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| | | Forums66 Topics128,087 Posts1,055,982 Members48,430 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 | Have a 56 235 with a 848 head that will not separate for the block... Looks like the head gasket is made of copper... Have all the bolts loose... Have left it hanging from my engine puller thinking that the block weight would pull it away... Tried hitting it with a wood block and sledge hammer... No signs of it wanting to separate...
Any ideas to get it off ?
Thanks in advance..
1954 Chevy 3104 3 Window Hydra-Matic in my family for over 60 Years
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right... "Scarlet Begonias" Grateful Dead 1974
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,783 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,783 | There's gotta be a bolt you've missed somewhere. Check it out thoroughly and I'm pretty sure there will be one more bolt sitting there grinning back at you! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,299 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,299 | After all bolts are out, air pressure? Just a thought. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,783 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,783 | I used to loosen stuck heads on Flathead Ford V-8's by backing the head bolts up about 2 turns, and starting the engine. Goose the throttle a couple of times, and the head was easy to remove after that! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | How many head bolts do you have sitting on the bench? | | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,644 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,644 | If all the head bolts are out ,check again,one thing you can do is take a putty knife,thin blade, and tap it in between the head and the block in one of the corners.That should break the head loose.
Pete | | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,388 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,388 | Hahaha, I've done the same thing as Jerry, but on Model T's! | | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 | It broke free finally... Now to see if the I can get the pistons to move... Need to suck out some residual grit later on and see if it will turn over... Then we will see how the cylinder walls look... Thanks again for the help...
1954 Chevy 3104 3 Window Hydra-Matic in my family for over 60 Years
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right... "Scarlet Begonias" Grateful Dead 1974
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,783 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,783 | Pour a couple of ounces of Kroil or some other penetrating oil on top of the pistons and let it sit for a week or so before trying to move the crankshaft. I've heard a mixture of acetone and ATF works well, but I've never tried it. Kroil is made right up the road in Nashville, and I've usually got a gallon can of it sitting around the shop. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 | I had put ATF/Acetone and Marvel Mystery Oil in it a few weeks ago but when the head came off the cylinders looked fairly dry for as much liquid was poured in to them... I put the plugs in the head after... More Marvel Mystery Oil in it now... Would consider using Kroil but seems it not carried out here Jerry...
The oil pump works great.. Did the screwdriver bit on the end of the drill and turned it until oil was coming out of the lifters... Hope the pump sent some oil to the bearings...
Found out the pistons are.040 and looks like not too many miles on it... It is a 56 truck engine with hydraulic lifters and had a 4 speed transmission behind it...
Off to the next phase, wait for the Marvel Mystery Oil to seep in...
1954 Chevy 3104 3 Window Hydra-Matic in my family for over 60 Years
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right... "Scarlet Begonias" Grateful Dead 1974
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | You may want to look at the lifters again. A 56 truck engine should not be drilled to supply oil needed for hydraulic lifters.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,783 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,783 | Kroil can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. www.kanolabs.comOne of their biggest customers is the US government, so they don't do a lot of retail sales. They sort of stick to the industrial and government market. Kroil was in the supply system of every USAF base where I served, worldwide. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 | Dave, they look like hydraulic lifters but I could be wrong...
1954 Chevy 3104 3 Window Hydra-Matic in my family for over 60 Years
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right... "Scarlet Begonias" Grateful Dead 1974
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | What is the engine ID (serial number)?
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 433 | Tim
3837004 Block
03II870T56Z Pad #
1954 Chevy 3104 3 Window Hydra-Matic in my family for over 60 Years
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right... "Scarlet Begonias" Grateful Dead 1974
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | T56Z T = Tonawanda, NY engine plant 56 = 1956 Z = standard car engine, standard, manual transmission All 1956 car engines supposedly came with hydraulic lifters. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | They sure look like hydraulic lifters!
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | |
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