C1UE 6090-A head

[Darren]

Hey all, thanks for all the good info. I recently put a new head on the little green Falcon that is marked as a head off a '61 Econoline. Can someone direct me to a source for figuring out comp ratios on these? Acceleration is down substantially.

Also, where does one find the "soft" exhaust flange gaskets?

Thanks.

Doc

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy darren

Check the casting mark again and see if it isn't a C1VE.

If you installed the new head with an aftermarket composite head gasket you lost aprox a holf a point of CR- unless you milled the head to compensate.

Click on my signature and check out the Compression ratio calculator. The stock shim type gasket is about .025" thick, the composite is about .050" thick.

Check with a muffler shop for the exhaust flange gasket. Are you still using the flat style or the donut?

Adios, David

 

[Darren]

Would you recommend milling .025 and using the Fel-pro head gasket, or retaining stock material and going back to the OE style?

I still have a question about whether the CR on the '61 Econoline was originally lower than that used on the sedans.

I'm having the original head rebuilt and need to know how to tell if the .025 has already been milled off. Any suggestions?

I'm buying a copy of your book today, thanks for the info.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy back:

I am not aware of any evidence that would indicate that the Econline engines had any different CR than other sixes.

Yes, if you want to maintain stock CR when going to a Felpro head gasket you will need to mill the head the difference in compressed thicknes of the gaskets- Felpro= .050" minus OEM steel shim = .025 equals .025" difference and the amount you will need to mill to maintain CR. Read the stickie on head swapping at the top of this forum for more details

It is difficult to tell if a head has already been surfaced. Look for a stock OEM steel shim head gasket. That might be a good indication that the head is original. Also check for flatness of the mating surface. An original head will almost always show some sign of unflatness. It is typical for a rebuild to mill the head to true it, but only enough to get a flat surface, maybe .010" or so. Depending on the milling process visual evidence may help.

Did you check the third digit is the casting code yet?

Adios, David

 

[Darren]

That 3rd digit looks like a "U" to me. It's pretty clean.

Nobody in the parts shops here knows what a soft (donut?) gasket is, so I'll try doubling up on the fiber jobs.

Budgie the muffler man gets it if that won't work.

I told the machinist to go ahead and cut 'er down .025" and stay with the Fel-Pro composite.

I've got a perfectly good 2.3L turbo motor out in the garage, I hope I'm not forced to use it!

 

[Darren]

Man, it just keeps getting better. I fixed the exhaust flange leak only to find that my new manifold has broken. Also the head I took off has broken in the same place (top rear manifold mounting "ear"). Machinist says he doesn't want to weld it. Any suggestions?