The good thing about the model a blocks is that you can put .120 over pistons in it. After the .120 pistons wear out you can put sleeves in all the holes and start back over from std.
@@bobjensen7136 does it matter? the compression ratio is so low to begin with, from the factory it was 4.22:1 what are you going to end u with 4.25:1? A compression tester at sea level will show about 70psi on a new engine, a very far cry from something modern.
Ive been playing with a Franklin at my dad's shop. Interesting that they can't be bored over, because why bother? You can only get new sleeves in the standard size along with pistons. So if a hole goes bad ,throw in a new sleeve and piston and you're good to go. I mean why have 1 hole .030 over and the rest standard? Saves money and doesn't throw a balance off too bad.
My usual valve train assembly is lifters with engine upside down, then the cam. Gravity holds the lifters out of the way while inserting the cam. Roll the engine right way up. Then insert springs and then valves. Turn the cam to install the locks on the valves that are on the heel of the cam.
I was 15 / 16 when I started Building Model A Engines back in the day, 1971 through 1981. When My Mentor "SCOTTY" Passed away. YOU MY MAN, I WISH You were around and had the Same Capabilities as we see here. I LOVE the Work you did here to Improve on the Model A Valve-train. That wudda Been Really Nice to do back in the Day. And YES, Adjusting those Valves is Fun. Nice Job JIM. Really Nice Work!! Really NICE!!! I'am 69 now and No longer have my A's, Miss em too. Last Engine I did was a Model "C" with the Big Crankshaft Journal's and Counter Balance. SMOOOOOTTTTHHHH it was Back then. Keep it up Jim, the Hobby Need's your Expertise.
Thank you to Antique Engine Rebuilding for the modern parts! Be sure to check them out for your Model A and B parts! Drop by their FB and leave a comment to let them know we sent you! antiqueenginerebuilding.com/ facebook.com/AntigueEngineRebuilding
Found it funny how you called the new valves traditional. From the perspective of a Ford mechanic back in the day, what we’re used to seeing would be some new-fangled thing cooked up by a bunch of young whippersnappers :D
The machine work you've done to this block and head is vastly superior to what was originally done. They didn't have to be that great from the factory as there really isn't a lot of pressure trying to force its way out like there is on today's engines. Awesome work man. Henry would be proud
I was wondering about the original tolerances and how much of the slop was from wear vs. old time manufacturing? I'd guess the rebuild far exceeds the original.
These are really primitive compared to the stuff we have now .... check out how the babbit bearings were done back in the day.... it's a wonder they ran or lasted at all
@@sofakingmegamagaitgagsyerm909 the interesting thing is it worked ,,the model A was only made for a few years but it's amazing how many there are left,, same with the model T ,,the last T was made 95 years ago but there are many thousands of them still around
That’s one lucky engine , I bet even now days not many get this kind of workmanship applied to them . I’m sure this will be around another century thanks to this incredible work
I mainly work on air cooled Porsche and BMW stuff. Watching this video is fascinating. I knew nothing about these engines. Very cool to see how these go together. Kroil is the bomb, btw. I could have a engine sitting underwater for 50 years and Kroil could get that freed up.
Not sure what it is but there is something therapeutic about watching old warped surfaces come back to life. Love this stuff and full engine builds. Hope we get a chance to hear this engine run. 🍻👍🇦🇺
I know you get comments about wanting to see the running engine, but I’m one of those that gets great satisfaction from the machining. If you’ve seen one engine run, you’ve seen them all. But a good job of machining is a work of art. And that art form has reached its pinnacle here on TH-cam. The creative process is now performance art. And the skills required just gives the performance that much more impact. I love it when you say “half-thousandth”. Precision. Thank you for these videos. Thank you for being a perfectionist.
It's obvious you all take a ton of pride in your work, and having 2nd and 3rd generation (even if 2nd gen is just the janitor now, ha!) is amazing. Great job! I'd love to see some follow-ups if any of your customers would be willing to provide them. As satisfying as it is seeing it all decked and ready to go, even more so seeing it running after everything is done. Keep up the good work.
Years ago I did a major restoration job on a 9N Ford tractor that uses the same base engine design and decided to update everything including the remanufactured engine while in it. Two huge engine improvements I did were to port out the block so the intakes and exhaust passages were much larger and smoother flowing. Then gut out the old front mount distributor and coil assy and add an electronic conversion kit set up to fire an external coil instead of the old block type it originally had. Beyond that was a full 12v conversion with a 1-wire alternator and extra lighting since it had the power to spare. Engine wise I maybe gained 4 - 5 Hp, but when it only had about 25 to work with, that's actually a huge performance step up.
I was wondering about this part. I had an old 8n that I tried to restore and even though the engine purred like a kitten, I always wanted to see if I could modernize it and make it even more reliable. Glad to know it's possible! Thank you for your comment!
@@UnicornGuru It made a huge difference in power and general functionality. Always started well even in hard winters. ran nice all year round and having good lighting was well worth it. 35w bulbs in the original headlights with 55W halogens pointing front and back on both fenders made it a great after-dark work tractor.
I don’t understand why every manufacturer made valve ports that severely restricted gas flow. Why? Someone had to design and make casting cores which must have been more trouble than a simple 90 degree elbow bend.
