Adding Thickstun Heads and Finned Water Pipes To The Ford Model A "Pagoda City" Coupe

The Pagoda City Coupe was 90% built when we started this channel and has only been worked on in a handful of videos. This 1930 Ford Model A Coupe is built in a traditional East Coast style with a heavy channel and no chop. The flat head is mildly built and dressed with a Thickstun Hi-Rise intake and All State finned heads. The heads unfortunately have a known casting flaw and Matt's drivers side head is cracked. The crack is from the exterior of the head, around the letters, into the water jacket. The crack is has been getting worse with heat cycles, and the head needs to be replaced before it becomes a major issue. Today Matt is going to install a new acquired set of Thickstun aluminum heads and some killer finned coolant pipes!
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Tools Used -
Eastwood Slim Head Dead Blow Hammers - www.eastwood.c...
Eastwood 1/2" Heavy Duty Torque Wrench - www.eastwood.c...
Music Used -
Spring Is In the Amp 5 - Gunner Johnsen - Epidemic Music Library
The Big Conference - DJ Willliams - Epidemic Music Library
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[@billmiller7138]

Speaking of folklore, I used to hear the old guys say if the heads were stuck after you take the nuts off start the engine and let the compression push them up. Sounded crazy to me but I've always wanted to try it! 😜

[@markrandall1456]

Sometimes there is the perception on channels and car tv shows that you build it and then it is as durable and as trouble free as a new car. I like the "real" of this video. My 51 M38 seems to have old stuff on it that keeps breaking or wearing out. It's a constant observation is the components that makes the old car hobby fun. Thanks for the fun.

[@motorv8N]

Great point! One of the fantasies of tv land - be it old cars, boats, airplanes, even old house renos - it’s never one and done. The old stuff always needs ongoing, next level TLC.

[@whitebison66]

The supervisor watching the fluid change at 4:35 is priceless.

[@marvinalancornell8275]

Sean Tierney, say my That's not oil that's anti-freeze my friend....Look closer.....

[@imouse3246]

Supercritical attitude for a tat. What's up with that?

[@whitebison66]

@@imouse3246 I'm not sure how you got that out of my comment, because that's not what it was.

[@donames6941]

I am liking bolts better and better now

[@davebutler2776]

The covered bridge was the highlight of that ride.

[@lobmin]

The guy in the red truck must have gotten a kickass view :D

[@marksaunders2398]

Love the journey you and the boys have taken me along . Be safe and hello from Australia again

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@glennnickerson8325]

Love your Model A coupe Matt! Glad Traditional Rod and Kulture did a feature on it before all car magazines (for the most part) went belly up (still got the article)! That's progress for you and that's why I think most of your viewers appreciate things the way they used to be.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks Glenn!

[@rodjames2]

The Pagoda Coupe is like a time warp Matt! For such a young guy to capture the time period of those original now historical hot rods is impressive. I think this hot rod qualifies Matt as an Artist!

[@Ecosse57]

so glad to see the pagoda city coupe get the love it deserves, inside and out.

[@dieseldabz7104]

I need a job with people like yourself. I'm unfortunately overworked and underpaid and a very talented and hard working person and have a great work ethic as was raised properly and the yrs of military I'm sure helped. I greatly enjoy projects like this one and seeing the end results after all the hard work. Plus it must be amazing to actually get treated well and praised for your skillset..

[@mikeg6042]

Matt, my favorite car in your collection is the Pagoda City Coupe. For years I’ve wanted a Model A with a 85 hp motor and ‘39 transmission. And the Pagoda coupe seems to fit the bill. It’s more than an old wives tale that starting the motor with the nuts off the studs will allow the compression to push the head loose is real. I watched my Dad do it several times back in the 1950s. It still seems a little unorthodox to me and I’d be hard pressed to try it.

