The Ford Barn - View Single Post - To rebuild or not to rebuild

40 Deluxe · 04-24-2020, 08:56 AM

We had a couple safety slogans at the shop where I worked that apply here: "Expect the Unexpected", and "Trust But Verify". Are the brakes really new (ALL wear components replaced or rebuilt? Or just new lining?)? You will need to pull all the drums and check. The engine is another unknown. Since you do your own work, for the price of a pan gasket set you can have a guaranteed sludge free pan and properly adjusted bearings.
Are you familiar with how to use the timing lever? It's not a set and forget deal. Ignition timing is totally controlled by that lever; there is no advance mechanism inside the distributor. Running full advance (lever all the way down) at low RPMs can shorten bearing life due to detonation, and running at higher RPM's with the lever too far up (retarded timing) leads to overheating and possible burned exhaust valves.

04-24-2020, 08:56 AM	#12
40 Deluxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: now Kuna, Idaho Posts: 3,779	Re: To rebuild or not to rebuild - that is the question. We had a couple safety slogans at the shop where I worked that apply here: "Expect the Unexpected", and "Trust But Verify". Are the brakes really new (ALL wear components replaced or rebuilt? Or just new lining?)? You will need to pull all the drums and check. The engine is another unknown. Since you do your own work, for the price of a pan gasket set you can have a guaranteed sludge free pan and properly adjusted bearings. Are you familiar with how to use the timing lever? It's not a set and forget deal. Ignition timing is totally controlled by that lever; there is no advance mechanism inside the distributor. Running full advance (lever all the way down) at low RPMs can shorten bearing life due to detonation, and running at higher RPM's with the lever too far up (retarded timing) leads to overheating and possible burned exhaust valves.