Speaking as a mechanic, I do always like to "start what I finish" but with a machine shop that's rarely the case. It would be nice if you had vids from the obvious labour of love that is the complete rebuild of a model A engine from the customer as a follow up to your vids.😉 I really enjoy watching the craftsmanship you're both putting into the application of your trade.❤
I've only worked on 2 of this type engines (flat head) and both times it was a real chore with the valve stem spring retainers but knowing how much easier it is with an overhead valve engine my hat goes off to those old school mechanics
Excellent! It's been many years since I've ground valves... We ground the seats with stones back in the 1970s, although the "Quik-Way" cutter systems were emerging and were highly desirable. We didn't have any way to use a milling machine to cut the seats, but instead we cut them by hand with a T-Handle. I built a lot of racing engines, and we'd cut some really narrow seats for those engines! It was great fun 45-50 years ago, but the stuff your shop has makes what we were doing look pretty crude! Love the channel!
Yes, I started as a mechanic in the 1970s in England, and I used to enjoy doing heads with the grinding equipment we had. Boxes full of different stones, and diamonds to true them up.
Wow! You really do a great job. My dad introduced me to the Model A around 1969. My son inherited the last one in the line of "A's" we had 3 . When my dad stopped driving it the truck was ready for a second complete rebuild. Granddad passed it to my son. Since my son is in the service and has been for 20 plus years the old girl is patiently waiting. Lots of fun time with the old fords. Great stories to share. Keep up the great work.
We recently did similar work on a 31 model a engine (a long with a non-babbit bearing conversion for the mains) and the engine series idles smoother and quieter than my 2018 mustang GT. (Direct injection pumps are noisy). Now customer has a model a engine that is probably way way better than they ever left the Ford plant 😁. Good job helping keep old machines alive!
Awesome work! I know after machine work is done it goes back to the customer, but I always wish I could see the final assembly and watch it fire up. Cheers! 🍻
I did this exact thing years ago. We also had a block of steel to stop the press in guides. All of our seats were cut by hand with the old quick-way hand turned seat cutters. We had a plate with slots cut in it to slide under the valves to hold them open. It was a pain in the a**. I have put many sleeves in A blocks but the measurements are in the distant fog of my memory. Yours sound familiar but I left that shop in 1979 so........ yeah. Cool stuff. Save what we can. Cheers Terry
I am from west Texas; born in 1950. My family were farm and ranch folks with the skill and money to own and operate farm machines. I now know that some of the equipment was flat head and some was overhead valve. In 1968 I worked in fast food service my Boss (owner of the franchise) asserted that a Model A engine would run 80 miles an hour : all day long; with the exhaust manifold glowing cherry red.I had great interest in things motor and car (motorcycle& bicycle) I cannot say that there was much speed equipment but but people got to work and made trips to visit family! I want to say THANKYOU for your great hard Work and content. This is a wonderful Find!
I love the old engines. They were simple and very cool. Also watching the machining process is very cool. I really like seeing the machines work away the imperfections
this channel has taught me that engine building is a lot more niche than general machining. Including knowledge of lego sizes lol! Love seeing this old block get new life
That made me smile.. these old machines can be a challenge eh guys.. I know I have done a number of them in my 70+ years.. Well done though.. This being your first one and being so old I bet it was kind of scary.. I know my first one was.. But that was back in the end of the 50's or beginning of the 60's. There was still a few places you could get original parts for it.. Well done boys.. thanks for the share!!
It´s an honor to observe the work of a real craftsman -- diligent, knowledgeable, experienced, and having the best equipment and techniques. You cannot fake pride in ones´ work. _Subscribed!_
The one-piece valve guides are genius. You made it look easy... I still have the same spring compressor your dad has and a couple of others in my tool box that old geezer machinest can't give away.
Have new found respect for good automotive machine work. I have done machine work for over 30 years but never got into the auto work. Great job on the ol A block...
This was an automatic sub for me. The slow-mo of the planer clips is oddly soothing. I love this, and any other general engine geekery, and I'll be here watching your work.
My father in law has a 1936 ford V8. Its beautiful. He has take this car from everything off the chassis, cleaned everything and repainted the chassis and more. He upgraded it from mechanical brakes to Hydraulic, and the engine is larger than the original. The previous owner had hot rodded it, so the larger engine was his idea. He was the 2nd owner of this car. Its been in a garage since he bought it. Im waiting till he gets it finished for my ride in this beautiful vehicle. The engine does need to be reworked like this one.
If you’re fairly old you might remember Western Auto. Long, long, ago WA made Model T blocks and everything else for them. I don’t know if they made Model A blocks, but there are-or were-Fords out there with non-Ford engines that still looked like originals.
Wow. If those were original studs, the threads on the studs and in the hole are in amazing condition. But that entire casting is in remarkable condition, considering it's age. At least it looks that way to my not exactly professional eye. Nice piece, and nice work. And the Legos just goes to show how endlessly versatile they truly are and that you would be hard pressed to find a better toy to encourage development in anyone at any age. The skill and attention to detail you guys display makes me feel like I accomplished something just watching. 10 out of 10.
I love that you cleaned the block so well before returning it to the customer. I almost installed a head that was loaded with abrasive debris in the oil channels from a machine shop valve job. .learned not to assume parts are clean from a machine shop.
This is the first time I have ever seen a block that could be over bored .100. There aren't many if any V8 blocks that can safely go .060 unless you go aftermarket. Another beautiful job JAMSI!
Some of the old 60's V8 engines can go 80 thou some even 100 thou. It was late 60's when the accountants got hold of the paperwork to do with iron casting and requested less iron be used and ever since the quality of engines has decreased.
