This must be really basic, but I've had problems previously with keeping debris out of cylinders caused by changing heads.

I am working on a '64 292, replacing the heads with some rebuilts on the shelf.  The block is great, no wear ring, just carbon ring, with like new oil pressure.  It would be nice to keep it that way.

So how do you keep junk from dropping into cylinders on head and valley removal, and what is the best way to get it out once in?  I vacuumed around heads and valley before removal, but removing the carbon on top of deck and the carbon ring is bound to drop stuff where it shouldnt be.  On a different engine I stuffed paper into the cylinders and it helped but ...what do you do?

Several of the rocker valve ends showed a bright round circle exactly matching the valve tip, as opposed to the rectangle with rounded ends.  Would like someone to verify my thoughts that this is the result of very excessive guide wear.

Probably already know the responses to the last question but have to ask.  I have 2 comp. head gaskets.  They have been torqued on a different engine but not run.  Anyone used similar gaskets when putting on some new heads?

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

Draining the block completely of coolant is at the top of the list.  There are drains in each side of the block that will help to accommodate this.  As far as carbon on piston tops, I’d consider not scraping it off the pistons on a engine that simply has the heads pulled off with no intention of removing the pistons from the bores.  Regarding the debris that drops between the piston and the cylinder wall, wiping it out of the cylinders after turning the engine over is better than attempting to clean it out with a air hose.  The use of pressurized air can potentially drive it into the ring lands and create more problems. 

That rocker wear sounds normal and not necessarily related to valve guide wear.  Most shops with older valve grinding equipment will have the necessary tools to resurface the rocker arm tips.

As far as reusing composition head gaskets that have not been run, I see no problem as long as the gasket looks good.  Some gaskets have sealer impregnated in them and on these the gaskets may delaminate when trying to remove them even though the engine had not been run.  FelPro head gaskets can typically be reused in this instance but the Best Gasket brand tend to not come back off cleanly after being torqued in place.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

As mentioned before, make sure you drain the coolant first. I just don't mess with the pistons. Carbon is going to form again any way. While I have heads and valley pan off, I lay a flannel rag over the whole thing. Right before I put on a head, I stick a shop vac in each hole to suck out anything loose.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

Thanks for the help.  I learned from a previous mess to drain radiator AND block first.  The head gaskets in question are felpro, and luckily the one that came off was felpro so it didnt stick or separate onto deck.  Now that I think of it a lot of the former problems were from cleaning the deck of stuck gasket material.  Ready to proceed with the second head and valley.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.