[@stevenpdxedu]

Actually, I think the "less fancy" non finned heads go better with the rough and tumble patina of the Pagoda. It's a respectable look. I prefer the 'rattier' end of the hotrod spectrum to all the candy and chrome do dads of the show cars anyway. Thanks for the fun. 👀👌

[@tokeypokey]

The shinny shot has grown on me recently tho and my car is brush painted like the pagoda

[@garycamara9955]

Do you have the Thickstun head covers?

[@garycamara9955]

I've always used 60 lbs torque on my heads but I have Navarro and Cyclone heads. Most recently Navarro. This is what I was taught by Bingley and Tardel.(my daughter also)

[@jeffkalte9371]

Thanks Matt! Pagoda is my favorite car of yours - it really is just about perfect!

[@heatherrigby7371]

Hey Matt, My Dad was taught about flatheads by my Grandfather. Dad said that he broke a cast production head because of rust around the studs with which he was not patient enough. He also said they used to sell a slim hole saw type tool to dig out the oxidation in order to ease head removal on earlier stud designs. He also said that Ford went to bolts in order to solve this problem that you have perfectly described. I hope my memory has served me well on this discussion. Also I believe I have two of his flat head valve spring compressors, they appear to me as compressing the opposite way as I would expect... Donnie

[@danielkeel9265]

Keepin' it real, gents! Always wanted to see more of her. Maybe a walkaround after a wee fettle!

[@hotrodbob6573]

A trick I use is to lightly coat the studs and holes with liquid Teflon thread sealer, it stops the electrolysis and rust

[@JONMEREDITH]

Jon here! It's 7:45 on Sunday. I'm frothing at the mouth waiting for today's great video!

[@IronTrapGarage]

See you at 10am EST!!

[@johndonlon1611]

Matt: The biggest tool you have is your patience. You display that in every episode alongside your technical expertise. That, plus Permatex #133K Anti-seize compound work wonders.

[@briankinnear7461]

Great little coupe. Be safe and stay well.

[@jimandlinsnow7002]

Good stuff. Love the Pagoda City Coupe.

[@kurtludwig4783]

Good, some well deserved love for the coupe!

[@oldblueshhrchannel1847]

New to it aluminium heads and coolant tubes, on a very cool ride! Thanks for the update!

[@motorv8N]

Great session, Matt - nice find on those heads and pipes.

[@garycamara9955]

I like the wide 5 wheels and the correct hubcaps.

[@emptypocketsgarage9378]

Nice to see the coupe back out. Just my opinion, but it needs a "choppier" cam to match the look.

[@garycamara9955]

I have a Winfield 1A in mine. Its choppy enough for me.

[@gordonbrennan2678]

Nice to see the coupe getting some love. The photo you show at around 3 minutes is of my Thickstun equipped engine in my 35 cabriolet, nice surprise, my 30 seconds of fame!

[@andrewlewis3486]

It amazes me how talented you are!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Just a young guy trying to learn everyday!

[@slowshop]

It was this one that made me a fan. When I saw the frame build on the Eastwood channel. So great to see you tinkering with it.

[@torbar9603]

Love the smile on Mikes face at the end with you guys driving around!

[@Mercmad]

I got around sticking heads years ago by nickle plating the head studs (cheap) and using plenty of ant seize on the stud itself. i tried the urban myth about driving around with the nuts off... didn't work. I filled one cylinder with the shops grease gun using a modified spark and grease nipple. The head moved enough to put wedges underneath . A mate has a couple of 1915 Cadillac's and he did the same but used Hydraulic oil and a powerpack.

[@dieseldabz7104]

10lb slidehammer...

[@hbbaxter3668]

Hey Matt the hammer you have was made for piston installation! You’re right they are handy for tons of situations! Luv the iron you play with!

[@terrykeithley6183]

Matt, I started watching you build the Pagoda on EW, love the coupe. C-ya Sunday stay safe, Terry.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks Terry!

[@dieseldabz7104]

You should head up here to Massachusetts as you'd love to meet the people I do work for ALOT. There family owns 25+ old Ford's like this one here and literally have trailers filled with parts from Lang's..

[@MrPanzerblitz]

I think these are much better looking than the Allstate heads. I'm an old guy and Allstate has always represented "cheap" to me. Probably started with the Henry J's they rebranded "Allstate" and tried to sell them unsuccessfully for a couple years. So rare or not I would never run a pair of those heads even if the quality didn't suck.

[@sachenstein]

The plastic wedges that we use in NZ are handy for that sort of work too, i use them for positioning etc when fabricating and fitting out engine bays and exhaust work etc. Available here in most chainsaw or hardware shops. (Oops, sorry, I mean hardware stores),

[@GMCAT4]

Love covered bridges, we have one in my county with flashing lights and safety beam but another truck hit it last week, luckily the beam stopped it.

[@rickyrichardson3501]

You must live in Cobb Co.

[@dieseldabz7104]

We got some here in Massachusetts as well

[@whitaker2107]

that hammer is designed to tap pistons into the block when wring compressor band is around them

[@rayk9315]

I've heard from Model A owners that if you remove all the head bolt nuts and just leave a few loose and turn the motor over the compression will pop the head loose.

[@RDWgarage]

I've done that 3 or 4 times. Works great. I thought that would work here as well. Just not that knowledgable on the V8 flatheads.

[@dieseldabz7104]

If seen it 1st hand and it definitely works

[@modeladenny1218]

Danged memories! I had a dual carb SHARP intake and SHARP heads for my 1946 Mercury coupe. The only time we got robbed all my good car crap was taken. It took years to find those SHARP parts. We had a special reason for wanting those for our '46 Merc. Good luck on the Model A.

[@reaveswolfe399]

I was good friends with Al Sharp and we worked on many hot rods together. Unfortunately he passed about 15 years ago. His kids sold all the molds of his engine parts so if you find any and can get them you will have some real money there. By the way his home town was Mira Loma California.

[@modeladenny1218]

@@reaveswolfe399 Ovr the years I found several sets of SHARP heads at the Daytona swap meet. Some were fine but all were expensive. I got more upset loosing the SHARP dual intake. My son, around 12 at the time, got it cheap from a friend for doing some work. I once bought a 1946 Dodge pickup from Carl Wolfe.

[@reaveswolfe399]

@@modeladenny1218 I don't think I know a Carl Wolfe but I'm sure he is a relative of mine somewhere down the line in some state. Anyway at my age my taste in cars has moved to later models such as 50s and 60s classics. My latest is a 1965 Pontiac tempest, completely stock and numbers matching that I had been searching for since I got out of the army in 1967. I finally found one in a couple of years ago less than a mile away from my house and bought it for a really good price.

[@modeladenny1218]

@@reaveswolfe399 Carl Wolfe was a coworker in central Illinois. It was just a memory of old vehicles. I'm thinking now maybe a 47-53 Buick fastback. I had lots of those when young.

[@mikeherrschaft7167]

I like all your Video's, But I gota say Excellent content Keep it Up!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thank you!!

[@lindastephenson1312]

That hammer is for installing pistons into the cylinder rich

[@alanpaulick7815]

Shake rattle and roll let's go Matt. Thanks for sharing this video awesome 👌

[@richardt2k1]

Awesome. This is the car that attracted me to your channel couple years ago. Good to see it playing the star attraction in its own video. A Plus. 👍👍

[@mrnobody6573]

Now you need to find those Thickstun finned head covers to put on & maybe the air cleaner.

[@IronTrapGarage]

The air cleaner I have but it looks silly on this car since it’s so channeled it sits in the center of the windshield

[@boblamb8421]

Very cool. I'd love to do one with a flathead and 39 trans but I've had mostly small block Chevy's in my hotrods although my 55 Chevy 210 has a tunnel rammed 454 in it. When I was 18 I had a roadster with a 27 Henry steel Ford body with a Turtle deck. That one was built by one of my mentor's named Howard who was an ace with his old Lincoln stick welder standing or laying down on his back welding overhead. Perfect welds every time. He used a 59 nailhead Buick with the Dynaflow trans. The only draw back was he used the torque tube set up rear that kept wiping out U-joints. My latest that is mostly done is a 26 tall T with a Model A chassis. Dodge D-100 rear end and straight axle but I used a mild 350 with a GMC vintage 6.71 blower and two 1958 450 Holley's on top. It has a 4 speed Saginaw trans. 66 GTO shifter, Yamaha Rhino seats, aluminum Corvair steering box I reversed myself using an article from an issue of Ole Skool rodz magazine. The deck lid was custom built and has 85 louver's in it. The cowl over the windshield has 20. 1970's Budweiser beer keg gas tank. Harley sportster rear coil overs. Will be a driver shortly. Just waiting for a racing buddy to modify the carbs to run right on the blower. It is currently 108 out in Mesa Arizona today. Not exactly cruising weather. Keep up the good work. I came across your video's yesterday and subscribed. Thanks.

[@lewisquick8394]

It is indeed a win to make it back home on after a shakedown run after changing things.

[@vr6swp]

That offset deadblow is a piston hammer. Made to tap pistons thru a ring compressor and into the block. I think Summit has them too

[@stevenkarnisky411]

Interesting vid. I started following around the time of the 39 forgotten rod, so this is the first I've seen of the Pagoda City. Perfect hot rod!

[@jongolliher3806]

Hey Matt, I just saw something on the P City coupe that I have never seen before. They are those thick wall carb scoops! Are those perhaps old, new additions? Wow, they look 3/16 or 1/4" thick. I can hardly believe that they have been there long and I haven't seen them! As soon as I saw the motor my eyes were drawn right to them! :) Any history behind them? Oh, since you asked if folks use the copper stuff to seal head gaskets I wondered if you've heard of using plain old aluminum paint? When my dad started racing hardtops in the early 50's He soon found out how great it worked, especially pulling a head or heads every time you got torn down to check the stroke! We also found the advantage of bolts over studs. When I started racing and later working on flatheads in hotrods that was the only way I did them. Try it, you'll like it. Both things make pulling a head almost a pleasure. As a kid I was chief block and head scraper of course and I really liked both! :) Thanks for all the videos Mike I always enjoy them!

[@quagmiredavis4117]

Marvel mystery oil definitely use in fuel helps lubricant everything rings valves and Valvoline oil 30 wt Try coolant tablets from napa they were used in gm engines factory this will fill any voids its basically Powdered nutmeg shells it works awesome video thanks for posting

[@AndyGeesGarage]

Love this car and really diggin the Thickstun heads

[@gjmoore5757]

Neat ol rod. Those flatties are the coolest

[@davemoulding8799]

Matt , always use neversize on plugs in Aluminum heads

[@IronTrapGarage]

Yep you’re right. The plugs were coming right back out the next day to check to see how the car was running. I added some when I put them in after fine tuning the carb a little. Thanks

[@JONMEREDITH]

THAT was one hell of a great video! Thanks!!

[@mikeyt3940]

Great stuff Matt. I am a Model A fan and owner, but I think you already knew that. LOL.

[@townandcountrytallywhacker2968]

Ford Flathead Cyl Head Puller Set - Blue Point No. S 9099 - These work great even on Indian Head Shellac - Tried to send a photo, No workee

[@jamiecampbell3068]

Pretty cool !!! Glad you were concerned about removing the Allstates. That means you may try to save them. If you can bolt those down on a fixture, you can drill the crack ends, grind & weld 'em up. After you surface the welded crack .. send them off to a NASCAR experienced coating company. ANYBODY CAN COAT FOR POROSITY BUT .. ... a company that does as such for severe duty applications can serve you better. Can't remember who I used but they were in North Carolina. Cheap, too. EDIT :: >> May wanna' put a sacrificial annode in your cooling system to save those finned cooling tube. OR ... wait for it .. ... send those off to get coated too. 🤣😶🤷‍♂️🙂 Also .. look for RECREATIONAL GAS. Its just gas. No ethanol, or other riff raff chemicals in it. JUST GAS. In Georgia and Texas .. the station is called Pure Gas. Or just Pure. Surely Pennsylvania being the original home of Standard Oil >>> Exxon. Also Quaker State. Somewhere near you is a recreational gas source. I always loved the Pagoda Coupe. More so .. always love you and Mike riding together in any of your creations. You guys always look have you're having a good time. Way to go, fellas !!!

