The Ford Barn

nhusa · 05-31-2014, 09:27 PM

I took my 1931 $100 motor apart today and found a couple things wrong and a few I don't understand. The motor was covered in grease and oil so I didn't think it was previously rebuilt. When I pulled the head I found a copper gasket and aluminum pistons. the pistons could be moved slightly back and fourth in the bores so I expected there to be significant wear.

question - I expected to find steel pistons and something other than a copper head gasket. Is aluminum and copper normal? Has this motor been previously rebuilt?

The story continues - When I pulled the pan I found small chunks of rectangular shaped metal so I pulled the pistons. The first problem was that the 5/8 socket would not fit most of the nuts so i had to use an 17 mm socket. Later I found that the nuts were slightly deformed - marks on the surface so the 5/8 socket would not fit. I think the babbit looked OK but I found at least three of the oil rings in pieces and the cylinder walls a bit worn. The crank looked good. I now know why the motor was removed from a car.

Next step is to do some measuring and most likely bore it if possible and put in oversize aluminum pistons etc. at least it is a better place to start than the motor that is stuck.

05-31-2014, 09:27 PM	#1
nhusa Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Timberlake NC Posts: 550	motor questions and update I took my 1931 $100 motor apart today and found a couple things wrong and a few I don't understand. The motor was covered in grease and oil so I didn't think it was previously rebuilt. When I pulled the head I found a copper gasket and aluminum pistons. the pistons could be moved slightly back and fourth in the bores so I expected there to be significant wear. question - I expected to find steel pistons and something other than a copper head gasket. Is aluminum and copper normal? Has this motor been previously rebuilt? The story continues - When I pulled the pan I found small chunks of rectangular shaped metal so I pulled the pistons. The first problem was that the 5/8 socket would not fit most of the nuts so i had to use an 17 mm socket. Later I found that the nuts were slightly deformed - marks on the surface so the 5/8 socket would not fit. I think the babbit looked OK but I found at least three of the oil rings in pieces and the cylinder walls a bit worn. The crank looked good. I now know why the motor was removed from a car. Next step is to do some measuring and most likely bore it if possible and put in oversize aluminum pistons etc. at least it is a better place to start than the motor that is stuck.