Classic/Antique Car Repair: flat head ford, blown head gasket, gasket leaks

Question
QUESTION: I have a 34 ford with a flat head it has a 2 barrel carb all of a sudden it started to make a loud hissing noise coming from 1 of the holes that are open in the intake when i put s rag over the unused bolt hole the noise could not be heard is there a gasket or something under there blown out -i could,nt tell if the air was blowing out or sucking in  Rgards Markl

ANSWER: Hey, Mark!

Blown head gasket, my friend. While you're into fixing it, get both heads skimmed flat at a machine shop, and check the deck surfaces to make sure they're flat, too.

Flatties are so easy to work on! I used to be able to do head gaskets on my '49 Merc in a couple of hours.

--Paul

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: the car runs great and there is nothing in the oil or radiator incidently the hissing noise is coming from the driver,s side on the intake manifold --on the intake manifold there are several hole,s on driver,s side and passenger side not being used Rgards Mark

Answer
Then it would appear to me that any leak in the gasket is between a cylinder and the bolt hole. Have you tried to run a compression leakdown test on the cylinder adjacent to the bolt hole?

Head gasket leaks in flatties can open up, too, and eventually if this is a leak, you will find oil in the water or vice-versa. Best to diagnose and nip it in the bud.

--Paul