i just aquired a '70 "B" and i got it running.. but it is blasting steam out of the oil cap like bad.. it runs smooth, and has as much power as to be expected.. and there is no steam out of the tail pipe untill you rev it hard.. and there is water in the oil..but any way, i was wondering what is the likelyhood of the head being cracked or the block being cracked? the radiator did not feel too hot and neither did the valve cover.. so what are your thoughts?

The only way to really know is to take of the head and look. I wouldnt be running it if you are getting water into the cylinders.(not good at all) that water can do alot of damage. (like cracking a block or head)

If you are real lucky, its only a head gasket.

Good luck.

the possibility of a blown head gasket is very high, check the color of the water in the radiator if it is murky, the answer is yes you have a blown gasket

The "B" is rough on head gaskets as well a cracking between #2 and #3 cylinders. DON"T run it anymore 'til you fix it. Run a compression check as well as a coolant pressure check. You'll probably have to pull the head. When you go back use a copper head gasket. The head can be repaired if not cracked badly. When you put it back together after the initial warm up let it go dead cold and re-torque the head. It is also advisable to put updated valve seats in the head. There's no guarantee on "B" heads. Just don't let it run hot. This means clean coolant system, reliable water pump, fresh hoses and belt. For the most part I never ran a thermostat in the Midget I have. It's now got over 500,000 miles on the drive train. I also suggest Kendall Motor Oil if you can find it.

I agree you should run compression and cooling system pressure checks. I don't think a copper head gasket should be used unless the head is skimmed and the block deck surface refaced. It's best to use a Payen or Fel Pro head gasket. I believe a thermostat should be used to heat the engine quickly to the correct operationg temperature, most wear happens when the engine is cold because the oil isn't hot enough to provide adequate lubrication. A thermostat sets the lower tremperature limit but removing it will not prevent an engine from overheating.

Clifton

Most B heads have been shaved. The copper gasket always seemed to be more durable. I removed my thermostat for summer traffic. It kept a better flow in slow moving traffic. I just never put it back in for the winter. The top was always down anyway...unless it was raining. :smokin: