Recommendations to repair-not rebuild-a Model A Engine

Mr. Kuntz,

Per your post #19 ...... I wish you would come back and post more vintage helpful comments.

The Ford Model T Manual is interesting to read about how Ford measured and recommended rebuilding Model T engines with very simple tools.

Vintage mechanics devised many different ingenious ways to do same.

For people used to measuring, one can see that it is easy to even "see" the difference between 1/8" and 3/16"; but it gets more difficult to "see" difference between 6-1/8" & 6-3/16". Even more difficult to see the difference between 3-'0" and 3'-1" from a distance.

Likewise if one measures Model A piston bore diameter of 3-7/8" at bottoms of cylinders say with a vintage steel rod or similar device .......... and measures piston bore diameter of 3-7/8" + 0.005" at tops of pistons, there is a 0.005" difference to "see".

If one uses the vintage ring method you mentioned that was used often back then, with a 0.005" difference in diameter, the gap in the ring at top and bottom with the circumference is 0.0157".

Most vintage mechanics back then could accurately read a feeler gauge ...... and many could actually "see" the difference between 0.005" and 0.015" without a feeler gauge.

Just Plane Geometry, and just one opinion.
 
I've spent the last three years making "fixes" to my tired engine. Sanding caps to set clearance, lapping valves with barely any margin left on them, new valve springs, re-hone oversize. I've plans to do some travelling in 2017 in my car, so I pulled the engine out and it's being rebuilt. I put $dough aside for it. Think about what you want from your car and act accordingly. Working on these cars is fun, driving them more so. Good luck with your progress.
 
goodoldvic said:
I've spent the last three years making "fixes" to my tired engine...
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Been there -- done that.

Working on these cars is fun, driving them more so...
Click to expand...
Mine will be ready with a "new" engine for the 2016 season. Getting tingly all over just thinking about it after missing most of the last 2 seasons.
 
This is why I snapped up a spare engine that I encountered in the garage of a deceased Model A owner-I can work on it when convenient, and if it's needed, it can be in the car in a day. I have good feelings about that engine already, though-.010 pistons in bores that are still crosshatched, every opening either taped over or filled with a rubber plug, and clean, unpitted valves and seats.
 
Many 80+ year old well "maintained" Model A engines are still around.

However, when one finds out he just bought somebody's garbage, not a good idea to play and tinker with worn out engines ...... if this is the case ...... there is usually only one (1) alternative for having a dependable engine.

Let us hope that Bud did not buy somebody's 80+ year old non-maintained or poorly maintained engine.

We may find out soon.
 
Mr. Chauvin has some more words on wisdom on this subject. Years ago, I poked around and fixed up a number of well used engines. This was when I had little money and a lot of time. I couldn't afford the perfection of a fully rebuilt motor but I gained quite an education on the cheap.
 
Well, let me say this: for the number of miles that many of us put on our A's, a little oil-burning, or a leak or two is really no big deal. These engines aren't high-performance engines-you can break the bank in a pursuit of perfection with a perfectly blueprinted engine, or do a decent job in your garage, and still have a good-running, dependable car.
 
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