@@shanerorko8076 what were you talking about then? You prefer heavier engines with weak casting designs, excessive porosity, and large thickness variations? You prefer that over engines that can go for several hundreds of thousands of miles before needing a rebuild? making 4 times the power of any of the pre 1960 engines you love so much? You can rebuild one of the newer ones too, btw.
even if you are NOT a machinist, its great to see and learn HOW the work is done, youve presented it well, and the slo-mo's are mesmerising! i hope more younger folk are learning to use this equipment, maybe we, as a country, can get back to MAKING and REPAIRING things instead of throwing stuff away and making other countries rich
Having been a professional mechanic for over 20 years I can say that one of the best lessons anyone can learn for wrenching is that almost every stuck fastener can be removed. With a combination of heat, impact, penetrant and most importantly patience it is doable in almost every situation. Even if it takes you 20 minutes to remove a single bolt or a stud it's still less time than it will take to drill out a broken one and restore the threads.
Go to "Project Farm" or "AVE" channels for the real story! In three separate tests that $25 can of "stuff" did no better than a Walmart $4 can of liquid wrench! I have 2 cans of Kroil that I will send you just to get the memory of my wasted money out of my sight! Take a close look at when he pulls the stud. There is zero penetration on the threads. The heat does the work. All of these "miracle penetrants" are just oily at best.
@@paulcopeland9035 When all else has failed my next step is equal parts Marvel Mystery oil, diesel, ATF, and acetone. Keeping the mixture around long term doesn’t work well because the acetone evaporates quickly. You can add more the next time you need it, though, because the other fluids don’t evaporate well.
The 201 cu in Model A engines was designed to be rebuilt in the vehicle. The engine put out about 40 Hp people did not drive very far at the time so the poured babbitt bearing worked just fine with the slow turning engine and splash lubrication system. The only time you needed to pull it out was to pour new babbit mains. They had molds that you fixed the con-rods in to pour their bearing.
Great video. Can sympathise your aggravation refitting the valve collets. I've done quite a few fitted on Rolls Royce B81 straight 8 engines. I used to smear water pump grease on my fingers then virtually standing on my head ( the block was still.in the vehicle) managed to refit. Even after years of doing them, it was never easy, so don't beat yourself up about it Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing an update on the Jaguar 4.2
Cool video. Blending the old school technology with the modern technology. I still want to see these motors being built and seeing the babit bearings being replaced
@@kadenwatt2033 thanks for the heads up and the link. Pretty interesting stuff to see. Good to see the younger generation learning about the old ways of doing things
That work was handled really we and came out looking amazing. Definitely proof that there's still machine shops that still care about working engines that are so old and will buy new kit just so they can do the job justice 👍👍👍👍👍
I am glad you show this stuff, I get tired of the "experts" who claim everything has to be accomplished with just the right tool, and you can't use your head to solve problems..............Lego's are perfect example.
I have actually seen earlier blocks where the bores weren't completely perpendicular with the rest of the engine (or to each other), also seen them with a few of the bores offset one way or another by almost .020. Not sure if they left the factory that way, or if they had poor machine work done before I got into them, but it definitely wasn't something I was expecting to see. That one turned out great, will probably now outlive all of us.
I’ve seen it all. It’s either poor setup or just plain sloppy work. I worked on a John Deere 404 that was bored to fit 466 sleeve and no one considered what head gasket to use. Needed to use a stock gasket with fire ring removed and cut the sleeves for fire rings. Upon measuring the sleeve protrusion it varied .010” from front to back and .004 side to side. They guy that had the work done was bragging about it, I told him I wouldn’t brag about it.
Old is gold. Valves wear and tear and seats too. But in olden days spare valves and brand new seats fixed .Modern time use and throw. So having a vehicle by common people no longer possible. And power brake, power steering, power window in era of power crisis will make us reach nowhere rather the exercise that build muscles etc lost in excessive luxury and extravagant lifestyle. Watching this video remind of the best of times
Speaking of modern parts for old engines. During the late 50's & early 60's I struggled through 3 valve grinds on flatheads. All the while adjustable tappets were available for them at Sears. It's funny how the old garages just didn't know about these things.
As a retired machinist and backyard mechanic this was very enjoyable to view. For those that may not know cast iron is not so easy to mill. In my 45 years of experience I've never milled cast iron.
I am so glad I came across this channel. I am a automotive shop owner with a drag racing background. Engine machine work is becoming such a lost art. My small town and every town around me had a local machine shop growing up. Now I have to drive over an hour to my nearest one. I love seeing quality workmanship like this.
Food for thought, and cheap and easy, compressed air that is sold at Walmart / Amazon fairly cheaply you can take it and hold the can upside down, pour the contents into a styrofoam cup, the result is -59 F. I use that technique in my shop when the time comes for press fits.
you can also get a fork type tool for the valvesprings i bought one when i had my flat 4 banger but it was a cool video and the legos was a good choice really wont mare the surfaces
Very nice work! This reminded me of doing the very same rebuild 64 years ago on a 1931 model A. I only had to go 60 over and did not have to put new valve seats in, just grind them to match the new valves. I found a shop that poured the main bearings for me. I wish that I still had the A Model. I was taking machine shop in high school at that time. Fred P.......
The Kroil family of products are great and one reason is they are a family run business! Now I’ve seen some back to back tests on TH-cam that have tested there products against many others and they don’t really stand out as a heck of a lot better than others however I will always support a American family run business over a multi continent huge corporation any day of the week! Besides there products have always worked for me!
