Ever see a 440-1 head like this?

Posted By: Barnstorm

Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/09/13 07:43 PM

Car slowed at half track and subsequent autopsy revealed #3 and 5 combustion chambers BURNED thru the aluminum and the 5319 Fel-Pro gasket. No other damage. 500in 14-1comp 36deg timing C14 fuel. No signs of corrosion. ??? [tboomer meltdown?]

Attached picture 7881504-440-1.jpg

Posted By: VincentVega

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/09/13 07:47 PM

is it warped? aluminum heads are very delicate. If it warped, that damage could follow very soon after

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/09/13 07:48 PM

I've expereinced that with a iron set of Max wedge heads with the Fel Pro composition head gaskets, it took the block out also

Posted By: pittsburghracer

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/09/13 08:42 PM

14-1 you may want to run Cometics after you get her repaired.

Posted By: d7cook

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/09/13 08:57 PM

Head gasket failure, weld up the head, use Cometics.

Posted By: Barnstorm

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/09/13 10:38 PM

Quote:

Head gasket failure, weld up the head, use Cometics.

That's what the consensus seems to be...also blew out #7 header gasket on the same pass. What a combined weird sound. Thanx guys.

Posted By: Performance Only

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/09/13 10:54 PM

Quote:

Car slowed at half track and subsequent autopsy revealed #3 and 5 combustion chambers BURNED thru the aluminum and the 5319 Fel-Pro gasket. No other damage. 500in 14-1comp 36deg timing C14 fuel. No signs of corrosion. ??? [tboomer meltdown?]

It's the hottest part of the head, the wrong head gasket and possibly just a degree or two of too much timing.

Posted By: dvw

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 01:41 AM

I've seen it more than once on iron big blocks. Nearly every time, to much timing. Why are you running 36 on a -1, I run 32? Mine slowed down .5 mph at 34. 28 only slowed the car .05. I've never tried 30.
Doug

Posted By: Dads426

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 02:19 AM

If you look at the fire ring on the head it is off center. The chamber on the right has very little material covering the steel ring in the gasket. Put the head on the bare block and be sure the chambers are centered over the bore. Either the block is off, the dowl holes in the head or the gasket are not drilled properly. I had one gasket deteriorate, but not burn through about 5 years ago on a particular block (found it on inspection).

Posted By: Barnstorm

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 02:23 AM

This is a 10yr old well sorted out combo {Lynn Balek]. We don't thing timing was a factor. NO signs of detonation. Just stuff happens.

Posted By: tboomer

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 11:55 AM

Sorry to see that Billy...

Is Balek going to fix her up? The track was biting pretty good and my suspension also took a beating that day. See ya next year!!

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 12:03 PM

Quote:

This is a 10yr old well sorted out combo {Lynn Balek]. We don't thing timing was a factor. NO signs of detonation. Just stuff happens.

I used copper head gaskets and wire and receiver grooves for a combo like that.

Posted By: d7cook

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 03:19 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Head gasket failure, weld up the head, use Cometics.

That's what the consensus seems to be...also blew out #7 header gasket on the same pass. What a combined weird sound. Thanx guys.

When they weld up the head it'll get milled as well. Plan on taking in the other head to have it milled to match. Also I've ran Cometic head gaskets on old blocks with a rough cut deck even though cometics call for a smooth surface so you may or may not want to deck the block.

Posted By: jamesc

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 06:10 PM

Quote:

5319 Fel-Pro gasket

i'm not familiar with that number, anyone else?

Posted By: pittsburghracer

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 06:34 PM

Quote:

Quote:

5319 Fel-Pro gasket

i'm not familiar with that number, anyone else?

I googled that number and nothing came up up.

Posted By: dodger mope

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 07:04 PM

it might be interesting to see the head gasket on the other side. might be a clue if the gasket died a slow death because of a hair too much timing?

Posted By: AndyF

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 07:36 PM

I usually run 35 degrees with the Indy head so 36 should work.

Might be a topic for a different thread but maybe everyone with Indy heads should compare ignition timing. Might be interesting to see what different people are running.

Posted By: AndyF

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 07:42 PM

Quote:

Quote:

5319 Fel-Pro gasket

i'm not familiar with that number, anyone else?

No such Fel Pro number so it is a typo. Only Fel Pro gasket that would be good at 14:1 is the 1105. The 1105 is for big bore engines and it is 0.051 thick so it requires a special setup. Cometic is probably the way to go on this engine.

Posted By: Barnstorm

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 08:16 PM

My bad...Fel-Pro 8519 PT1

Posted By: cudabin

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 09:05 PM

I know every combo is different, but I made best power at 34 degrees with my CNC345cc -1 Heads on the dyno...

Runs OK there for me and less stress on the bearings etc IMO.

Good luck with it!

Arnie

Posted By: jamesc

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 09:35 PM

Quote:

My bad...Fel-Pro 8519 PT1

that's what i was thinking you meant. that is a stock replacement gasket and should NEVER have been used in that application. at a 14:1 10 year old engine i think you are now the undisputed king of using the 8519 well beyond what it was ever intended to be used for

i popped one at around 11.5:1 and blame myself for using a stock gasket

Posted By: AndyF

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 10:52 PM

$25 head gasket + $500 cylinder head repair > $200 cometic gasket set

Posted By: racerx

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 11:28 PM

Quote:

I usually run 35 degrees with the Indy head so 36 should work.

Might be a topic for a different thread but maybe everyone with Indy heads should compare ignition timing. Might be interesting to see what different people are running.

Thats a good ideal

it ought to be interesting

Posted By: Dads426

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/10/13 11:47 PM

We have 440-1's and only run 32 degrees. An efficient combustion chamber doesn't need a lot of timing.

Posted By: Barnstorm

Re: Ever see a 440-1 head like this? - 10/11/13 01:29 AM

Quote:

$25 head gasket + $500 cylinder head repair > $200 cometic gasket set

What Cometic number would you recommend...I'll pull the other head and replace both.