[@brenttuttle2692]

I've also heard of people fishing small rope through the opening of the spark plug hole then cranking the engine so the piston and the Rope push the head up.

[@jasonkocinski2387]

Such a Cool car. I'm glad to see it get some much needed attention

[@ZeGermanHam]

Haven't seen this car on this channel before. I like it! It's got a good vibe.

[@johanneseder27]

Thats my favourite car of yours. One day im gonna build one that's inspired by the pagoda city coupe.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thank you!

[@johnapel2856]

I still love the look of that car. Thanks, and Woof to Moon.

[@shartne]

Change the oil since you got some water in the pistons. My old ford F150 62 model ran at 160 and is a great temp to run at.

[@p3512at]

Given the limited miles some of our old cars get driven I use recreational fuel in my old Flathead Ford. Don’t have to worry about the ethanol additives.

[@michaelguinn5736]

Morning Matt! y'all should know I don't miss a episode!! I have a question, without going through your videos, the Pagoda City Coupe, was this car the car that you did the chassis when you were at Eastwood? We use a brown gooey mess, called Form a Gasket which worked great for head bolts, we also use to use aluminum spray paint for head gaskets, I now used the red spray gasket sealer.. Anyway, Be safe!!! God Bless!!!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Yep this is the same car

[@JML1955GMC]

Great looking car.

[@micregil]

That's a good old good one for sure, nice wheels and caps.

[@ronaldheit196]

When Matt was talking about getting ready to go for a ride with Mike out on their country roads he bounced on his knees and waved his arms a little bit it reminded me of that little boy who's Linda Linda vid went viral. Kate Kate Mike and me gotta go for a long test ride Kate 😅😂🤣😎 I could just see Matt ichin' to let loose on the gas pedal.

[@IronHorseGarage]

Great stuff, as usual!!!

[@jimmygarner696]

Man...that thing is so cool! Enjoy it.

[@claytonpeeples3263]

great video my favorite motor next would be a nail head---my first car was a 4 door 30 A I was 15----I love these vids they are a rolling history museum of true hot rods---you know the ones that don't burn rice !!

[@stevesgarage7270]

Very cool 😎 hope to see you at some car shows this year want to see your cars in person

[@bshellz]

Looks pretty cool! Shame the Allstate heads failed, they were pretty cool looking

[@johnwarkentinnikiskialaska8364]

Outstanding ride guys

[@michaelguinn5736]

Good morning Matt!! I never knew Sears sold Allstate speed parts!!! It goes to show the advancement in technology, it's really neat how you assembled the pagoda city coupe with vintage parts!! Mike being so tall, how does he fit? Can those Allstate heads be repaired? Be safe.....GOD BLESS!!!

[@waynespyker5731]

Perhaps the ALLSTATE was formed by a removable mold insert so they could sell to Sears. If so a seam line (nearly invisible) was there or the molten material could have cooled as the mold filled creating the weakest portion of the wall thickness. Prone to cracking or porosity after many heat cycles years later. Everytime you core a hole through through molten plastic or metal a knit or weld line is created, always weaker than before the hole.

[@87mini]

Not worth the repair - aluminum has to be really clean to weld well, and who knows what the inside of those heads look like. They'd have to be annealed after welding, too, or they'd just crack again from the heat stresses. There's a reason they're rare! Most of them probably ended up in the scrap pile!

[@tractordave9300]

I’ve always like the Pagoda coup, just bad ass

[@SeymourBalz]

Ya ever leave the nuts on the head studs...and crank it over ? Compression helps.

[@munched55]

*What about building a Drag Coupe for drag week etc? Looks like you have most of what you need. Might pick up some new sponsors along the way.*

[@robertjean659]

Great ride around.

[@protc]

Car looks amazing Matt.