You used Kroil … those stuck studs would have backed themselves out if left to soak just a few days more …😏😜. That is by FAR , Hands down , the BEST penetrating oil I have ever found or used for over 42 years now as a Mechanic / Electrician/ Machinist . In my profession we bring “ Stuff back from the dead “ almost daily , and Kroil has been my Go To product for all kinds of issues rust & corrosion related. Cool video here , thanks for posting this one ..👍
I love watching manual machining. I was lucky enough to do my apprenticeship in a business that reconditioned their own engines and as mechanics, we got to learn how to do valve cutting, honing, and engine dismantling and assembly in a machine-shop setting. I was surprised to see you use impact to fit valve guides and seats as I was taught to use the shop press on all these parts. Listening to you rattle off the measurements I am very glad that we adopted the metric system as I started my trade. I could use both and I am here to tell you metric is way better. A great video and I will watch more.
That appears to be a lifting point that they custom built out of something round and strong (pipe?) and then drilled and tapped (or maybe just drilled) and put four different size bolts in it. At 18:13, just using it as a handle to manhandle the block on the workbench. You can see it again at 18:36 where it's being used by a crane/hoist to lift the block and move it.
@@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261 Thank you for pointing this out especially at the 18:36 time stamp. It's clearer there as it has 4 different bolts with different thread pitches for different heads. It's cleverly made as a holding device and as a hooking point. Thank you again, J.
im not a mechanic but i enjoy watching your channel . i wanted to be a machinist when younger butt opted to work on drilling rigs instead. did get an opportunity to work on desal engines for 18 years but messed up and got promoted to working derricks, then it just kept getting worse from there , after 32 years in the feild i finally gave it all up and retired but i sure wished i had done what yall are doing, thanks for the upload and take care ......Marcus in west Texas
I have always wanted to hang-out at a machine shop. I got to once for a bit of time. Then business school and stuff got in the way. So, my being able to see what you do is a dream come true for me.
Probably not that different honestly lol. It's like less than 4.5:1 compression haha I mean, better than when it got taken apart. But probably not that different than new.
I have one of those valve spring compressor tools. I picked it up at a garage sale decades ago because I thought it looked cool. Now I know what it is! 🙂
The good thing about the model a blocks is that you can put .120 over pistons in it. After the .120 pistons wear out you can put sleeves in all the holes and start back over from std.
Right! I was glad the rust cleaned up at .100
Have you come up with what the new compression rate is going to be after the plaining on the block and head?
@@bobjensen7136 does it matter? the compression ratio is so low to begin with, from the factory it was 4.22:1 what are you going to end u with 4.25:1? A compression tester at sea level will show about 70psi on a new engine, a very far cry from something modern.
Ive been playing with a Franklin at my dad's shop.
Interesting that they can't be bored over, because why bother?
You can only get new sleeves in the standard size along with pistons. So if a hole goes bad ,throw in a new sleeve and piston and you're good to go.
I mean why have 1 hole .030 over and the rest standard?
Saves money and doesn't throw a balance off too bad.
It's satisfying watching you guys work !!!
I use too work in a machine shop were the sigh on the wall said "Good enough, ain't gonna work"!
My usual valve train assembly is lifters with engine upside down, then the cam. Gravity holds the lifters out of the way while inserting the cam. Roll the engine right way up. Then insert springs and then valves. Turn the cam to install the locks on the valves that are on the heel of the cam.
The only problem with these videos are we never see the completed project.
Great work! Thanks for the great videos!
Yes! I'd love to see a before/after comparison of the engine running, horsepower, cylinder compression etc.
That's the life of a machinist.
Yeah would be nice to see a Hagerty style video with the engine running.
I was just thinking that but I’m sure his customer is going to be impressed when they get their engine block back.
I would also like to see the engine assembled, does the owner not have a youtube channel?
I was 15 / 16 when I started Building Model A Engines back in the day, 1971 through 1981. When My Mentor "SCOTTY" Passed away. YOU MY MAN, I WISH You were around and had the Same Capabilities as we see here. I LOVE the Work you did here to Improve on the Model A Valve-train. That wudda Been Really Nice to do back in the Day. And YES, Adjusting those Valves is Fun. Nice Job JIM. Really Nice Work!! Really NICE!!! I'am 69 now and No longer have my A's, Miss em too. Last Engine I did was a Model "C" with the Big Crankshaft Journal's and Counter Balance. SMOOOOOTTTTHHHH it was Back then. Keep it up Jim, the Hobby Need's your Expertise.
You gave that engine another 100 years of service life. Fantastic work!!
Good re - build ! : But the engine itself is long obsolete, even emissions ILEGAL:th-cam.com/video/VUTsQs_hxOU/w-d-xo.html
@@magardunoe maybe so, but it is Noble to preserve that which comes before. Always remember that there is no future without the past.
@@mdbohicahe who controls the past controls the future, he who controls the present controls the past. He who hates your guts, erases your past.
Thank you to Antique Engine Rebuilding for the modern parts! Be sure to check them out for your Model A and B parts! Drop by their FB and leave a comment to let them know we sent you!
antiqueenginerebuilding.com/
facebook.com/AntigueEngineRebuilding
I have an old Willys 134 Fhead block I need to get checked out. Do y'all magna flux blocks as well?
Found it funny how you called the new valves traditional. From the perspective of a Ford mechanic back in the day, what we’re used to seeing would be some new-fangled thing cooked up by a bunch of young whippersnappers :D
@@HeliosFish haha I guess the wording of "traditional" is a bit ironic in this case :P
@@JAMSIONLINE How 'bout "modern". I wouldn't even venture to guess what a "valve train" would compromise now a days!
