Mark Ford: Hemi engine rebuild : Part 1

Good pal and fellow Austinite Mark Ford has a badass "A" coupe, few will argue that!
It did however have its "Achilles heel"...One tired 1956 Desoto 330 Hemi.
Enter "Classic Engine Machine".
I discussed this rebuild with fellow co-worker Chris slubar and he was excited to be part of the project. Our team in place, we approached Dan Mooney owner of "Classic Jaguar." He graciously agreed to allow us after hours access to the well equipped "Classic Engine Machine" facilities.
The following is not meant to be a tech piece, rather a photo chronicle of the processes involved...



Blocked water passage



Several trips to Hot tank and oven were required.


Magnaflux



ccing heads & measuring deck height for custom pistons



Head disassembly and valve seat removal.


Rods cleaned and inspected prior to sizing



Block surfacing





Bore and Hone to size

Marks engine will now live up to his coupe's badass persona.
We are almost done with our end of the rebuild, the shortblock has been assembled, the cylinder heads awaiting their final touches. Chris is finishing up a nice street port and flow job...stay tuned!

 

Awesome!

 

That's pretty cool. Mark's coupe is definitely rad so I can't wait to see it back in the coupe.

 

Thanks for sharing Kevin, I heard about engine problems on Mark's coupe. I wish I had the expertise and machinery, to rebuild engines.
Indeed, he owns a bad ass coupe.

 

Post updates when you do the heads(pretty please). What compression are you sized for?

 

Congrats on the engine Mark.

 

Can't wait to fire that fucker........ Mark is like a lost dog with out his Hot rod...
Its gonna be AWESOME...... all you guys have done an amazing job..

 

What did the heads cc?

 

Is it a tall deck Desoto?

If its a 330/341 Im wondering which Desoto it is?

Also, what was the deck height measurement from the crank centreline to the top of the deck is and I too would love to know the chamber cc measurement as I'm looking to have a set of slugs made myself haha !!

Awsome super clean shop there too dude !!

Rat

 

very cool!!! thats the cleanest machine shop i ever seen

 

Need more details and lots more photos. My son's 276 Desoto block had a couple of small freeze cracks that showed with magnafluxing, so we decided to get another block instead of sleeving. In the meantime, we had the heads smoothed and gone through. Then we found another block which is a 291, so we will be starting over at the machine shop next week. However, we did have time to do some major smoothing and welding on the timing cover/water pump housing(Filled the 3 holes in the top and cut the top generator ear off for chroming). It's going in my son's A coupe. Please show more pics. Steven

 

You could eat off the floor in that place. I can't wait to hear that sucker fire up, It's been too long. Definitely the baddest car in town.

 

I too am VERY excited to get this sucker fired up!! Here are some progress pics in the meantime. HUGE thanks to Kevin and Chris!!! Also took the block, crank, and rods to Precision Machine in Waco. They turned and polished the crank, blueprinted the rods, and installed the cam bearings for me. Any HAMBer in the area (or surrounding area for that matter) that needs machine work should talk to Kevin and Chris. Super-pros! There were so many numbers floating through our heads during this, I cant remember everything right now. The pistons are 10 to 1 Ross, cam was reground by Jerry C at Schneider, rockers assemblies were beautifully re-built by Daytona Auto Design. As it stands, the motor is ready for heads. My pal Russ Roper helped me shortblock it. Ill be keeping an update on whats happening. THANKS again to Kevin and Chris!!

 

More pics.....

 

And more pics.....

 

In transit today to the speed shop from my shop.......

 

Mark moved? Where does he live now?

 

Sorry

Definitely the baddest model A in town

 

By "baddest", do you mean "least paint"?

 

On another note, great to see you are able to use your arm again, Kevin!

I'm sure the HEMI will turn out great.

 

I believe I win the award for least paint.

Also "Least likely to make hamb drags" and "least likely to make a magazine appearance".

 

You will make it to the HAMB Drags, just maybe not '09.

Mr. Ford is to Traditional Rod and Kulture as Bo Huff is to Old Skool Rodz.


Seems like Mark may trying to add a little power to the car? Is it gonna see some track time in the near future? That'd be cool.

 

Hell yeah! No more smoking out the cupcake stand!

 

That awesome!!!!

Now you can tell me how much faster your Hemi is than my Caddy hahahahaha

 

Speaking of badass HEMI Model A's!

Long time no see. Gimme a call when you get back in town and the 4 of us can go roll a few games.

 

Oh thats just so damm funny,, hahaha Mark Huff,,,,, Bo Ford


Love you Mark

 

Thats Mark Jones to you fool!

 

So, what gives? You gonna make some passes at the HAMB Drags? DOTD?

You know I love the car. I'm just funnin' with Pauly.

 

Maaaaaaark Joooooooooonnnnes!!!!