

[Midnight Special]

...Why did you pull it down? If it has been running - what symptoms made you pull the heads?

I'm working on a bizzare performance issue w/ a 390 where the heads are off and being inspected... Long set of circumstances that I will report on after we find the solution, but I'm curious about yours...

 

[@Holmes]

Ok last time I ran motor was May 10, 2008. Pretty dry here humidity is very low. I had posted the results of my 1/4 mile times in Late April before I put on the ported OEM intake, heads, and exhaust for purposes of comparison. However, I never got around to installing them. I Just tore it down the other day to put on ported parts. I have torn down alot of Ford 289 302s but I have never seen this kind of residue. It looks like MMT (Magnisem Something something) residue that is used as an octaine booster/fuel additive - outlawed in Ca. Would not surprise me to learn that HEB has been spiking there gas with it.

 

[@Holmes]

Oh great - why would my deck height be .024? Must not be measuring right?

 

[robert campbell]

This looks like many a motor that I have taken apart with some miles on them. Not to worry. Where did the deckheigth question come from. Not normally a huge worry on a stock motor. However you measure it, as long as they are not above the deck you should be ok. Deckheigth comes in when building stroker motors and motors with giant cams that bring the valves close to the pistons. Certainly a measurment of concern, but I doubt with a stock moter you have any problems.

Are you rebuilding this motor, or concerned because of the rust color??

Rob

 

[@Holmes]

I was just swapping out the heads, intake and exhasut manifolds. The color was my concern. But while I had the heads off I decided to measure the deck hight. Concerned because I thought factory was .008.

 

[robert campbell]

Heading off to the lake. Acording to HP books "how to rebuild you small-block Ford the deck heigth for a 302 is.

1968 to 1972 0.016
1973 to 1976 0.034

All 289's are 0.016

The bad thing is sometimes blocks are "decked" enough to bring the figure to zero. Not good. Not sure if your engine is original or newer??? You can purchase thinner head gaskets if you think you have to much clearance to bring the compression back.

Rob





bring the figure to xero.

 

[Mosesatm]

Heading off to the lake. Acording to HP books "how to rebuild you small-block Ford the deck heigth for a 302 is.

1968 to 1972 0.016
1973 to 1976 0.034

All 289's are 0.016

The bad thing is sometimes blocks are "decked" enough to bring the figure to zero. Not good. Not sure if your engine is original or newer??? You can purchase thinner head gaskets if you think you have to much clearance to bring the compression back.

Rob





bring the figure to xero.

Are you guys talking about deck height or deck clearance?

 

[@Holmes]

Deck Height

 

[Mosesatm]

I think that term can mean different things to different people. I always thought the deck height on a Windsor engine was around 8".

 

[@Holmes]

Deck height is 8.206. Deck height Clearance is .024. We are talking about deck height clearance but are lazyly trfering to it as deck height. Sorry

 

[@Holmes]

I looks like 4.0 standard bore, a .016 clearance and a .04 gasket thickness put you at 10.5:1. If my calculations are right, with a .024 clearance I need a .032 gasket right? The only thing I can find is this:
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=SCE-T36063&autoview=sku

Anybody used this?