Post
by novetti » Mon 7. Jan 2019, 21:23
Cheers guys, thanks for the help with the photos.
I don't know why, in my computer they show correctly in the right orientation, but then I uploaded them and they were upside down.
This car was originally from Detroit MI area. It was surprisingly in good condition to the area it lived.
Most likely kept in a proper garage and not driven during salty roads period. The fabric top still the original, but it has some rips.
From my findings, the engine seized a long time ago. The gentleman I got it from just kept it for a period but gave up starting the fix (he got from a PO who actually collected some parts and tried to start some work to it).
I guess he thought the engine not turning was due to a fault ignition switch (he replaced a generic one, luckily the original one I found it in the trunk and matches the door keys).
Then he went to the starter motor pinion ( I found remnants of a pinion inside the bell housing area). Also Excessive grinding the flexplate ring gear was present when I pulled apart.
Almost 1.5'' of sludge in the valve train, under the valley pan etc. I also found that someone had replaced the oil pump gasket and aligned it very poorly with the oil feed gallery, blocking 40% of the passage.
I guess the excessive sludge, intermittent use and poor lubrication caused the engine to seize.
Main bearings were ok (no wear) so I could reuse them. I managed to remove the pistons very carefully without any damage to the pistons and bores. Measured everything and they were still within spec. So I removed carefully the rings and installed new ones, a did a light hone to the bores.
Camshaft had some scoring to some lobes so I procured a new one, and also got new lifters, pushrods and connecting rod bearings.
Heads got seats reground, one intake valve needed to be replaced. No cracks present.
I will update this post with photos from the items I mentioned, and include more.
Still lots to be done to get this vehicle rolling again, but progressing in a daily basis.
Cheers
Julio