[@AC-gj4ze]

Still love that car👍🏽

[@MrJeep75]

Neat covered bridge

[@donnlowe9129]

I am surprised you haven't developed a head puller that you could thread into the spark plug holes And lift the heads off. Do you retorque the heads after you get it warmed up?

[@IronTrapGarage]

After I do a first test drive like this I will retorque.

[@mafcawebmaster4237]

Watching you remove the chrome caps off the head nuts reminded me of my first hot rod, a 29 Model A Tudor with a 40 Merc flathead engine. I wanted to put those chrome caps on my freshly painted (red) engine so I ordered 50 of them for the head nuts and 20 for the intake manifold from JC Whitney (around 1962). As I recall, they were a nickel apiece! I wonder if the price has gone up since then ? :)

[@modeladenny1218]

Back then I couldn't afford that much for fancy nut caps. I'd even driven 130 miles to JC Whitney many times to save shipping.

[@87mini]

@@modeladenny1218 Back when gas was 20 cents!

[@modeladenny1218]

@@87mini Yup! 100 octaine CLARK Super 100 @19.9 during regular gas wars. Usually got a glass drinking glass or some other item, all windows washed, oil battery, radiator, tires checked and they pumped the gas!

[@MrJeep75]

The deep channel looks, weird, with the tires sticking above the body

[@rexsheldon1042]

Matt, with the vintage suspension parts, do you experience front end wobble/shake when you get around and above 65mph

[@IronTrapGarage]

Nope. Plenty of guys have gone 100-200mph with ford front ends.

[@dieseldabz7104]

No. Got a 1913 Speedster that does well over 100mph with just a little round piece of glass attached to the steering column so you need to wear goggles while driving and it's straight as can be..The brakes on the other hand 😆

[@SpeedKing49]

Another great video guys. The '30 Coupe has so much character, it looked cool going through the old bridge. Just curious if you have any of the hotrods with you at Carlisle booth.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Just selling parts at our swap booth.

[@thomgorman]

Old School clicker? Old School was a deflecting beam style.

[@ldnwholesale8552]

Never use silicone on bolts/ studs. Several different things you can use. GM head stud sealer, Loctite and similar, Form a gasket. Studs give better clamping and you are not stripping the threads out of the block. But use hardened washers and moly lube on the threads. Fine thread gives better clamping also. You should avoid silicone on heads totally. With copper. asbestos gaskets some copper spray or even silver paint helps. And remember if said gaskets have been 'on the shelf' for a long while they will be useless. Ditto with composition style. They shrink! For those old porous heads generally stop leak cubes will fix the issue. A bodge but one that lasts a good while. So many of those old alloy castings are less than ideal. And water is for washing the car, not for cooling. And the coolant temp should be 180-190 F. Too wash all the scunge and grime off use an industrial degreaser, spray it on with a trigger pump, leave for a few minutes and pressure wash off.

[@kenny5174]

What about tags and stickers? Do you get messed with much up in PA. It cost me 60 dollars to move my 54 chevy 2 ton wrecker 28 miles. I was stopped twice, 1 sheriff, 1 city cop. Thank goodness all they wanted to do was look at the old truck.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Antique tags. Once and done forever.

[@WACRE44]

Love the coupe!

[@jamesmorris3747]

love it so cool

[@kennethpensyl7791]

Awesome Car

[@dipe277]

Do the aluminum rad hoses dissipate some extra heat? I imagine they designed them for a reason.

[@shotsrodder]

Cool 😎

[@davesnothere8859]

This is my favorite of your cars. I liked the other heads, they looked cool probably because am less than a novice on cool old parts. If you can't drive it to a car show is it still a car?

[@anchoredgypsymedia1817]

I heard wawa in Morgantown has ethanol free gas

[@tomkrisel4493]

And Douglassville

[@bobdupre3721]

very nice good job

[@CanadAce]

I like the new heads it looks great! Now if someone had ones like the ones you replaced with that problem are they repairable (within reason) at that point or better used for decoration once those seams start to go?