The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Something to think about!

Just got a call from my engine builder. He's been working on my 1960-235 that will replace my tired 56 engine in my 54 truck.

Wanted to let me know that my rotating assembly was back from the balancers.....who found that the PO had used a conglomeration of connecting rods when he did his rebuild. There was so much variation in the rod weights, that the engine would have been "rougher than three nights in a Georgia jail."

Fortunately, he had a set of good 235 rods gathering dust on his "old treasures" shelf, made the necessary adjustments and got the whole thing balanced correctly....no charge for the rods and he also sent back my mismatched set.

My point is, that it just isn't safe to assume that your engine guts are okay....especially if you're working with an engine that you haven't heard run. A bore job, new pistons and rings aren't going to guarantee that your ole girl isn't going to shake her guts out. They don't give a "balance" job away, but I sure am glad my builder sang his song and convinced me to have it done. Those of you who are planning a rebuild, might be well advised to at least ask about it. Getting things "close" is okay in horseshoes and hand gernades, but not for a quality rebuild.

Hope this helps.

Dave

Tell this to the gentleman wanting to stroke his 350 to a 383 and getting advice to do it in his garage. Think of a rotating assembly as the hear and soul of an engine. No matter what you do to the rest of the engine, it's only as good as the core. You were smart to have your motor balanced.

Anyone ever seen a cheap rebuild engine apart? One w/some cylinders .060, some cylinders .080, some sleeved. They still run, but have that miss/shake no one can seem to find. My favorite was an Autozone 302 engine brought to the shop-had no main bearings-they were never installed! It started & ran, knocked just a little, LOL. I tore down one 350 that was missing most of the piston skirts-the skirts weren't in the pan, so someone put those slugs back in w/o skirts. I have seen them w/a big valve head on one side, small valves on the other. At the least, a man should weigh all his rods/pistons etc. on triple beams or an electroinc scale-you would be surprised how much difference there is on piston weights in the same set-most guys just stick them in. Brian

Yeah, I've seen alot but that doesn't mean I'd like to run any of it in my trucks. My dad took pieces parts from blown motors to make one that ran. Didn't even re-ring them or install new bearings. He ran used diesel motor oil until they "reseat" themselves. Lots of things "work" but I wouldn't recommend it for a classic vehicle you're going to drive.

Fla54Chevy3100,
Where did you get the motor work done. I live close enough to you I may see if I can get a price from him to rebuild my 235. You can email me the info if you would.

Hey you Floridians....hope everyone is ok! Also hope the trucks made it too.

Take care, from a guy that lives in tornado alley, they can be scary and bad.

YUP.....Lake county, which is north of Polk county in central Florida, got whacked pretty good. Mainly, one mobile home (trailer) park. Several deaths!

Think Jimmy Buffet had it pegged when he called them "tornado attractors."

If the big wind comes your way there isn't a structure around that will protect our old trucks. During hurricanes the best place to park them is out in an open field.....they get dirty but rarely damaged.

With a tornado it's just "Do you feel lucky?"

Dave

Thankfully we were south of the damage area. I feel really bad for those who lost friends & relatives, not to mention everything they ever owned.
I went through hurricane Charlie & saw the destruction from that. At the time I lived 20 miles from where the eye made landfall. I have pictures of cars sticking out of the roofs of houses,cars & trucks squashed by 150 year old oak trees, etc, etc. At least with a hurricane you have time to get out. As you know in the midwest, your lucky if you get time to run to the cellar with a tornado.
Dave, you must have got hit good by Charlie too. Glad you were not close to the tornado.

Me Too Alan! Hopefully, after getting hit with three hurricane eyes in 2004 and close brushes in 2005, we will catch a break. Most of the weaker foliage and structures are now gone, so if we do get hit again, the amount of damage will be less severe.

Tornados, on the other hand, are a completely different animal. Unless you've got central warning systems and below ground-level shelters, it's just a matter of luck!

I guess the uncertainty, is the price we pay for living in this area of the country. To me, the benefits outweigh the risks.

Dave