'33 E-T Cylinder Head pulled; engine autopsy

Unknown
Unknown
edited February 2012 in HUDSON
I have just pulled the cylinder head off of my '33 Essex 6 cylinder.(not a pretty sight underneath) It appears the number 2 and number 6 cylinder pistons are seized, as they will not let ATF pass by.They are also the only 2 cylinders with different pistons,(tops are marked differently) and the previous owner claimed incorrect pistons were installed, causing the engine to seize shortly after being repaired, circa 1940's...I will let these soak for a week or so, and continue to tap them with a wood block/hammer. The cylinder walls don't look too bad, what I can see.

The head has been taken to the local Machine Shop, to be tanked, checked for cracks/warpage and trued....What is the limit to mill off the cylinder head, for trueness or higher compression, and still be safe?

Rebuilding will come a little later. Any recommendations?
What have I got myself into, lol...

Comments

  • StillOutThere
    StillOutThere Expert Adviser
    You have gotten yourself into the old car hobby, that's what! You've opened the can of worms called rebuilding the engine.
    If we knew your approx location to a close large city, someone would recommend a machine shop to do a rebuild worthy of your rare Terraplane.
  • brumac
    brumac Expert Adviser
    Scott,
    I highly recommend a little ATF in a lot of acetone/ lacquer thinner as a penetrant to start with. The acetone will go anyplace and carry the ATF. In a few days you should see some results. There is a great shop (my opinion FWIW) in Batavia, NY that has bailed out my 308 from a butcher but there should be a good shop near you in Syracuse.

    Bruce MacLellan, who bought mour old hydra-matic in Jordan.
  • Terraplane33
    Terraplane33 Expert Adviser
    Hope to hear the engine running soon !! :)
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    I use a combination of 50% Marvel Mystery Oil & WD-40 as my "let's get the rust out of here".
    Once you get the pistons out use calibers or whatever to see if all the same bore size. The reason your "jungle juice" isn't soaking in is that the rings are seized against the cyl. wall, it's not the pistons.
    Another crucial thing for you to do prior to re-assembly is (of course this depends on whether the pistons you have can be re-used, but will definitely have to get new rings) making sure you either have a matched set of pistons OR that they all weigh the same as otherwise won't be smooth running!
    If the bore is 3", or if you have to bore it out, bore or hone it out to 3" as 3" pistons are easily found & rings too.
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    got a new headgasket??????????
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