old engine rebuilders

[Joe K]

My "Avatar" (29 CC Pickup) came with 143K miles on the odometer.

The engine was painted "red." No number in the number pad.

My thought is this was an "Allstate" rebuild engine - which could be bought through Sears-Roebuck or "Western Auto" up until the early 1960s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allstate

The mileage was consistent with the "life of a Model A Engine." My engine rebuilder (now retired) thought 75K miles was a good "typical" life for the non-air filtered, non oil filtered Model A original setup. So 143K would indicate a second engine at the end of it's life.

Which was the case with the red engine. Egg shaped journals, no shims, "filing the caps" to extend engine life (done by yours truly.) And an ultimate set-aside after losing a connecting rod cap nut due to "vibration." (accident waiting to happen effect.)

I'm now thinking to have the red engine rebuilt. I will probably set aside the crank as I have a couple of others.

I'm also thinking about leaving the engine "un-numbered" and not trying to match the frame number. I have my title already (requires "direct inspection" in NH).

Also leaving the engine red.

No doubt I will be "questioned." And my reply will be a "thank you" for asking the history of this particular car. And I'll have my chance to "amaze" the observers with the state of the Allstate Marketplace in 1960.

It will certainly bar me from formal judging - but who can afford to play the formal game except for the most dedicated? The level of competition is now so high that "ordinary users" don't have a chance.

But that is not to exclude a restoration "well done and to the best of one's ability." Its nice to see a "well executed survivor" no matter how exactly it is packaged.

The object is to "have fun." And a red engine can be "fun."

At least one other engine in my stable will be "ford green" - of course.

Joe K