'37 Flathead rebuild questions

[Mart]

Good sentiments.

Glad you got the bearing problem sorted out.

Mart.

 

[Bored&Stroked]

Thanks! I got most of the main components for this project for a good price, so I decided to put together a budget project. Even though I've already put more money into it then planned or wanted, I'm the type of person the needs to do a job right. My plan was to enjoy the car for a little while, and then sell it to help fund other projects. Even though doing what I have done will cut into my profits, I have piece of mind that everything was gone through, and everything was done right.
That's worth something to me.

That is the right attitude to have with this engine and with all work in life . . . why do it, if it doesn't make you happy and proud?

Also, you're selling this to another person - nice to know that the work you did was done well and what YOU'D want if you were the buyer. 'Do Unto Others' . . . such a simple and powerful mantra to stick too!

Nice job by you . . .

 

[cretin]

Got the pistons, water pumps, and timing cover installed.

Does anyone have any experience in swapping the crank pulley to a '42-'48 pulley?
I have a couple questions about the spacer that needs to be made for the swap.

 

[barnfind08]

You have been working on a 37 the crank is smaller diameter than the 21A double belt pulley.

 

[cretin]

You have been working on a 37 the crank is smaller diameter than the 21A double belt pulley.

I know, the diameter is smaller and the snout is shorter, which is why a spacer, or maybe a better term is adapter must be used.

 

[cretin]

So, I've started planning out my adaptor that I'm going to machine to bolt on the '42-'48 pulley so that I can relocate my fan. I put on my intake, generator, distributor, and fan to make sure that I wasn't going to have a problem with my fan interfering with my distributor.
Problem is, it doesn't seem like my distributor is indexing on my cam. It looks like the cam is in too deep for the distributor to index on it.

I'm using the stock Helmet distributor, and a Isky Max-1 cam.
Is this typical? is there some kind of spacer I need our something?

 

[Bluebell]

Im just guessing that your cam is made to suit the 42 to 48 distributor. As you have the earlier distributor, you will need an adapter.

 

[cretin]

Im just guessing that your cam is made to suit the 42 to 48 distributor. As you have the earlier distributor, you will need an adapter.

Yup, I've found what I need. Would have been nice if they told you that you needed that if you were putting the cam in an earlier engine.

 

[JSeery]

Yup, I've found what I need. Would have been nice if they told you that you needed that if you were putting the cam in an earlier engine.

You are going to find that when you are mixing parts between years you will have some mismatch issues that you need to research. Flathead parts interchange fairly well, but you will run into difficulties if you try to just assemble various year parts without carful researching it first. Are you using good reference material (books)? This type of information should be covered in a good flathead rebuild book (the multi year type). Some suggestions I find useful are:

 

[cretin]

You are going to find that when you are mixing parts between years you will have some mismatch issues that you need to research. Flathead parts interchange fairly well, but you will run into difficulties if you try to just assemble various year parts without carful researching it first. Are you using good reference material (books)? This type of information should be covered in a good flathead rebuild book (the multi year type). Some suggestions I find useful are:

Yea, I have 3 books I'm using, and two of them, you have pictured. Since I was using the stock timing cover, and the stock distributor, and the cam was compatible, I didn't give any thought to them not fitting.
I do a lot of mixing parts, and always research it, but it didn't occur to me in this situation, because I wasn't really mixing parts. But, I'm on track now.

Speaking of mixing parts, I mentioned in a previous post about making an adapter for putting the '42-'48 double sheave pulley on this engine.
I've machined the adapter, and thought I'd show it here if anyone was interested.

 

[JSeery]

Nice.

 

[cretin]

So, I finally got this engine all together and painted. I wanted to take this opportunity to that you guys for the help and advice I've gotten here so far.
Now that the engine is closed up, I can get back to the metal work on the car.

Here are some photos, I'll be sure to post a video of it running when I get there.

 

[cretin]

Well, I haven't been able to get much work done on my car. I was out of town for 3 weeks dealing with a family issue. But, now I'm back and excited to make some progress. Just for fun here is a photo after adding some more goodies on the engine.

 

[VeryTangled]

Hi Everyone, cretin, Wonderful thread. Your progress is to be commended.