Projects model A engine

I went over to visit the guy I got the flat 6 plymouth engine that I built to go in the speedster from today.He is cleaning out some junk from his truly formidable pile so I hauled this home. It has been sitting in one of his buildings for the last 30 years,he said he thought it may have come out of an old grove truck.It is complete except for carb and starter.Not full of water,still shows oil on the dipstick.I reckon I will take it apart and see if I can fix it.Not out anything either way.BTW engine # is A3458698.Can anyone tell me the year?

 

Well worth saving, they sure dont make them anymore!

 

According to the records that engine number was 1 of 10000 ***igned to Manchester ( England) for their production , between March and May 1930. However the gearbox and controls you have there are LHD, which is wrong for jolly olde pommyland. Are you in the US or Europe?

You may be surprised it could actually run now if it isn't seized. If you are going to try to start it or even turn it over , take the distributor out and pour some oil down the hole....about 1 pint should be enough. The big ends are splash lubed and the tray will be empty if it has been sitting around...pouring oil in there should suffice until the oil pump can replenish the tray..... one thing though if the tray has rust holes in it you could run the bearings....probably safer to drop the sump and check the tray and the b/e bearings . The bearings can be adjusted by removing shims from between the cap and the rod..

 

Pull the plugs and squirt some "Mystery" oil in the cylinders too, in case the rings are stuck.
Let it sit for a day, and with the plugs still out, put a big ratchet on the crank pulley and SLOWLY see if it turns ( if not, more oil and same procedure. If you can get "Kroil" oil, even better

 

Yeah I would aree with that, but thought it would be obvious, filling the splash tray isn't so obvious to those who have never had a Model A motor apart.
OP should probably go and find the monthly "Bangermeet" thread and read the links on the first page if nothing else. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-new-banger-year.1045018/page-3#post-11865939

 

Thank you all for your help.I already have kroil in all 4 cylinders.I would not even consider trying to start an engine that has sat this long without pulling the head and pan and killing whatever was living in it. It has been in a building on a concrete floor for about the last 30 years but obviously sat outside before that.97 thanks for the link.I have had an A engine apart before but it was before I was 21 !

 

Wasn't sure what the OP's background was - I'm a retired carpenter and can still miss some "obvious" things in the midst of the mayhem. ( I spent 15 mins. looking for a column drop that was hanging right in front of me yesterday).
Good luck with your project(s). "steinauge"

 

Thank you Mike. As I said,I truly appreciate everyones help and advice.97 I am in Florida.

 

The book I have also puts your serial number as May 1930. Use a pry bar on the flywheel to try to turn the motor, more leverage. A friend has a 29 sedan his son pulled out of a hedge row and they were able to pull start it, smoked a lot but did run.

 

I got the trans off the engine today.The trans is well and truly stuck.I filled it with kerosene and ATF and will leave it sit for a few weeks.I will put the engine on a stand tomorrow and pull the head and pan and see what I have.

 

I bought a roadster from a guy who had it in storage for 15 years in his garage. There was a bird feeder hanging on the side of the garage, and the mice had filled the motor with birdseed. I used a small vacuum cleaner, and half filled a 5 gallon bucket with the stuff! ( a**** other things)
Broke it down, cleaned it up, fixed a couple of bad valves and ZOOM! fired right up.
I asked the old guy to come see it, and all he said was "Where's the fenders?".
Tough little motors!

( Hard ***ed old Yankee!)

 

The engine in my coupe sat for 25+ years and after an oil change, a little Mystery oil down each plug hole, dressing the points and a spare carb it started right up. It shot choke cherry pits and mouse nests out of the exhaust like a shot gun. Apart from a leaky water pump the thing was ready to go. I did pull the pan later and cleaned the minimal sludge out of it when I painted it.

 

Got the pan and head off.To my utter amazement I got all the fasteners off without having to cut or drill anything! The cylinder walls have some rust and the pistons are stuck but I have fixed worse.There was enough oil and sludge in it to keep the lower end from rusting.Note the picture of the pan-that is why I am reluctant to try and rotate an engine like this before pulling and cleaning the pan.To my surprise the head came right off!

 

Now that's some good looking Model A crud!

 

Thanks Mike I got the engine pretty well apart now,only thing left is the cam and valve train.Oddly enough all the main and rod bearings look pretty good and had shim left.The only one I will have to rebabbit is the rear main.The bottom half babbit is starting to come apart.Three pistons came out in pieces,1 came out whole.No matter they all have to be replaced anyhow.Bore is only +.030" so I have plenty of room to bore.Crank looks like it might polish out.

 

Couple more pics.I will have to see what the fellow I got it from has in his building full of model A used engine parts.All the castings seem to be fine .