Head Gasket Need Changing???

It's been a long time but I'm still around. I have a '41 JD-A that I have been using for several years now on my 10 acres. I'm loosing coolant but it's not showing up in the oil. She's also running hot even when the radiator is topped off and I have flushed her and she has a new radiator core. After she has been sitting for a few days, I seem to blow non-combustable fluid out of the compression release valves.

Sounds like a head gasket to me--and if it is, what kind of advise can you give me for replacing the head gasket? The studs holding on the intake/exaust manifold looks like it could be challenging. Whacha all think???

Jon

One thing which might be evidence of a leaky head gasket (or block or head problems) is to closely observe the coolant in the radiator n see if lots of air bubbles are rising ?? If so that could be gas n air from the cylinders under compression getting into the coolant which can cause overheating PLUS the air bubbles. If shes getting much coolant leaking into the combustion chamber she ought to throw some white smoke out the exhaust which has the sweet anti freeze smell n feel, does it??? Does she white smoke a lot right after starting??? Rain water and/or condensation in the cylinders, some of which happens, would be exhausted out the stack or petcocks upon start up, but it wouldnt last long and wouldnt have that recognizible sweet smeel n feel like anti freeze does.

You might try n retorque the head just to see if things improve before tearing into her. If it has the pushrod tubes they can sometimes leak coolant but that would get into the oil causing that gray milky appearance.

"Thats all I have to say about that"

Good Luck n God Bless

John T