VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1941 engine rebuild

I'm starting to look for some one to rebuild a 41 engine. I would like to find someone highly recommended and in Michigan or close by. A friend recommends the Haas Machine Shop in Louisville, Kentucky. He would deliver and pick up the engine for me. They guarantee the work for a year, or 3,000 miles. The cost would be $3,000 to $4,000.

What are some things I should be asking of a machine shop that claims to be able to do this work? Thanks, Mike

P.S. I would like a job that would hold up to about 1,000 miles of summer driving each year?

Pake's in Janesville, WI did my 216 and I could not be happier. They are great and Bob Pake comes through each time I have asked him for help with things over the years.

Tim

Did you ask Walt D. ?

Mike,
Some of the things you may want to ask: (The answer to some questions may not be known until after disassembly.)

a. How much oversize boring will be necessary?
b. Confer with those whose opinion you respect if they recommend aluminum pistons.
c. Type of rings to use? Regular steel, chrome, etc. (some break-in better and sooner than others)
d. Hardened seats in the head? (Might as well, since you have it off but according to some, of minimal value for the bucks).
e. New oil pump, rebuilt oil pump, new gears for oil pump, etc?
f. Check of the oil pan for damage and test stream direction using a proper gauge?
g. Proper assembly of oil pan (remember Genes recommendation on this issue. Won't hurt to make your knowledge known to the rebuilder)?
h. Test of harmonic balancer? (You may opt for a new one.)
i. Line bore?
j. Dip cleaning of the oil vent (you know, the thing you pour the oil through?.
k. Magna-flux the head for damage. (I was once told. after my head was magna-fluxed, that mine was a boat anchor. I assumed he meant the engine's head).
l. New wrist pins, new rods, new babbitt, new valves (or reface the old ones), new valve guides, refaced rocker arms, etc?.
j. How much grinding of crank shaft or camshaft? (You may decide to seek new ones.)
k. Aluminum or fiber camshaft gear?

That's about all I can think of right now.
Good luck with it,
Charlie

BTW: Ask the rebuilder if he got the dippers on right for the engine's direction of rotation. Just be ready for the "Do you think I'm and idiot?" look. You know. Grin.

Mike,
Check with Carquest in Bay City, they have the capabilities to restore any engine. I was told today by Dennis Reinke of Kawkawlin area. That he just had his '53 8 cyl Pontiac crankshaft built up and polished. The machine shop has been in business for many years, although moved to west side of Bay City from downtown. There should be no need to ship that engine out for rebuild.