All Small Six 223 Cylinder Head Questions

[Road_Tripper]

Hi, new to this site. Have a 62 f100 unibody with a 223. It smokes pretty bad, but has good oil pressure, thinking head might need rebuilt, but was wondering if it might be cheaper to buy a rebuilt one (saw one on ebay for $500)

Wanted to ask this group if its a good price also wanted to know what year heads fit a 1962 223 and is there a list of codes I can use to find one?

Thanks!

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, run a compression test with the engine warmed up. If the #s are good you probably need valve stem seals. If the #s are low, put 2 squirts of engine oil into each cylinder and repeat the compression test. If the #s go up, the rings are leaking and the oil sealed them. If the #s do not go up, the valve guides are worn. Good luck

 

[manglass]

Using the good information above, by all means find out what's wrong with it before you start replacing parts. A nice fresh cylinder head on top of worn or broken rings will make matters worse. Do a compression test and come on back with the numbers. One of the many knowledgeable folks on here will help you interpret them.

Lou Manglass

 

[Road_Tripper]

Thank you both. Great information! I'll try that and let you know

 

[GalaxieInline]

Hi, new to this site. Have a 62 f100 unibody with a 223. It smokes pretty bad, but has good oil pressure, thinking head might need rebuilt, but was wondering if it might be cheaper to buy a rebuilt one (saw one on ebay for $500)

Wanted to ask this group if its a good price also wanted to know what year heads fit a 1962 223 and is there a list of codes I can use to find one?

Thanks!

To directly answer your question, C2 through C4 dated heads will work. POSSIBLY C1, I can't remember if it was 61 or 62 that they switched from a 2 bolt valve cover to an 8 bolt perimeter cover. Your umbrella seals could be bad and your valve guides could be worn. If it were me, I'd just take the head to a machine shop and see what they think. Mill off .030" to bump your compression up somewhat if you want. Have them install hardened seats and maybe have the head machined for new valve guises (I did bronze.) It would probably cost less money in the short run to just rebuild the head. Make sure you use a STOCK .019" STEEL SHIM gasket, NOT the .045" FelPro otherwise you will lose compression and increase quench area to abysmal proportions, like, .095"!! Stock pistons are down in the hole .050" unless the block has been decked before....detonation city! Ideally your quench (distance between the top of the piston amd the bottom of the head) the should be .035" or so. The only way I was able to achieve that with stock flatop rebuilder pistons was with a .055" block deck which popped my pistons out .005" and I used the Fel Pro gasket (more readily available.) But I have 10:1 compression, a HEI, lots of timing, cam fuel etc lol.

 

[Road_Tripper]

I ended up just taking the head off and am digging into it. Is this normal or do I need valve guides? They all have this divit at the top

Also..found out the exhaust manifold is cracked....anyone repop them?

 

[Bill56]

Your valve guides look oval to me.
If that is the case, you need guides.

If the manifold isn't cracked too badly it could be brazed, or it could be a fine excuse to get headers,

 

[Rooster]

Looks like someone knurled the guides at one time or another.

 

[Paps61]

I know someone that may have an exhaust manifold, it’s from a ‘61, let me know I could find out how much he wants for it?

 

[Road_Tripper]

I ended up sending the head to the machine shop. Still waiting to get it back

Also still looking for an exhaust manifold

 

[Road_Tripper]

Nevermind on the manifold. I just found one today

 

[Road_Tripper]

Well...I struck out with the manifold. I drove 2.5hrs each way...I inspected it and didn't see anything wrong. It is 10x better than the original one I had, but once I got home and started cleaning it I found a crack (Was hidden under dirt). Starting to think this might be the best I am going to find and I should just run it.

Thoughts?

 

[Bill56]

Braze the crack and run with it.

 

[Road_Tripper]

Getting close to getting everything back together, but need some help identifying the name of this part and where I can find new bearing and bushing. I checked my manuals, but can't find any pictures of it.

It mounts to the bell housing and connects to the clutch pedal linkage

 

[Adriatic Machine]

Clutch linkage pivot bushings? Shouldn’t be too hard to find. I think they used those same parts for many models.

 

[Road_Tripper]

Thanks. I'll search under that