thanks for the reply's guys , we will get there one piece at a time, now we have a little more time, time for some paint and up grades, just sorry I missed Eagle yesterday.......
Well been at the grindstone this week since I didn't make it to Eagle, checked on crank runout and have to make some repairs to the crank and while I was at it checked the bearings and low and behold, I'm glad I didn't make it just may have put a rod through it. Sometimes someone may be looking over me, thanks Dad I know you are watching .........
carl, can you go into more details about checking the crank runout or you checking the end play thrust thanks
hotrod316... the pilot hole is off center causing the front seal of the trans to leak, need to have it redrilled back on centerline.............
Carl, Glad you found this before it let go at mid track. Wishing you all the best on your first Banzai Run !
Little shiney on the back of those bearings. Wish I was closer to you I would be glad to offer you some free machine time.
Yea Tim, I was really surprised because she had great oil pressure, it never cease's to amaze me on how ol Henry's machines can run with things like this that was .042 worth of wear. The big end on the rods were worn also luckily I had some extra good 29A rods from a previous project. Oh well its back to the drawing board. Now on to the rear end which also has problems, like one axle that is too short so I will redo the whole rear end with a spool and new 35 spline axles so it is NHRA compatable..............
How's your crank? I suppose you have plenty of extra Flatty parts, but if you need one I have a few 3 3/4" cranks.
actually Tim it looks good I'm going to take it in tuesday for a polish and redrill of the pilot hole. it should be alright, if not I may call you.......Carl ps that was a wierd way of asking......
Can't say for sure what happened to those two rods, but kind of looks like the bearings were not correctly sized in the rods . . . or some other dirt/lubrication problem. The bearings don't appear to have ran much (the other surfaces), my guess is that something was wrong from the get-go on the motor. Lots of these flatheads were thrown together, with incorrect clearances, incorrect floater setups, etc.. If you're going to stick with the 29A rods, just make sure that you have the right clearances and that the full-floater bearings are correctly 'fitted' to the rods and journals. If not, you'll end up with exactly what you're seeing and it doesn't take long! Also, if you're having the crank polished -- have them radius the oil holes first . . . before they polish it. Since you're going to have it all apart - I'd think about having everything balanced . . . sure makes them run smoother (especially since you're going to race it and spin it up a bit). Also, think about some new rings for it . . . and freshen up the valves while you're at it. Shit . . . this is exactly what happens every time I think I'm going to "buy and run" an engine that somebody else built -- I end up rebuilding it from scratch . . . just like I knew in the back of my silly little mind that I would I've found that this optimism lets me start new projects -- then the 'perfectionism' kicks in and the reality gauge goes from empty to "full". I'll bet most of you guys have the same problem!
Yea B&S when I looked at the rod caps from those two rods it looks like whoever put it together last got the caps on backwards and they were not sitting correctly on the rods which caused the mess you see on the bearings, this ain't my first time around the block with a flattie, was just was in too much of a hurry to make Eagle to completely check out everything and paid for it. But it will all be alright, I won't spend a bunch on this crank as I have other plans for the future which envision the 4-71 on my bench and a 4 1/8 crank ect. ect. ect. for right now its just get it together put a few runs on it to see how the chassis reacts then its off to the races, if you know what I mean................ And Tim and Royal, I will make Oct come hell or high water. Should even be towing her with the ICT.................
Well lets see, got the engine back together, the rear end repaired, and finished the trailer and ramps, so I was able to test fit her on the trailer. Still moving forward one step at a time..........
Na Tim just rebored the pilot hole on center, polished the journals, and put new bearings in her, the crank was fine, the rods on two cyls were bad but I had some extra 29A rods so no problem replaced them............
Carl, Glad to hear that the motor was not as bad as you expected. Hope it really runs good at Eagle Field soon !
Well we are back, and on to the rest of the build, got the NHRA taillight done and the jumper cable attachment out the back also, need to make some glass repairs on the body and then on to building the paint booth again and slapping some color on this pig................ "Keep em between the whites".........Carl
Carl, I spoke with Tim today and it was decided that Flat head engines will be allowed to run 4-71 or Holley 144 roots style blowers in C/GD That engine swap we talked about may be in order! Rocky
Well Rocky I don't think I will have enough time to do that swap before Oct but maybe next year........ Been working on getting the fiberglass repaired (actually my brother in law), got the trailer just about finished with all the welding, new wheels and tires, and a hell of a box in front................
The Jalopy Journal
