Small defect in '37 A Head

[Greg in MO]

Hey guys,

I have been cleaning up the head/valves on my '37 A before putting the engine back together. While doing so I noticed this small divot next to one of the stud holes.

It doesn't look like it will cause any problems at this point but I just wanted confirmation from the experts. I am thinking that if I fill it with JB Weld and sand it smooth it should work fine with the new gaskets.

Opinions?

Thanks!

Greg

 

[Mike M]

How deep is it ? as in can you just have it resurfaced ? short of that I don't see what JB would hurt and it may even help.

 

[Greg in MO]

It's fairly deep. I haven't measured it or anything, but I would guess close to 1/10th or 1/16th of an inch. That is why I was thinking of filling it.

Greg

 

[RobMD]

Go for it. Did the same thing on a Farmall H head, even after resurfacing the head, there was still a hole. JB weld and a small file.

 

[Bob]

It appears to be a factory defect, and, since there's no sign of "tracking" in the adjacent metal from water or combustion products leaking, it apparently hasn't been a problem. Filling it with epoxy certainly can't hurt.

 

[johns48jdb]

i have used some of the type of metal making stuff that comes in a tube that you cut a little off and roll up and apply. i had a exhaust gasket leaking on my 350 chev engine and took that stuff and put it on while it was warm and let it set a while and when i got the engine hot it realy turned hard as steel. you might warm the area with a torch, just a little, and apply that stuff.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Run it! It's not over any important surface.

 

[Drew]

From your pictures it looks like the fire ring of the headgasket sits inside of the pit. If it were mine, I would put it together and run it without giving it a 2nd thought.