The machine work you've done to this block and head is vastly superior to what was originally done. They didn't have to be that great from the factory as there really isn't a lot of pressure trying to force its way out like there is on today's engines. Awesome work man. Henry would be proud
I was wondering about the original tolerances and how much of the slop was from wear vs. old time manufacturing? I'd guess the rebuild far exceeds the original.
These are really primitive compared to the stuff we have now .... check out how the babbit bearings were done back in the day.... it's a wonder they ran or lasted at all
@@sofakingmegamagaitgagsyerm909 the interesting thing is it worked ,,the model A was only made for a few years but it's amazing how many there are left,, same with the model T ,,the last T was made 95 years ago but there are many thousands of them still around
Correct. Wasn't the original Model T engine only 4.5:1 compression?
@@JustWasted3HoursHere 3.98-1 according to the Wiki page which sounds about right
That’s one lucky engine , I bet even now days not many get this kind of workmanship applied to them . I’m sure this will be around another century thanks to this incredible work
I mainly work on air cooled Porsche and BMW stuff. Watching this video is fascinating. I knew nothing about these engines. Very cool to see how these go together. Kroil is the bomb, btw. I could have a engine sitting underwater for 50 years and Kroil could get that freed up.
Not sure what it is but there is something therapeutic about watching old warped surfaces come back to life. Love this stuff and full engine builds. Hope we get a chance to hear this engine run. 🍻👍🇦🇺
we will see I guess. this video is almost a year old.
I know you get comments about wanting to see the running engine, but I’m one of those that gets great satisfaction from the machining. If you’ve seen one engine run, you’ve seen them all. But a good job of machining is a work of art. And that art form has reached its pinnacle here on TH-cam. The creative process is now performance art. And the skills required just gives the performance that much more impact. I love it when you say “half-thousandth”. Precision.
Thank you for these videos. Thank you for being a perfectionist.
Similar to taking a piece of wood somebody trashed and turn it into a eye pleasing piece of furniture
It's obvious you all take a ton of pride in your work, and having 2nd and 3rd generation (even if 2nd gen is just the janitor now, ha!) is amazing. Great job! I'd love to see some follow-ups if any of your customers would be willing to provide them. As satisfying as it is seeing it all decked and ready to go, even more so seeing it running after everything is done. Keep up the good work.
Wow that Kroil penetrated deep.
I’m sold. I’ll take 10 cans.
Years ago I did a major restoration job on a 9N Ford tractor that uses the same base engine design and decided to update everything including the remanufactured engine while in it.
Two huge engine improvements I did were to port out the block so the intakes and exhaust passages were much larger and smoother flowing. Then gut out the old front mount distributor and coil assy and add an electronic conversion kit set up to fire an external coil instead of the old block type it originally had.
Beyond that was a full 12v conversion with a 1-wire alternator and extra lighting since it had the power to spare. Engine wise I maybe gained 4 - 5 Hp, but when it only had about 25 to work with, that's actually a huge performance step up.
I was wondering about this part. I had an old 8n that I tried to restore and even though the engine purred like a kitten, I always wanted to see if I could modernize it and make it even more reliable. Glad to know it's possible! Thank you for your comment!
@@UnicornGuru It made a huge difference in power and general functionality.
Always started well even in hard winters. ran nice all year round and having good lighting was well worth it. 35w bulbs in the original headlights with 55W halogens pointing front and back on both fenders made it a great after-dark work tractor.
I don’t understand why every manufacturer made valve ports that severely restricted gas flow. Why? Someone had to design and make casting cores which must have been more trouble than a simple 90 degree elbow bend.
Made that stud removal look so easy. This is all badazz. Good work man
Speaking as a mechanic, I do always like to "start what I finish" but with a machine shop that's rarely the case. It would be nice if you had vids from the obvious labour of love that is the complete rebuild of a model A engine from the customer as a follow up to your vids.😉
I really enjoy watching the craftsmanship you're both putting into the application of your trade.❤
I've only worked on 2 of this type engines (flat head) and both times it was a real chore with the valve stem spring retainers but knowing how much easier it is with an overhead valve engine my hat goes off to those old school mechanics
I run a cnc live tool lathe every day and I still enjoy watching this channel and how calming and knowledgable you are
Watching precise machining like this is like watching surgery on inanimate objects. Great stuff
You know that motor feels better after all that surgery, it's gonna run like forest gump
The patient is glad to have such expert attention. Great work
it is like surgery yeah. one mistake and you can't go back
When I was a kid, I raced junior autocross in a car with a Ford side valve engine (E93A). This engine was so similar. Thanks for sharing the video.
The skill and experience of this channel is great man. Respect to you and your Dad. 💪🏻
The Cleaning Guy
Thank you!
Excellent! It's been many years since I've ground valves... We ground the seats with stones back in the 1970s, although the "Quik-Way" cutter systems were emerging and were highly desirable. We didn't have any way to use a milling machine to cut the seats, but instead we cut them by hand with a T-Handle.
I built a lot of racing engines, and we'd cut some really narrow seats for those engines! It was great fun 45-50 years ago, but the stuff your shop has makes what we were doing look pretty crude! Love the channel!
Yes, I started as a mechanic in the 1970s in England, and I used to enjoy doing heads with the grinding equipment we had. Boxes full of different stones, and diamonds to true them up.
