1952 farmall super C

HVAC · Sep 24, 2021

I have a 1952 Super C that has been in the family forever. I an working on it trying to get it working. It was stuck. I am looking at the head and i know i have at least 1 sticky valve. Should i just replace the guides or should i go all the way. I am on a budget.

Gambles · Sep 24, 2021

Probably not what you want to hear, but I would have a
machine shop look at it, tell them if its a parade queen or a
daily worker, and go with his recommendation.
And get a rough price estimate ahead of time. I once took two V6 cylinder heads in once and their website said $290 for a simple valve job for the pair. When they came back, the only part they added was a spring shim and I got presented with a bill for $500.

SDE · Sep 24, 2021

Lubricate it and then make it move down or up, depended on which way it is stuck. I had a 400 that had a stuck valve. I never took the head off and it is one of the smoothest running engines I have ever heard.

Steve@Advance · Sep 24, 2021

As for the head, if you can borrow a spring compressor, take the valves out, keep
up with where each goes.

Clean the head up with a wire brush in a drill, clean the guides with a small
wire brush in a drill (Harbor Freight). Look the head over carefully for cracks
around the seat areas.

Look the valves over for burned seats, excessively worn stems, or bent. If any
are bad, buy new ones. Any that look good can be reused.

Get some coarse lapping compound, use a drill on the stems and lap the seats best
you can. Be sure to clean away all the lapping compound residue. Look at the
seats, if you get a good lap they will be a constant gray ring on both the seat
and valve face.

But I would be more concerned with it being stuck. Even if it is free to turn,
good chance the rings are still stuck in the ring lands. If you will go ahead and
take the time to remove the pistons, remove and clean the rings and lands, hone
the cylinders, clean everything up and put it back together, chances are it will
last a long time for what it will be used for.

560Dennis · Sep 25, 2021

Suggestion , heads have their budget . I would get a machine shop opinion. That way you know what its going to cost to have it done right. If you
decide not to do it correctly , do to the high cost than you can not afford, then thats fine . But skimpy workmanship leads to skimpy performance
always. That s not worth it at all ,you end up frustrated pay more for down time and rework .
Just saying
It will cost 3 times what you budget and take three times as long .usally

HVAC · Oct 1, 2021

Update.
Had the Head cleaned middle two exhaust valve the seats are very pitted along with number 1 cylinder. All intake valve seats appear good. I have a curiosity the central two valve guides appear to be about a 1/4 yo 3/8 inch shorter than the rest. Is this the way that they were originally. The valves look good.

1952 farmall super C

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Gambles

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