Hi guys. I'm new and this is my first post. I'm located in northern CA. And I'm looking for a machine shop with experience on flathead Cadillac. I have a 46 series 62 with a matching number 346 that is seized. I can't separate the hydromatic without dropping the crank. I'm hoping to find a good shop to go through this motor. I'm 45 minutes east of the bay area and about the same distance south of Sacramento. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Welcome I don't have a recommendation for you but I would say there are fewer machine shops around even fewer that do good work. Hopefully you will find a good performance engine builder...
you will have to loosin up that motor to separate the bellhousing.......if not source a bellhousing because you will have to sacrifice yours...ie torch it off to get to the flywheel bolts......
Star Machine, Doyle Street, Emeryville, CA (510) 547-1171 Shawn O'Connell He has built every single engine that I used in a customer car, and every single engine that is in one of my personal custom cars. He knows his old school stuff, and doesn't bat an eyelash when I bring him something off-the-wall weird.
Why can't you separate the Hydro withput dropping the crank? Get a manual or ask how to remove the transmission before you do something dumb.
You mentioned that you can't get the crank to turn. Generally that probably going to mean rust in the cylinders. Time is money when an engine is in a shop. They are going to probably have to do some pounding and hand work to get things unseized. I would buy some citric acid powder off Amazon and mix it with some water. It will not hurt your block as its too mild for that. Put the engine in a tub or cut off a 55 gallon plastic barrel and submerge the engine in it and just let it sit for several weeks. Be sure to get the oil out of it first and maybe the oil pan off. Then you have a tank for soaking other rusty parts. When you are done with it, simply dump it out as it doesn't harm the environment. The key is to let it soak till it loosens up. It will also help remove rust out of the bolt holes for the heads. $10 for a used plastic drum and $25 for some citric acid. Probably cheaper than what the machine shop will cost, and you may be able to save the pistons when it loosens up. Will also get rust out of the water jacket.
Welcome from beautiful downtown Cleveland, TN. There's a 1946 Motors Manual on Ebay right now for $19.99 plus shipping
Can you pull the heads and take a look? Also if you can get it in the air and properly supported, pull the pan? Best to see what you have before spending money at a shop.
Pull the heads and pour in enough Liquid Wrench to cover the piston tops. Let it sit for a few days Un-do the rod caps, and try to tap the pistons up the bored from underneath. Knock out the rod bolts if it will get you extra clearance. If you can get the uncapped rods up and out of the way, the crank will turn (unless something else is really wrong).
Your not The pan is off. Two headbolts snapped while taking them out so I stopped. I'm not sure the machine shop has a better solution but I figured I would stop and seek advice. Before snapping off a bunch of headbolts.
I've had marvel oil and pb blast in those cylinders for years. It still won't budge. I would remove the heads but the bolts snap and I'm unsure if the machine shop has a better way or they will just snap them also and deal with it later.
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