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By 54 country squire - 12 Years Ago
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hello, this is my first post, I have a 239 in a 54 wagon. when I obtained the car it already had a fresh rebuild. it runs great, no leaks any where, does not smoke. however, after a couple months of use I started to get coolant in the oil, coolant level going down oil level going up. I remove the heads took them to a very reputable race engine builder In northwest Indiana, he checked them out, he did find a crack in one. the crack was repaired and he also installed bigger intake valves. he said he has repaired many heads without any problems. my engine had composite gaskets on it, much to my surprise my new gasket set from fell-pro came with steel shim gaskets? I just don't feel good about these so I ordered a set of composites from best. should I spray the composites with copper spray? I read in the forum that someone sprayed them with wd40. one last thing I would like to get opinions on, the guy that did my heads said I should set the valves across the board at .010? when I told him the factory settings he said he would still set the at .010. I don't feel good about this? I also am replacing the head bolts with correct length grade 8 bolts as one of the originals did not look good, any opinions on this? thank you for any and all input as this is my first post on the site, doug.
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By oldcarmark - 12 Years Ago
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Stick with the factory settings for the valve adjustment..010 is too tight.Valves wont close once it warms up.
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By lyonroad - 12 Years Ago
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My engine builder prefers ARP and said a lot of his clients use grade 8 bolts but I ordered a set from John Mummert anyway. Better safe than sorry!
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By pintoplumber - 12 Years Ago
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There are 2 versions of the 239. If yours is an EBU, make sure you have the correct head gaskets. The water passages are different between the 2 versions.
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By pintoplumber - 12 Years Ago
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Go back to page 9 or 10 in this technical section and look up topic steel shim head gaskets. There's a picture of the differences.
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By Doug T - 12 Years Ago
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I have just posted for sale 3 steel shim head gaskets which this thread reminded me that I have with no expected use for. There are pictures with this posting also showing the differences with the normal y block gasket which are considerable. If it were mine to do I would go with steel shims  if the heads and block are flat because the composite gaskets cost compression which is in short supply in a 239 anyhow.
Re valve adjustment be sure that the rocker arm surfaces that contact the valve stems are flat, this is a wear point that is often overlooked by non yblock specific mechanics. If they are not flat the valves will be noisy because they will not be adjustable with feeler gauges.
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By oldcarmark - 12 Years Ago
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If they are not flat there is a formula used based on # of turns outwards once the arm is in contact with the pushrod.I believe it is 1/4 of a turn.Anybody know for sure? Also works with rocker arms hat have a flat pad in contact with valve end.
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By 54 country squire - 12 Years Ago
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thank you for your input, although not an expert I agree with you. sometimes I think race builders have a little different take on things?
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By 54 country squire - 12 Years Ago
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hi mark, thank you for your input, when you say you ordered a set from mummert do you mean studs or bolts? thanks, doug.
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By 54 country squire - 12 Years Ago
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hello dennis, my engine is an ebu, which I believe is the early version, I do have the correct gaskets. whats your take on spraying the composites w/ copper spray? thanks, doug.
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By 54 country squire - 12 Years Ago
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hello doug t, thanks for the info., I will be sure to check the rocker arm surfaces, also is your only reason for recommending the steel shim gaskets comp., loss? this is a daily driver wagon in the summer and I just want it to be dependable. one other thing, have you ever re-used the steel shim gaskets? my engine builder says they used to run an old hemi and re-used the steel shim gaskets several times without problems, thanks again, doug.
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By pintoplumber - 12 Years Ago
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54 country squire (6/16/2013)
hello dennis, my engine is an ebu, which I believe is the early version, I do have the correct gaskets. whats your take on spraying the composites w/ copper spray? thanks, doug.
My last set of gaskets were ROL gaskets. They felt sticky to the touch and the instructions said to not put anything on them.
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By pintoplumber - 12 Years Ago
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oldcarmark (6/16/2013)
If they are not flat there is a formula used based on # of turns outwards once the arm is in contact with the pushrod.I believe it is 1/4 of a turn.Anybody know for sure? Also works with rocker arms hat have a flat pad in contact with valve end.
I did this just yesterday. Timing pointer lined up with zero on the pully. Do both valves at #1. Twirl pushrod while tightening stud. When it's too tight to twirl, stop. Back the stud 1/4 turn, tighten locknut.
Turn crank 1/4 turn, do the valves at #5. Turn the crank 1/4 turn, do the next set of valves following your firing order. Continue until all 8 sets are done.
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By lyonroad - 12 Years Ago
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54 country squire, I ordered bolts. I don't have any experience with studs. I've seen a lot of studs on big horespower engines and I guess you are less likely to strip the threads in the block with studs but I just went with what I am familiar with.
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By Doug T - 12 Years Ago
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Ford built them with steel shim gaskets and specified the compression ratio on that basis. If memory serves 239's have something like 7.2:1 comp. ratio so composition gaskets will lower that to below 7. This is just giving away some power and economy. The reason for comp gaskets is that they do not have to be retorqued like the shop manual calls for after initial warm up. The shop manual never anticipated comp gaskets. As I said if the block and heads are flat use NEW gaskets and steel shim would be my personal preference.
Note the beeds on the shim gaskets deform to fill any minor concavity and the gasket sealer just fills in any minor machining grooves etc that the gasket itself can not deform into. But they can not do it twice once they are flatened they are done so I would be extremely reluctant to use any gasket over again. BTW I have always used brown gooy permetex but others use paint or ?
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