My turn to share; rebuild sheet/receipt

B

BlockBuster

Member
Bought a '31 A Coupe a couple months back and it came with quite a story. Owner said he started his A project with a neighbor, but the neighbor had to bow out when he had his first child...then second child. Project came to a halt - 32 years ago! And this was only a year or so into the project. Not only was there a mass quantity of parts in duplicate, but the engine and trans were rebuilt and put to the side as they waited for their turn to be installed. I basically have a 'fresh' rebuilt engine that has been resting comfortably in a cradle since 1979. Here's the particulars...Enjoy!

rebuildsheet.jpg
 
Wow, good stuff! Just dropped nearly 3 "G"'s on a rebuild. Purrs like the proverbial kitten, but 651 bucks would have been a topper.
 
While this all sounds great consider this:

No balance of the crankshaft?

I bet they did not balance the rods or check the weight of the pistons.
Who knows where the crank center line is with respect to the flywheel.

What was used for babbitt? Lead is too soft and only good for 500 point show cars that are not driven.

What about the cam, they probably just reused what came in the engine.

It might be a great engine, but you might be smart to at least check the work. There was a shop in Philadelphia that would have produced a similar bill and I believe they were still in business in 1979. Some of their engines would make 200 miles before they broke. They did not bother to drill oil holes, poured bad babbitt and many other things.

If you just plan on put putting around this engine may be fine. If you want it to be reliable and none vibrating massage machine you would want to check the work.

Just some things to think about.
 
i wouldn't worry about it
we still have engines running around that were built in the 60's and 70's
i say put it in and have some fun
if it starts to bang or leak like a sive then worry about it then
tk
 
I agree with Kelly,put it in and fire it up, drive it and enjoy it. I think that many of the rebuilds of the 60's and 70's were performed by true blue, old timers who really knew their craft. I have an engine that purrs along at 55 as smooth as silk that was rebuilt by Warren Paul in Chicopee,Massachusetts in the 1970's and I never yet have had to adjust the rods or mains.
 
I agree with Kelly and Mike. I'd just install it, keep clean oil in it, treat it right and enjoy it.

If it starts to show problems down the road, then spend the money and time to redo it.
 
Very cool ! Drop that baby in and go !!! I'd much rather have an engine rebuilt then. Probably a bit more care was taken. Have fun !!!
 
A little buzzkill from Kevin in NJ, but I'm gonna drop this in and go. The PO had an old Fanta bottle (yes, glass) with his oil concoction to turn it over every now and again. I was more into showing the price sheet as a reminder of days gone by. I omitted the PO's name and the shop as a courtesy. I'm sure it was done right as the shop specialized in early Fords; maybe not 2011 'right', but fine for '79.
 
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