Harkin Machine

Jim Kilday
Jim Kilday Expert Adviser
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I'm considering having the engine in my .46 Coupe Commodore overhauled this winter and am going to use Harkin Machine in Watertown, SD which is about an 800 mile trip.



I was thinking about trailering the car over to Watertown but being pretty new at all this wondered if I should just ship the engine.



I know the bearings will be line bored. Does the engine have to be removed or can the line boring be done with the engine in the car by removing the hood, grill, radiator, etc?



If I just send the engine approximately how much would it weigh--it's an 8 cylinder and does anyone know the approximate cost to send it by freight?



What else should be done to the engine while Harkin has it torn down?



Thanks in advance for your help.



Jim Kilday

Comments

  • Hudsy Wudsy
    Hudsy Wudsy Senior Contributor
    Your engine will need to be out of the car to have it align bored. I'd be curious myself as to what an eight cylinder engine weighs. I hope someone who knows will say. As far as shipping goes, try uship.com. Tom Harkin will turn your crank and rebabbitt your old main bearing shells. He's also doing your rods, I pressume?
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Yes the engine will have to be out of the car. For a complete rebuild the valves will be faced or replaced. The seats reground and the block bored to over size to what ever it takes to make the cylinder wall as new. Cam checked and new cam bearings. There is lots more to a complete engine than cleaning and paint
  • Ol racer
    Ol racer Senior Contributor
    I would get an older Motors Manual (ebay) which will tell you the procedure on removing the engine. I would tell the Machinist to do whatever is necessary and to use Dale Cooper www.hudsonmotorcarco.com 513 821 6200 from within the HET Club for any misc engine parts he may need rather than Kanter, Egge, etc.



    You may want to consider Hardned Exh valve Seats because of the poor quality of todays gasoline.



    Regarding shipping if its only 800 mi R/T you may be better off delivering then later picking it up vs Shipping. Its always best to discuss the rebuild in person....Lastly I would put in a new clutch when re-installing the motor.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The chrome alloy block does not need the seats. That my 2 cents.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    By all means take the engine to the shop. Much easier to let the shop know what you want face to face...Can be difficult for them to explain what they need...and for you to explain what you want...from 800 miles away. AND get everything in WRITING! Leave nothing to chance..Get parts from Dale Cooper...
    Bob
  • dougson
    dougson Senior Contributor
    Billy K.TN. wrote:
    The chrome alloy block does not need the seats. That my 2 cents.



    Is this true? Any other viewpoints? Great if it is.
  • hudsonguy
    hudsonguy Senior Contributor
    dougson wrote:
    Is this true? Any other viewpoints? Great if it is.



    When I rebuilt my '49 262 engine a couple of years ago, I did NOT install hardened valve seats. I'm lucky to have a well established machine shop in my area, and the expert rebuilder there told me that that Hudson block is harder than the hardened seats he's installing in other 'modern' engines, so he didn't recommend them. So far so good, it just runs better all the time. I've put about 13,000 miles on since the rebuild.
  • Hudsy Wudsy
    Hudsy Wudsy Senior Contributor
    Billy K.TN. wrote:
    The chrome alloy block does not need the seats. That my 2 cents.



    Jim, seems that this has always been the general concensus when the topic comes up. Also, I think that Tom Harkin is nice enough (and savy enough) that you can ship your engine to him and communicate by phone. But that's just my opinion
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

In this Discussion