Wow, I can't imagine cutting seats with a T handle. That must've been fun!
@@TowerCrisis It was fine, with sharp cutters.
That feeling you get when the studs comes out with out breaking!!!😎😎👍👍
Wow! You really do a great job. My dad introduced me to the Model A around 1969. My son inherited the last one in the line of "A's" we had 3 . When my dad stopped driving it the truck was ready for a second complete rebuild. Granddad passed it to my son. Since my son is in the service and has been for 20 plus years the old girl is patiently waiting. Lots of fun time with the old fords. Great stories to share. Keep up the great work.
We recently did similar work on a 31 model a engine (a long with a non-babbit bearing conversion for the mains) and the engine series idles smoother and quieter than my 2018 mustang GT. (Direct injection pumps are noisy).
Now customer has a model a engine that is probably way way better than they ever left the Ford plant 😁.
Good job helping keep old machines alive!
Been a mechanic 40yrs. Never had the opportunity to work on model a. Interesting video amazing work that you and your dad perform.
Awesome work! I know after machine work is done it goes back to the customer, but I always wish I could see the final assembly and watch it fire up. Cheers! 🍻
I did this exact thing years ago. We also had a block of steel to stop the press in guides. All of our seats were cut by hand with the old quick-way hand turned seat cutters. We had a plate with slots cut in it to slide under the valves to hold them open. It was a pain in the a**.
I have put many sleeves in A blocks but the measurements are in the distant fog of my memory. Yours sound familiar but I left that shop in 1979 so........ yeah.
Cool stuff. Save what we can.
Cheers
Terry
Nice to see a bit of history being restored.
I can spend all day watching videos like this!
Great seeing the younger generation taking up the banner! You and my diesel mechanic son would get along just fine!
I am from west Texas; born in 1950. My family were farm and ranch folks with the skill and money to own and operate farm machines. I now know that some of the equipment was flat head and some was overhead valve. In 1968 I worked in fast food service my Boss (owner of the franchise) asserted that a Model A engine would run 80 miles an hour : all day long; with the exhaust manifold glowing cherry red.I had great interest in things motor and car (motorcycle& bicycle) I cannot say that there was much speed equipment but but people got to work and made trips to visit family! I want to say THANKYOU for your great hard Work and content. This is a wonderful Find!
I love the old engines. They were simple and very cool. Also watching the machining process is very cool. I really like seeing the machines work away the imperfections
Just love to see skilled people at work, so much to learn.
this channel has taught me that engine building is a lot more niche than general machining. Including knowledge of lego sizes lol! Love seeing this old block get new life
Son, you've come a long way since I first started watching your channel which makes it all that much better! Many thanks.
I really appreciate that! Thank you!
That made me smile.. these old machines can be a challenge eh guys.. I know I have done a number of them in my 70+ years.. Well done though.. This being your first one and being so old I bet it was kind of scary.. I know my first one was.. But that was back in the end of the 50's or beginning of the 60's. There was still a few places you could get original parts for it.. Well done boys.. thanks for the share!!
It´s an honor to observe the work of a real craftsman -- diligent, knowledgeable, experienced, and having the best equipment and techniques.
You cannot fake pride in ones´ work.
_Subscribed!_
The one-piece valve guides are genius. You made it look easy...
I still have the same spring compressor your dad has and a couple of others
in my tool box that old geezer machinest can't give away.
Have new found respect for good automotive machine work. I have done machine work for over 30 years but never got into the auto work. Great job on the ol A block...
That’s a beautiful machine job. The last of the old school engine machinists in my town recently passed. It’s an art!
This was an automatic sub for me. The slow-mo of the planer clips is oddly soothing. I love this, and any other general engine geekery, and I'll be here watching your work.
I've said it before...this machine work is just plain fascinating ...another outstanding job
My father in law has a 1936 ford V8. Its beautiful. He has take this car from everything off the chassis, cleaned everything and repainted the chassis and more. He upgraded it from mechanical brakes to Hydraulic, and the engine is larger than the original. The previous owner had hot rodded it, so the larger engine was his idea. He was the 2nd owner of this car. Its been in a garage since he bought it. Im waiting till he gets it finished for my ride in this beautiful vehicle. The engine does need to be reworked like this one.
This guy is the real deal. He made that engine better than when it left the factory. 🙌🏾
If you’re fairly old you might remember Western Auto. Long, long, ago WA made Model T blocks and everything else for them. I don’t know if they made Model A blocks, but there are-or were-Fords out there with non-Ford engines that still looked like originals.
Loved this video. Shows how a true professional works.
Wow. If those were original studs, the threads on the studs and in the hole are in amazing condition. But that entire casting is in remarkable condition, considering it's age. At least it looks that way to my not exactly professional eye. Nice piece, and nice work. And the Legos just goes to show how endlessly versatile they truly are and that you would be hard pressed to find a better toy to encourage development in anyone at any age. The skill and attention to detail you guys display makes me feel like I accomplished something just watching. 10 out of 10.
I love that you cleaned the block so well before returning it to the customer. I almost installed a head that was loaded with abrasive debris in the oil channels from a machine shop valve job.
.learned not to assume parts are clean from a machine shop.
This is the first time I have ever seen a block that could be over bored .100. There aren't many if any V8 blocks that can safely go .060 unless you go aftermarket. Another beautiful job JAMSI!
Some of the old 60's V8 engines can go 80 thou some even 100 thou. It was late 60's when the accountants got hold of the paperwork to do with iron casting and requested less iron be used and ever since the quality of engines has decreased.
