Never started 55 year old rebuild

M

Merrell Maxwell

Junior Member
I recently purchased a 31 roadster from and estate . The sellers' father rebuilt the engine in the mid-sixties but became ill and died not long after .The engine has never been fired or had oil in it but is not stuck . However, it is stiff when turned with a screw driver at the flywheel . My question is how do I lubricate the bearings prior to trying to turn it with the starter ? I removed the valve/side cover and oiled the lifters and springs but could use some help figuring out how to get the bearings lubed .
Thanks in advance,
Merrell
 
Hi Merrell. Here is a recent thread with a lot of good info similar to what you are asking.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1967512#post1967512

The Model A oiling system is Splash and Gravity. Since you have the valve cover off you could pour some oil in the lifter chamber and it will gravity feed the three main bearings. I think I would also drain the oil that is in the engine and add new. This will fill the dipper tray so oil will spash when you crank her over. Good luck.
 
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Remove the spark plugs and squirt some oil (10w-30 is good) in each cylinder to lubricate the walls and rings, pour 3&1/2 quarts into the crankcase, pour 1/2 quart down the hole in the cylinder head where the distributor hole is, either crank it over by hand or w/the starter a whole bunch of times, let it sit for a while and repeat the cranking.
 
When I went to check bearings 10 years after rebuilt engine the rear main was crumbled, 2 other local people had the same company rebuild theirs, but not installed or run, took crankshaft out to inspect Babbitt on their engines and found one still had wadding in the oil passages to the mains blocking any possible oil flow, the other one didn't even have the oil holes drilled or oil grooves-----perhaps inspecting everything, cleaning and relube would remove doubts
 
I agree, you don't quite know what was done till you tear it down and take a look.. if its good, great, if not, you know what to do without too much invested
 
If they used a certain type of prelube, it’s probably hard as a rock. Completely disassemble , check tolerances, re lube ect. NOW, you know whatcha got! Or just if you like to gamble on a small odds bet that it will be ok, start it up.
Don’t forget, the sixties is when the people that knew model A’s were being replaced by those that didn’t. I’ve seen some 50’s/60’s rebuild that weren’t that great. I’d rather know exactly what I had, and or do what I needed to make it right. IMHO
 
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