IH 504 D188 utility engine analysis

Hi Guys, I think I know what I'm dealing with on this tractor, but I wanted to get some feedback from you and see if you agree. This is a 1964 IH 504D. I bought it for cheap with unknown issues. (there's plenty of small issues to fix.) The previous owner rebuilt it with new pistons, sleeves, bearings and lots of other parts. I don't know what if anything was done to the head. I was told it had a bearing squeal. It was suspected to have spun a bearing, but I have not found any indication of that. There is no bearing noise and it has good oil pressure so I've ruled out bottom end issues.

I did think I might have some injector issues. The tractor sat for 5 years. I've bled the water from the tank and system and added a can of seafoam to the fuel. When I start it there would be a good bit of white smoke initially and would seem to skip. It would clear up after warming, but would miss on at least one cylinder and puff white smoke and skip at higher engine speed. This is just running on the drive way and not under load. I considered, it might have some sticky injectors and might just need to be run to free up things and smooth out.

I took it out for the first time for a neighborhood drive and noticed it would intermittently push out coolant. I thought perhaps it was doing this because I had filled the cooling system. I got less than a half mile from home, it started loosing power, ran hot and stalled. (stupid me went out without a working temp gauge) I haven't checked the thermostat yet, but on the driveway, it seemed to be cycling and cooling ok. I see the paint on the head around the middle two cylinders discolored around the middle cylinders and the top of the block.

This sounds like a cracked head to me or possibly a bad headgasket. I really don't know the history of what has happened to the tractor. The previous owner's son was the main operator, so some things might have gotten lost in translation. LOL

So, my next steps are, check/replace the thermostat. Install a temp gauge and check the compression. Perhaps try one more drive before pulling the head for inspection.

Based on these symptoms, what do you guys suspect? Do you have any other troubleshooting suggestions? Thanks in advance.

The head on a D188 is very thin in spots and known to crack , as far as the injectors I would take them and the pump to a reputable pump man and have them checked out maybe New seals , the over heating could be multiple issues .

Thanks, I'll probably have the injectors checked when I have the head off. I see it's going to have to come off, but I want to run a compression test first.

I thought I'd add a little more information. I removed the thermostat and realized someone has put "Bars Leasks" in the cooling system. Big Red Flag! This was a fresh rebuild with new radiator hoses. I knew something was wrong when I squeezed the upper radiator hose and it crunched. That was from the Bars leaks coating inside. I checked the thermostat and it had a 195 degree stat in it. I was like Hmm, wonder why they put that in here in the south? I checked it, it opens at 195 degrees, so it was working. I think my cylinder head is kaput. Well, diesel compression gauges will be in at the end of the week. I'll check it then before tearing it down.

Possibly the rings never became seated properly.
That will cause white smoke and a Diesel missing.
JimB

That's also a possibility. The bottom end is still breaking in. The oil was clear before my little trip, now, it's stale and dirty like your typical break in oil. It sure would help if I knew the whole history, but this is what you get when you take on someone else's unfinished project.