The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Good, Good, Bad, Good, Bad, Bad

Yeah, I can see the wisdom of taking it one step at a time. At the least, I'll pop the Valve cover and see what evidence I find there, and act accordingly. I'll take digital pics along the way, and maybe others can at least benefit from my rookie experience, not to mention stovebolts are better in pictures than in words.

I must admit, though, I'm growing increasingly excited at the prospect of having the engine rebuilt. My goal with this truck is to restore it to it's original, "in service" condition. I've had the original brass hose couplings polished and put on brand new cotten fire hose. A carpenter friend remade the hosebed wood using marine grade varnish - it's beautiful! I've been accumulating the various ladders, lamps, extinguishers, etc. to flush out the truck. So I'm definately gonna want the engine rebuilt sometime, before too long. I love the thought of feeling the way the original firemen felt 60 years ago - with the truck sounding, smelling, looking and performing (almost, anyway) the exact way it did then. Kindof a doorway to the past. A tad bit over-romanticized, perhaps, but that's how I feel.

Did I ever mention I should have been born in the '30s?

-Michael