WD Engine

[WDSwig]

I have had my grandfathers '52 WD now for 7 yrs. and have been able to work on it a little at a time. The body has been repainted but now I think I am going to have to get into the engine. Backwords process I know but that is how it has worked out. My problem is that #1 cylinder fouls the sparkplug in an extremely short amount of running time. I know that there is a small amount of oil that is blowing by and fouling the plug. Am I going to be able to get by with a complete head job with valves, seats, etc. or should I be planning for rings and the works???? Any suggestions or support would be appreciated!!

 

[David Maddux]

This is just a prolonged quicky fix, but you can get the antifoulers to screw into the spark plug hole, which backs the plug out a ltitle farther to help keep from fouling out. It is certainly not an answer to an overhaul but it sometimes can buy you a little more time. I used it on a Chevrolet Suburban with a 350 once. It helped for a little while. Dave.

 

[Janicholson]

If the fowling is coming from a valve guide, head work and umbrella seals will fix it.
If from rings, it will not. When you pull the head, feel inside the cylinder walls with your fingernail. if it catches on the ridge where the top ring stops, and it feels easy to feel that ridge, it will need the works. Jim

 

[Gus Hansen]

If you want fix it without getting into the engine, just take and cut the the end of the spark plug off so its not over the center part of the plug. The part that you sit the gap on. I did this with my 656 internatinal two years ago and hasn"t fouled out since. It use to foul out evertime i use it. Just a thought

 

[WDSwig]

Thanx for the input guys!!!! I have already tried the non-fouler adapter for awhile now and it has gotten worse. Looks like the next stop is the machine shop!!!!

 

[El Toro]

I had a 1966 Ford Mustang I bought used in 1971. It only had about 50K miles on it. It passed state inspection easily, but when running it started missing even with new pliugs and I found the plugs fouled with oil. I borrow a bore scope light at work and I had never seen so much carbon in an engine and the combustion chamber was wet with oil.

I pulled the head and did a valve job on it. We wrapped big cloths around our clothes to keep that carbon off them. I cleaned up the valves and my co-worker cleaned the head and refaced the valves and seats.

I pulled the pistons and the rings were full of carbon too. I think the rings were stuck and I removed them and cleaned the ring grooves. Bought new rings and rod bearings from Sears. I replaced the oil pump and the distributor too.
Got the rebuilt distributor from Ford. Ran like a new car. Probably cost under $100.00 to rebuild the engine back then. Hal

 

[BushogPapa]

Sounds like you have stuck or broken rings in #1.

A fresh valve-job will likely cause the rest to suck more oil..
You will be ahead to go on a re-ring the engine..
Inspect the sleeves for a ridge at the top of the ring travel..
If there is significant wear, the sleeves can be changed..
Ron..