alumuminum flathead stuck and frozen heads?? help needed

[BobbedT]

I just picked up a Canadian 59A block with stock ali heads, unfortunately they are stuck(corroded) onto the studs. Does anyone have any ideas of how to help get rid of the corrosion between the steel studs and heads to help get them off the block?? I'd like to remove the heads in one piece if possible.

thanks in advance

Bob

[Smokin Joe]

It isn't just the aluminum heads that stick on flattys. Get a chunk of wood and a good sized hammer and whack it gently from different directions. Once you get it started moving, stick some wood or soft wedges on one side while you whack on the other. Took me half a day to get the last head off a flatty, and it was an Iron one so I could use screwdrivers as wedges/pry bars. One on the other side came right off. It's all in how the studs line up with the holes in the head and what they glued the head gasket on with.

[Digger_Dave]

Bob, I have used two methods. (no gaurantee on either)

The first one uses 1/2 nuts. (one thinner than a regular nut) Thread one on top of the other and then holding the lower nut (it will be the thin one) with one wrench (will need to be either a modified wrench; grinding the box end thinner or a tappet wrench) tighten the top nut against the lower one as tight as you can.

Using a back and forth motion with a wrench (clockwise/counter clockwise) to break the stud free; try to back the stud out of the block. (and the head)

There are STUD PULLERS avaiable, but the one I have can't get a good hold on the studs, so I usually use the DOUBLE NUT method.

Trick two; if the above doesn't work.
Screw FRESH NUTS (the old nuts are probably a little rounded) on the end of the studs just short of the head surface. WELD the nuts to the studs. (turns the studs to bolts) plus the heat from the welding will expand the studs (now bolts) and will help break the studs free.

Now start to tighten and losen the studs until they break free. DON'T GET TOO CARRIED AWAY WHEN TWISTING! or you might break the stud off.

Once all (or most) of the studs are out; follow Joe's sugestion.

One word of caution; don't be tempted to put a pry bar in the water outlet and "reef" on it, or you will be looking for an aluminum welder!

Hope this might help.

[yorgatron]

i use a small(6") pipe wrench to remove studs,gets right up to the edge.it really gouges'em though,but you probably don't plan to re-use those anyway.

[29SX276]

BobbedT;You can try loosining all the nuts of the head and leaving the plugs in;try turning the engine over and letting the compression "blow" the head loose.Is the engine stuck tight? You can try snaking a length of rope through the plug hole and fill the cylinder.Turn the crank and the pressure of the piston against the rope might free the head.Last resort is to try and get a set of long cutters that just go over the stud but cut the material next to it.Ford used to have such a kit,maybe some of the guys here can set you up with one.All else failing,make a sacrifice to the flathead gods and cut the head off!!Best of luck.

[metalshapes]

You could try the Water Trick...
Soak the whole thing in water.
I got some rare Aluminum brakes loose that way ( shoes rusted to the steel liner )
And I got an 322 Nailhead loose the other day by pouring water in through the spark plug holes.
I needed to be able to turn the engine to take the Dynaflow off.
Find an old bathtub or something like that and put the whole thing in it for at least a week.
The water will penitrate into the rust and makes it soft...

[safariknut]

We used to have a problem with aluminum/steel hydrolisis on drop tanks on our F-4 Phantoms.The salt water spray from the ocean would seize the lock mechanisms solid.We used WD-40 on the locks and they would break free in under an hour usually.I don't know if the WD-40 in use today is the same formula;the stuff we had was made by Rocket Chemical Company somewhere in California.Same can as now.You might try that or PB Blaster which works great.

[296 V8]

I bought some stuff called Gibbs brand from Dave ( roadsters.com ) Mann on the site here. I have not used it yet but you may want to look into it. The stuff sounds to good to be true but you never know.

[BobbedT]

Wow,

thanks fellas, theres a few good ideas for me to get my teeth into. I'll give it a go and try a few

thanks a bunch!!!!

Bob