Art & Inspiration Engines: Lying in Wait

I was browsing my photos, deleting stuff I don’t need, and I ran across some cool pictures of engines just sitting around with no particular project to use them in. I wondered how many old engines are lying around, collecting dust waiting to be put to use.
I know a lot of us have at least one or two, post some pictures. Not internet or magazine grabs, or engines in cars. Just those out in the shed, under the workbench, covered up out alongside the garage. Not unrecognizable empty blocks but dusty old treasures waiting to run again.
I’ll start with my Olds Rocket, sitting in the back corner of the garage in LA, waiting….

I just had to know if it runs before packing it away…. It runs.

 

GM Holden grey motor, 1948-62. 138 cube grenade. Aftermarket Repco crossflow head. New zoomies. Norman vane huffer. Slowly waking up to go into my FED.

Cheers,
Harv

 

From under the 'bench in my immaculate shop.... from a '57 Chevy 265? 283? Not sure. (That's my first toolbox)

 

Along the south wall.... The fresh 283 from my roadster waiting to get back to work.

 

Z28 Clone 327", with a 283" crank. Been covered on the stand for 5yrs. Pistons in the box, crank wrapped up,
heads sitting on top, oil pan and pump on another shelf. Just waiting for the right project.

 

Now that's cool.

 

I have several engines laying around that all either need rebuilt or at least put back together. I know I have two 283’s, a 292 Ford, a 312 Ford, four 350’s one of which actually is fresh and ready to go in my sons pickup.

I also got rid of several engines as well a few years back. I had way too many Pontiac V8’s, a couple flatheads, etc. that I didn’t see any immediate future needs for...until I got rid of them.

 

I reorganized the main shed and had most of it out to repack it.
2-283s, a 327 (of COURSE they're all CORVETTE motors) and a 322 Nailhead. Couldn't pass up the Nailhead, it was getting ready to be junked (was for sale awhile) and the owner dropped it off at my house for a really good price.



The trans shelf above (not yet in the picture above).

 

I have a standard bore 66 327 I have had 20 years, with no future. It is awaiting a buyer, who I have not been seeking out, as I have almost everything for a dingle ball hone rebuild, a 302 for my 59 Ranchero, and a 312 that has no future, but has T bird Valve covers. If only time was on my side ,and money.

 

It’s not glamorous, but I’ve got a 305 that’s waiting on the stand for an overhaul to go into ??. It would make a great first engine for Little Truckdoctor to overhaul.

 

At one point I realized that I could never collect all of the cars I like but I could collect and display engines that I like. I was spurred on by visiting the old PAW store. They had a lot of engines on display dressed up in amazing old race parts. (An Olds with a complete Potvin blower set up!) I was going to collect the rebuildable cores, paint them in the appropriate colors, mount them on a matching stand, and slowly add period correct speed equipment to them as I found it. I had a flathead, Y Block and an FE, BBC and SBC, a Nailhead, an Olds, mostly familiar hot rod engines. But I opened my shop and was soon too busy to mess with it and space became an issue, so I stopped. I still have some of the treasures that I collected, but I had to let go of most of the engines.

 

Now that's exactly what I had in mind. I knew they were out there.

 

I'm not sure I want to count how many I have....

 

I need some more of those rolling carts. I have two engines sitting on them, but the rest are all on the floor and harder to move around when needed.

 

HF furniture Dollie’s are cheap and work well with a block of wood.

 

Let me know if you need to find a home for it, I’m still smacking myself for selling a ‘55 265 several years ago.

 

True. I forgot I had a 312 sitting on one for a while. Those were on sale at Harbor Freight the other day too...

 

Well, when you do, take pictures!

 

I see you like to spiff 'em up a little too before putting them away. Myself, I just like seeing hot rod engines lying around.

 

Another from under the bench.... 375 hp 396 according to the numbers (and other signs).

 

Just in the main building I have over a half dozen flathead 8’s, a Y block, and a couple flathead 4’s. In the other building I have a few more flatheads, and an off-brand (SBC).

 

303 olds waiting to be installed in my 35 olds ,312 waiting for a project,two machined 292 yblocks one is a 64 truck block.

 

You know what they say.... pictures or it didn't happen. Lol
One more from under that bench.... a 1965 Corvair 110 hp runner from Ray Goulart's hot rod LS powered Corvair. It's a spare for the wife's Corvair. It's holding up a 215 Buick stick bellhousing and Rover valve covers.

 

There's gold in those photos! A Cragar intake and a Mallory on the Olds, fenderwell headers on the Y-Block, good stuff. I see you used the front motor mounts to support the Olds. Good idea, they want to tip over due to the extended block. Ask me how I know.

 

My guess it went ass over teakettal on you. These motors weigh a Ton just didn't want to knock it over.

 

I'm seriously jealous Harv.

 

I see this stuff and realize that I need a bigger garage.

 

This just proves nothing is exceptionally rare, just kept well protected

 

Almost. Like a dummy, I caught it. I have a big old engine stand without the adjustable fingers, I drilled the main plate for Olds and put it on that one. But I won't install the heads until it's securely mounted in my roadster's chassis.