We have a 54 Poncho in the shop, and the the old straight 8 spun a rod bearing, and left a .020 flat spot on the journal. We are trying to find someone that has one of the old "in the block" journal cutter tools. These were very common way back when...... Help us out here. Customer just wants out from under this jewel. Len
In-block journal-cutting tool? This is the first I've ever heard of such a thing. I can't see that this would be a good idea. The engine needs to be disassembled. The block needs to be checked for concentricity in regards to main bearing-saddles, and line-bored if necessary. The crank itself needs to be checked for straightness, and the main and rod-journals need to be machine-turned. Also, the rods probably need to be resized. Or...if the owner wants to "get out from under" this car, the car should be sold as-is to someone who will spend the time and money to fix it correctly. There's always the possibility of replacing the engine. Good luck.
In the car crankshaft grinding fell off the face of the earth around 1963. The results could be very good if the operator was on their game but boy was it a mess as far as the grinding dust no matter how good the vacuum system & shields were. If there is anyone with the machine (and I tried to buy one about 10 years ago just for conversation but the owner would not part with it for the same reason) and the skill level to use it they are deep in their 80's and just firing up the grinder might give them heart failure on the spot. It ain't gonna happen, pull it out & get it rebuilt correctly or plan B is to patch it up, give it to the end user and immediately move your shop and reopen under a different name.
There are still a few of those old grinders floating around and guys that know how to use them. Most young bucks today shudder at the thought of grinding a crank in the block, sighting the reasons stated above. As little as 20 years ago this was still common practice in some parts of the country. especially in rural, agricultural areas. Farm machinery would break down out (rod bearing go out) in the field and no way to get to a shop for removal/rebuild. The engine shop I worked for at the time had a portable crank grinder and one of our guys would load it up and drive out, grind the offending rod journal, reassemble the bottom end and the farmer was off and running. The only other piece of equipment needed was a portable generator to provide power for the grinder. Sounds crude but low RPM engines lasted for years after this fix. Frank
OK, that was more than I really asked for. Being that we have experience here dating back far enough to know about this tool, we also know why it was used. We have also been around long enough to know when our rep is in trouble. This guy is a car mover. Buys em', sells em. He will find a way to fix it on the cheap. We might as well try to do it the best way the OWNER will allow. Bills have to be paid. So, does anybody know someone? Len
when a rod bearing spins, the journal does not wear equally all around. trying to grind a journal that is 0.020 out on one side will end up as much as 0.060 under when it cleans, and they don't make bearings in that size.
If you're willing to stack bearings why not just wrap a belt around it and call it good enough to unload on someone else. I haven't heard of anyone in the area that still operates a portable crank tool. But if someone had one in our area you know who would know is Don Mann up in Independence. Give them a call if Don isn't there talk to Dana. If it spun a bearing the block does need to be checked. There is a reason that the bearing spun. But you probably won't have to go .060 to get your crank sorted out. Unless they drove it home from Stale Sandwhich that way. I'm not being an ass about the block just being honest. Good luck Benno
I am just trying to make the point that we do know what should be done. For the moment, that is not an option. We get a LOT of work from this man, and have for years. Sometimes we do all the right stuff. Sometimes we have to do the least. This car is not worth a rebuild without a restore. But it is worth getting running again. It is OEM, except for the paint, but it aint no driver. Thanks for the tip, Benno, I will see if we can look him up.
If Don doesn't know of one I'll have to say that there probably isn't one. I have seen fellas just wipe 'em good with a piece of emery cloth and throw 'em back together. I guess that's not optimal but I have seen it done. I'll ask around maybe there is someone that is still doing it. If I had a machine I'd sure give it a whirl just so I could say I did.
This customer can be frugal, but he ain't so cheap as to do an emery cloth job. Oh, and I was being sarcastic with the "stack em'" comment. Yea, I know. I was hoping to watch something like that. I also want to see a white wall grinder in action..... Len
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