VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc '32 motor re-build

What should I expect when a motor is re-built by someone?

What parts should be replaced and which re-built?

Would 'decking' or block/head shaving be necessary procedures in a re-build?

Is there a good informative 'how to' book out there that shows a re-build of a 194?

Is this something a 'normal' car hobbyist can do, having never done a re-build before? Or is this something for a pro.?

Thanks

Gator: the average machine shop will not be able to pour the babbits for the rod and main bearings so i'd say its not a job for a first-timer. i've personally built close to a hundred 235's, small block and big block chevys as well as a few olds 394's but when i recently was faced with rebuilding my 31 194, i sent it to the local machine shop. they can do it all but the bearings and they sent them out in ohio to have the rods and mains re-poured. the head was warped and required its being broached. the engine case(block) didn't need broached(decked) as it passed the straight egde test. case needed bored due to excessive taper in the walls. Heads are notorious for cracking so have your machine shop magnaflux it after its hot-tanked. I elected to have my 194 balanced. head will get new guides , new valves and valve grind. will have cam reground if any lobes wiped. check distributor drive gear of cam as they can wear excessivly. Good luck, mike

Plan to overhaul my '31 my self this summer so wish me luck. I did my '49 a couple of times about 50 yrs ago so this should be fun. Good thing I can remember things better that happened 50 yrs ago than what happened yesterday. I also have the chat line to fall back on.

Best of Good Luck to you, jerrygolf. What are you going to do about pouring the babbits? Maybe you can do a report on your re-build adventure in the G&D.

Mike, will you give me the name, etc of who did your 194? And who did the re-pours?

I have not been able to find any local machine shop that will do a 194, maybe if they can send out the parts that need to be poured I can get them to do the job.

HELP! Does anybody know of a machine shop close to central Florida that has and will do a 194?

After being in this hobby for 30 years, mainly dealing with 1929's thru 1932's, I have learned two very important lessons:

1. You never take your plating items to a local plating shop.

2. You never take your 194 engine to your local machine shop.

dog,

so where should I send my parts for replating?..


epi

I would have told you Master Plating in San Diego, CA. Their quality was the best and so was their repair work. However, they are now out of business, so the only other place that I can think of (and I am not suggesting them either) would be S&S Plating in Redding, CA. I believe that they are now under new ownership and I think that their name as been changed. That's about all I can tell you at present. With Master Plating gone, I cannot recommend anyone else. :( :( :( :(

I know of no good plating shops on the left coast, but there resides a shop in the Mars/Evans city , Pa area just north of pittsburg, who have been doing my old chevy and vette replating for over 25 years. Pauls chrome plating, Fred is owner. They ad in Hemmings . good luck, mike

dog & mike,

thanks...


epi

Mike, Do you know right off hand where he sent your rods and mains to be re-poured and the cost? Thanks. Not sure I have to do that with mine yet.

Mike, thanks for the email.

JYD, wouldn't my local machine shop be "not local" for others and vice-vera? So who do I go to for a re-build? The closer to me the better.

The local machine shop did a great job on my 283, but they won't do a 194.

I will need chrome too, can anyone recommend the ones that have ads in the G&D?

Gator: Local machine shop means a standard production machine shop that does engines like your 283 and that do not have the expertise in doing a poured babbit bearing engine. There are a few "professionals" around the country that specialize in doing poured babbit engines. These fellows are not your "local machine shop".

I took the plunge a few weeks ago and dropped off my rods for rebabbiting at the Babbit Pot in Ft. Edward, NY. I'll report back when I get them again how it turned out...which I hope is pretty soon! It's getting too nice out to be stuck in the garage.

The last engine I had done was at a shop in St. Pete: Godwin - Singer Inc. (727) 896-8631. There is a really old guy in there who works three days a week and he only does "old" engines. He has rebuilt two engines for me. The first was for my roadster in about 1984. The second was for my Phaeton in 1998. I have no idea if he is still there. I thought he was 75 years old when he did my first engine.

Thanks Ed & Roadster32, Sorry for the delay in answering, been busy on the '57 and missed your posts.

Please let me know how the rebuild goes for you Ed.

St. Pete would be a great location for the rebuild. I will contact them.

Thanks again...