VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions 194 replacement

Can anyone throw some light on this job for me.my car is 1931 independence special sedan, it has the 194 engine, what model of straight six would fit in that has replaceable bearings (shell,inserts) an oil filter that I can change,I am in the UK so a bit far for me to come over and have a natter.All help would be great !

changing engines would require changing drivelines
engine transmission rear end etc...

rebuild the stock and drive it

Chevrolet's changes were incremental, and in the early 30s often. An engine even a year or 2 off in that era is usually not a bolt in. Insert bearings came in 1953-54. Oil filters were a partial-flow type canister that loads from the top. They were an accessory that could be retrofit to nearly any car, and probably weren't standard equipment even in the 50s.

I believe the rods can be machined to accept insert bearings. Why do you want a replaceable oil filter? With todays modern oils it is my opinion it is not a necessity.

Precision crankshaft bearings were available for the '31 engine in the 1940s. Have not seen any in past few decades. The main shells can be repoured and line bored. Race car engine builders in the UK should be able to do it. Rods can also be repoured and sized to match a resized crankshaft. If you can't find people in the UK to pour the bearings there are several in the USA that can do it and ship to you.

Get your crank ground undersize. I have a collection of undersized re-babbited rods for a fraction of what it would cost to get yours repoured. If you are interested you can send me a PM. For the mains you will have to get your shells re-poured and once installed have the block line bored as others have said. Once done (correctly) you shouldn't have to touch these bearings for your lifetime so replaceable inserts are not necessary and are just added cost.

Thank you for your inputs,the main reason for a change from the 194 is money, I have been quoted to do just the bottom end mains con rods at a charge of £2500. Then you've got top end new valve guides valves etc,buying shipping from good old USA,then get taxed inbound by our post office.so im bound to look at other options to get this handsome devil of a car on the road.its took 6 years so far at one day a week.its had everything done by me new frame also.if I could I'd put pictures on I've took photos from day one of takedown.also I have been on the internet trying to find the British car or truck that the Chevrolet engine was put into.because it says Chevrolet sold the engine across the pond.to Britain. Again thank you for all your responses. It is an impressive car though!

Sorry,I forgot to ask,how would I find out more about my car.It came from Colorado can I find any info from the reg plate(license plate) it has two on it one in 1931 Colorado and the other in another state.look forward to hearing from you.thanks.

I dont know what years but Vauxhall was a part of GM at 1 stage to broaden your search a little.
Tony

I sent you a PM. I have a collection of various undersize re-babbited rods I won't be using. Being in Canada I am not sure if they would be subject to the same import duties?

If you do go down the replacement engine path,you may want to look at a Bedford 6cyl that's similar in cubic capacity to the original engine.

Did Bedford build a gasoline engine? We sold Bedford Diesel engines through Detroit Diesel, back in the 70's or 80's. Our distributorship sold them as pump engines for irrigation.

They sure build petrol engines,pretty similar to Chev 6's.Some were even like the '33/'34 std engines and used to boil their guts out in Australia's climate.

CJP is correct about the Bedford petrol engines, the cooling capacity was nowhere good enough for Australia. I dont remember seeing a "Bedford" diesel but the Bedford trucks I serviced had Leyland diesel engines which worked well though the body made access rather difficult.
Tony

I'll look into it,thank you very much for your info.