Re: [HSS] Engine rebuilders

Unknown

Lewis M. Phelps wrote:

>

> With the first phase of mechanical restoration of our '29 Town Sedan

> now complete, Cathy and I are beginning to think about a big Phase II

> -- a complete engine rebuild. (Why do we want to do this? Because we

> hope, at some point, to drive this car from California to Maine, and

> maybe back. But that's another story....)

>

> Fortunately, we have a more or less complete spare 1929 engine that

> came with our Town Sedan, so we have the leisure of having an engine

> rebuilt without taking the car off the road for several months.

>

> And, thus, the $64 question: where to get the rebuilding job done?

> Obviously, Southern California would be the preferrred location,

> because I would not have to hire a trucking company to deliver it, and

> I could visit it in the hospital from time to time to check on its

> recovery....

>

> But...does anyone have recommendations for somebody who could do a

> first-rate job of rebuilding a Super Six engine? I'm thinking in terms

> of pistons, cylinders, new poured bearings, valves and valve seats,

> probably modifying the cam shaft (I seem to recall seeing an article in

> a WTN about how you could greatly improve performance by changing the

> cam profiles), and whatever else would be needed to make an engine

> "like new" or even better.

>

> The mechanic who has worked (very well) on our car estimates $4,000 to

> $5,000 for a complete rebuild (not by him; this requires specialized

> skills he doesn't possess). Is this a reasonable estimate?

>

> Lew Phelps

> Pasadena, CA

> 1929 Hudson Town Sedan

>

Lew, going on the old maxim "If it 'aint broke, don't fix it", I would

first of all ascertain the condition of your spare engine. Chances are

it hasn't done a lot of miles, and you may get away with rings, adjust

bearings, etc. My reason for saying this is that there are few engine

shops today who can re-metal bearings the way Hudson did, by

centrifuge, which gives a dense grained babbit bearing. The original

bearing material is unavailable, and most shops pour the bearings now,

which is not as good. Also make sure that if you bore the block, that

the pistons are no heavier than the 20 oz originals, as any heavier you

upset the original balance of the motor. Most Super 6's were good for

over 100,000 miles, so do check that spare engine out thoroughly. Good

luck,

Geoff.