@@shanerorko8076 quality of engines hasn't decreased in any way
@@16vSciroccoboi you don't know what I was talking about, you don't know what you're talking about.
@Retired Bore Dart iron blocks can handle 120 thou overbores. So yes, I would love to see OE blocks do the same.
@@shanerorko8076 what were you talking about then?
You prefer heavier engines with weak casting designs, excessive porosity, and large thickness variations?
You prefer that over engines that can go for several hundreds of thousands of miles before needing a rebuild? making 4 times the power of any of the pre 1960 engines you love so much?
You can rebuild one of the newer ones too, btw.
very satisfying to watch, especially surfacing the block and head! you know the engine will run well!
I really wish we could get to see some of these run! No question it's better than new, now.
even if you are NOT a machinist, its great to see and learn HOW the work is done, youve presented it well, and the slo-mo's are mesmerising! i hope more younger folk are learning to use this equipment, maybe we, as a country, can get back to MAKING and REPAIRING things instead of throwing stuff away and making other countries rich
Great engineering beautifully executed. Thank you for sharing. That is one heck of an engine…. Now ready for the next 100 years. 😎👍
Having been a professional mechanic for over 20 years I can say that one of the best lessons anyone can learn for wrenching is that almost every stuck fastener can be removed. With a combination of heat, impact, penetrant and most importantly patience it is doable in almost every situation. Even if it takes you 20 minutes to remove a single bolt or a stud it's still less time than it will take to drill out a broken one and restore the threads.
Glad to see that you found Kroil! The best penetrant I have found. Me and a buddy split a case every year.
Go to "Project Farm" or "AVE" channels for the real story! In three separate tests that $25 can of "stuff" did no better than a Walmart $4 can of liquid wrench! I have 2 cans of Kroil that I will send you just to get the memory of my wasted money out of my sight! Take a close look at when he pulls the stud. There is zero penetration on the threads. The heat does the work. All of these "miracle penetrants" are just oily at best.
@@paulcopeland9035 yeah, really all of them arent that good
@@paulcopeland9035 When all else has failed my next step is equal parts Marvel Mystery oil, diesel, ATF, and acetone. Keeping the mixture around long term doesn’t work well because the acetone evaporates quickly. You can add more the next time you need it, though, because the other fluids don’t evaporate well.
The 201 cu in Model A engines was designed to be rebuilt in the vehicle. The engine put out about 40 Hp people did not drive very far at the time so the poured babbitt bearing worked just fine with the slow turning engine and splash lubrication system. The only time you needed to pull it out was to pour new babbit mains. They had molds that you fixed the con-rods in to pour their bearing.
Would be interesting to see a follow-up on some of these more esoteric engines such as this model A. Once they're assembled and operating.
Would love to see that bugger finished & running. Nicely done.
I love the Legos! I can tell you really enjoy your work and the end product shows it.
As a 1929 model A Ford owner I love this video
Great video. Can sympathise your aggravation refitting the valve collets. I've done quite a few fitted on Rolls Royce B81 straight 8 engines. I used to smear water pump grease on my fingers then virtually standing on my head ( the block was still.in the vehicle) managed to refit. Even after years of doing them, it was never easy, so don't beat yourself up about it
Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing an update on the Jaguar 4.2
I am an aircraft mechanic and use aero roil all the time. Love the stuff.
Cool video. Blending the old school technology with the modern technology. I still want to see these motors being built and seeing the babit bearings being replaced
Hagerty did a video on just that, if you haven't seen it yet:
th-cam.com/video/JBL0Y3_yQ7I/w-d-xo.html
@@kadenwatt2033 thanks for the heads up and the link. Pretty interesting stuff to see. Good to see the younger generation learning about the old ways of doing things
That work was handled really we and came out looking amazing. Definitely proof that there's still machine shops that still care about working engines that are so old and will buy new kit just so they can do the job justice 👍👍👍👍👍
I am glad you show this stuff, I get tired of the "experts" who claim everything has to be accomplished with just the right tool, and you can't use your head to solve problems..............Lego's are perfect example.
You You are
So satisfying to see the studs come out without breaking. That is the worst feeling in machine or automotive repair work when they snap.
Loved the series-seeing the mods and work done all with your guys’ scrutiny and meticulous work is awesome
As far as I'm concerned you have the dream job, Family owned engine machine shop. I love it!!🏁🏁🏁
I have actually seen earlier blocks where the bores weren't completely perpendicular with the rest of the engine (or to each other), also seen them with a few of the bores offset one way or another by almost .020. Not sure if they left the factory that way, or if they had poor machine work done before I got into them, but it definitely wasn't something I was expecting to see. That one turned out great, will probably now outlive all of us.
Not unusual to still se that stuff happen in semi modern machine shops .
I’ve seen it all. It’s either poor setup or just plain sloppy work. I worked on a John Deere 404 that was bored to fit 466 sleeve and no one considered what head gasket to use. Needed to use a stock gasket with fire ring removed and cut the sleeves for fire rings. Upon measuring the sleeve protrusion it varied .010” from front to back and .004 side to side. They guy that had the work done was bragging about it, I told him I wouldn’t brag about it.
Old is gold. Valves wear and tear and seats too. But in olden days spare valves and brand new seats fixed .Modern time use and throw.
So having a vehicle by common people no longer possible.
And power brake, power steering, power window in era of power crisis will make us reach nowhere rather the exercise that build muscles etc lost in excessive luxury and extravagant lifestyle.
