The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Southern Bolters Shop Class with Jerry!

If anyone would be interested in spending some time in the garage with Hotrod Lincoln and learning from the Master

Here's the situation:

My '49 (261) blew a head gasket the other day coming home (up the mountain) from Scottsboro. We just happen to have a spare 848 head on hand all rebuilt, milled, valve jobbed, steam holes drilled and ready to go. We're going to do an R&R on the head. But it will also involve redoing all the other little things like timing, valve adjusting, carb tuning, etc etc.

Hopefully, this will be a 1-day event (yeah ... right ...). All Bolters are welcome to come join us... If there are any within easy traveling distance ...

Overnight accommodations are ... primative (bring a tent or a cot to set up in the garage or bus). We only have one bedroom at HQ and its already spoken for ... The ODSS crew can testify to how great the garage bunk house is

Glad to have you if interested in joining us!

Probably next weekend. We *were* going to do it today, but decided to push back to next week. Any interest?

Well Dang, I would love to jump in on that project but... We are heading to Columbia that Saturday, made plans months ago. The chance to spend some Wrench Time with Jerry would amazing. I'm really good at taking directions..

Of course we need pictures..

Would love to have you visit, Craig. Oh well, another time.

As spread out as the Southerners are (compared to the concentration of the ODSS ...) I wasn't expecting much, but I thought I'd throw out the invite in case anyone did want to make the trek.

When Jerry is involved, lots of things can get accomplished ....

Sounds good to me- - - -the more the merrier! I might even recruit a grandson or two for some grunt labor! Us old geezers definitely need to attract some younger stovebolters to carry on the obsession!
Jerry

John, you have a PM waiting. That reworked head has an original 261 casting number (913, maybe?) That's slightly lower compression than your 848, so we can either swap to that one, or pull the valves and get the 848 head resurfaced before reinstalling it.
Jerry

That would be a good class to attend.

If only it was not 20 hours and 1200 miles away, I would make sure to be there!

I just saw this, hope it all went well.

-Woog

The job starts tomorrow morning- - - -plenty of time to join the party! We're going to change things up a little- - - -pull the head and strip it down to a bare casting tomorrow, and get my machinist buddy to do a little resurfacing, then lap the valves, reassemble, and reinstall it a bit later. Fun stuff!
Jerry

The patient has been admitted, all forms filled out (consent for treatment, consent to release information, consent to confirm presence in the hospital... more forms to fill out than a real estate closing). Insurance has been confirmed. Be advised that the patient declined the use of anesthesia. He's "gonna take it like a Marine."

Here's a screen grab from the OR security camera... The OR as of 0831 AM (CT)

The OR looks like a respectable and quality facility. Somebody tell them Dr's that coffee time is over and get busy would ya - LOL!

"Ole Charlie" looks to be ready to get on to the recovery room where Nurse Peggy can administer some TLC.

Head removal complete.

Jerry came with his grandson and we were done fairly quickly. The head is off to the machinist now. One of the issues I wasn't expecting (this was just supposed to be a simple head gasket replacement) was that I have worn out valve guides on my exhaust valves. I'll leave it to Jerry to explain in the video.

Valve Stem Oil Seal Issue

Here are some action shots from this morning.

Good info if I rebuild another engine, which may be in my future?
Jerry is truly a master and I learn something every time I get to talk or just listen to him!

Don

John - too much to know.....but thank goodness you got Jerry. It's gotten to the point that we can't find anyone up here towards Philadelphia to get engine work done. Does Jerry have a machinist he can reccomend ?

Well... Yes. But it involves a road trip for you. He's close to here.

I've been doing business with a shop in Fayetteville Tennessee since the mid-1980s, and any machine work that I can't, (or don't want to) do goes there. I'll ask the shop owner if he would be interested in getting jobs from elsewhere, maybe by Fed Ex, UPS, or maybe something shipped through Blue Lane Freight, the trucking company owned by Fastenal. Of course, anybody who wants to make a road trip would also be welcome to visit.

One of these days, maybe my shop will be ready to take on engine jobs for my fellow stovebolters!
Jerry

After your own valve job Jerry!

Good machinists are few and far between. I've had a 283-engine block at the local machine shop for 2 months now and a set of 305 heads for over a month. Too many jobs there and one machinist.

I suppose I'm lucky enough to still have an Old School Machine Shop locally. Jim is a wealth of knowledge and a just a great guy to talk with. He's old Old Time 6 cylinder guy, he held the NHRA record for his class in 1981.

Jim's Machine Shop, Brunswick GA. (912) 262-1007

Back on topic- - - -John's 848 head is getting all new valve guides, bigger exhaust valves, a little pocket porting under the exhausts, and new intake valves. Once the new guides are installed and the head is milled a little to freshen up the gasket surface, I'll take over for the valve work. Charlie should be back in "better than new" condition pretty soon!
Jerry

Good! I'd kinda like to get back to woodworking at some point ....

Any update on Charlie 's condition?

Charlie still in a medically induced coma awaiting the procedure ... Dr. Hotrod will have to update us on scheduling of the procedure.

Stumbled on this thread looking around but I have been discussing by PM coming up there from the Hanceville area when all is ready for the "procedure". Would really like to see the Masters at work on this 261 engine and get in touch with people who do this and KNOW what they are doing, plus I need input on people and things that will be helpful! If I can't make the Big Day I may just come up anyway to see that operation in Scottsboro when John is working.

I actually now have 2 projects and trying to sort out what to do. I will have my hands FULL!

Any and all assistance will receive a warm welcome- - - -and there's a couple of very nice diners in the area when it's time for a meal. My place is a bit closer than John's, and I've usually got a project (or six) in progress. As John has mentioned, both of us have very nice ladies with ongoing medical issues, so their care obviously takes priority. Mine's been putting up with my shenanigans for almost 50 years, so when it's my turn to lend a hand I'm more than willing! When both of us were moderators on a hunting, fishing, and outdoor website, her screen name was "Seasonalwife"- - - - -she claimed she only got to be a wife between hunting, fishing, and racing season!
LOL!
Jerry