[Terry Burtz, Calif]

Production/Delivery
The 2nd production run of "New Engine Kits" is running late because of government mandates that foundries revert to electric-fired furnaces (as opposed to coal) to reduce emissions. Electric furnaces only have about half the output per unit as their coal counterparts. Further, new Covid outbreaks in China port operations (particularly the port of Ningbo) have slowed the embarkation of containers. This is having a ripple effect on other ports as many volumes are shifting from Ningbo to Shanghai and Qingdao.

Additionally, there is a great shortage of shipping containers in China which contributes to the slowdown of loading operations and results in vessel departure delays. Our current delivery of block kits is scheduled to depart Shanghai on the 2nd of September but now appears to be delayed until September 15th.

The first container will be shipped to Savannah, GA for distribution from our warehouse in Franklin, KY. We expect to ship "New Engine Kits" from the warehouse around the 2nd to 3rd week of October 2021.

The 2nd container should arrive a month or so later in Los Angeles for distribution from our Hawthorne, CA warehouse. I checked today, and there are 44 container ships off the coast of Los Angeles in a holding pattern waiting to unload cargo.



Technical
The "Builders Guide" strongly suggests that home builders utilize the facilities and knowledge of professional engine builders.

The "New Model A Engine" is closer to 2000 technology than it is to 1920's technology, and home builders need to work with engine builders familiar with new engines.

There have been a few cases where home builders and engine builders familiar with 1920's technology don't understand modern insert bearings and the bores that they fit into.

The bores are circular, and the modern inserts are spread at the parting line. Before assembly, the inserts protrude above the parting line, and when assembled, the inserts become flush with the parting line and become circular with the equivalent of a press fit.

The bearing tabs are for locating and are not used to keep the insert from spinning in the bore.

Please don't remove material from the parting plane of the inserts, fail to follow the "Builders Guide" regarding stud clearance, or shim bearing caps because you think that the line boring bar machined oval holes.

The attached pictures are of the 2nd production run.