Watching this video remind of the best of times
About the Legos as wedges.
If a stupid idea works, it's not stupid. I think it was a bloody brilliant idea.
You guys do absolutely fantastic work. Thank you!
Speaking of modern parts for old engines. During the late 50's & early 60's I struggled through 3 valve grinds on flatheads. All the while adjustable tappets were available for them at Sears. It's funny how the old garages just didn't know about these things.
Very cool! Always been curious about old model A engine's.
As a retired machinist and backyard mechanic this was very enjoyable to view. For those that may not know cast iron is not so easy to mill. In my 45 years of experience I've never milled cast iron.
We machined cast iron at Tafe as an apprentice, never gave trouble other than the dust going everywhere.
Thoroughly entertaining!
Would love to see the engine running as a follow up?
👌🏻
I am so glad I came across this channel. I am a automotive shop owner with a drag racing background. Engine machine work is becoming such a lost art. My small town and every town around me had a local machine shop growing up. Now I have to drive over an hour to my nearest one. I love seeing quality workmanship like this.
You all got that block is more true than when it was new. Very nice
Food for thought, and cheap and easy, compressed air that is sold at Walmart / Amazon fairly cheaply you can take it and hold the can upside down, pour the contents into a styrofoam cup, the result is -59 F. I use that technique in my shop when the time comes for press fits.
you can also get a fork type tool for the valvesprings i bought one when i had my flat 4 banger but it was a cool video and the legos was a good choice really wont mare the surfaces
Very nice work! This reminded me of doing the very same rebuild 64 years ago on a 1931 model A. I only had to go 60 over and did not have to put new valve seats in, just grind them to match the new valves. I found a shop that poured the main bearings for me. I wish that I still had the A Model. I was taking machine shop in high school at that time. Fred P.......
I was half expecting vvt and fuel injection being done with my idea of modernizing an old engine but this is more realistic I suppose
The Kroil family of products are great and one reason is they are a family run business! Now I’ve seen some back to back tests on TH-cam that have tested there products against many others and they don’t really stand out as a heck of a lot better than others however I will always support a American family run business over a multi continent huge corporation any day of the week! Besides there products have always worked for me!
Love the detail u guys put in your work 👍 sometimes try and squeeze some of the engine's running
You guys do absolutely fantastic work. Thank you!. You guys do absolutely fantastic work. Thank you!.
So how much of a difference in compression will the machining make ? Loved the lego idea.
Haha, not as much as the new rings and valves that seal..... Probably may not run on kerosene now :)
Stock Model A compression is 4.22:1. Anything you gain on that is going to help.
Nice job.The split valve guides take me back a few years, as I worked on the Ford side valve engines.
Just a thought, do you ever check cam shafts for straightness? It’s a procedure I rarely see done but easy to check and correct.
You used Kroil … those stuck studs would have backed themselves out if left to soak just a few days more …😏😜. That is by FAR , Hands down , the BEST penetrating oil I have ever found or used for over 42 years now as a Mechanic / Electrician/ Machinist . In my profession we bring “ Stuff back from the dead “ almost daily , and Kroil has been my Go To product for all kinds of issues rust & corrosion related. Cool video here , thanks for posting this one ..👍
Me a 14-year-old just had the urge to say “they don’t build them like they used to”.
I love watching manual machining. I was lucky enough to do my apprenticeship in a business that reconditioned their own engines and as mechanics, we got to learn how to do valve cutting, honing, and engine dismantling and assembly in a machine-shop setting. I was surprised to see you use impact to fit valve guides and seats as I was taught to use the shop press on all these parts. Listening to you rattle off the measurements I am very glad that we adopted the metric system as I started my trade. I could use both and I am here to tell you metric is way better. A great video and I will watch more.
18:13 which tool is being spun there, please? What is its purpose? Another great video!
That appears to be a lifting point that they custom built out of something round and strong (pipe?) and then drilled and tapped (or maybe just drilled) and put four different size bolts in it. At 18:13, just using it as a handle to manhandle the block on the workbench. You can see it again at 18:36 where it's being used by a crane/hoist to lift the block and move it.
@@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261 Thank you for pointing this out especially at the 18:36 time stamp. It's clearer there as it has 4 different bolts with different thread pitches for different heads. It's cleverly made as a holding device and as a hooking point. Thank you again, J.
im not a mechanic but i enjoy watching your channel . i wanted to be a machinist when younger butt opted to work on drilling rigs instead. did get an opportunity to work on desal engines for 18 years but messed up and got promoted to working derricks, then it just kept getting worse from there , after 32 years in the feild i finally gave it all up and retired but i sure wished i had done what yall are doing, thanks for the upload and take care ......Marcus in west Texas
What did the cleaning guy think about the Lego?
It was his idea… I guess he can do more than clean haha!
I hope you’re going to keep him on?
I have always wanted to hang-out at a machine shop. I got to once for a bit of time. Then business school and stuff got in the way. So, my being able to see what you do is a dream come true for me.
Gonna be interesting when done. Wonder how different it will run
Probably not that different honestly lol. It's like less than 4.5:1 compression haha
I mean, better than when it got taken apart. But probably not that different than new.
I do like how you blue the surface before you start taking material off. It does show you and us just how much the surface is worn out.
I have one of those valve spring compressor tools. I picked it up at a garage sale decades ago because I thought it looked cool. Now I know what it is! 🙂
Beautiful workmanship.
Awesome work 👍