The Ford Barn

37 Coupe · 10-19-2018, 07:57 AM

I think I have a pretty good low mileage engine that has minimal cylinder wear but probably has never had a valve job. So my question is this: How much engine work can be done without disturbing or hurting the Babbitt ? None? I know the first thing most shops want to do is hot tank and degrease but do some Model A rebuilders leave Babbitt alone and just do say a valve job? Mayby deck engine or hone or rebore to cleanup cylinders? I don't know of any shop close to me in Ohio,(near Columbus) that has someone who works on Model A or any babbit engines anymore. When I bought the '30 roadster 54 years ago I drove it to a garage 15 miles away and the old time mechanic removed engine pour and bored Babbitt complete rebuild and reinstalled. I even had a choice of several others at that time. I just think since I have engine out and on stand it should get some better attention instead of just new gaskets and a paint job.

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 10-19-2018, 08:18 AM

Sure, as an engine rebuilder we do piece-work all the time. Often times we will bore, deck, or perform valve work with the babbitt intact just for the reasons you mentioned. About the only thing we cannot do is soak the block in a sodium hydroxide solution, and mediablast the components. Since we have a jet washer that blasts a water-soluble soap solution at about 200°, we can wash the block pretty thoroughly without damaging the babbitt. In a total rebuild, we will do the caustic soak followed by the jet wash rinse. After all of the machine work has been completed and the block is ready for assembly, we re-rinse to ensure it is all clean. The babbitt is never affected.

BTW, most shops have actually gone away from hot tanks and just use ovens that will take the part up to about 650° to bake the crud off followed by the same jet wash solution I use. The reason why they are not hot tanking any longer is most of these shops perform the majority of their work on alloy parts which cannot be cleaned in a sodium hydroxide solution..

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Jim Brierley · 10-19-2018, 11:10 AM

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As Brent says, it is the hot-tank that ruins babbitt, I'm not sure I would want my block heated as is commonly done today. Can you disassemble and clean the block at home before taking it to a builder? If so, do that and instruct them not to clean it and tell them why.

10-19-2018, 07:57 AM	#1
37 Coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,835	how much engine work with good babbitt I think I have a pretty good low mileage engine that has minimal cylinder wear but probably has never had a valve job. So my question is this: How much engine work can be done without disturbing or hurting the Babbitt ? None? I know the first thing most shops want to do is hot tank and degrease but do some Model A rebuilders leave Babbitt alone and just do say a valve job? Mayby deck engine or hone or rebore to cleanup cylinders? I don't know of any shop close to me in Ohio,(near Columbus) that has someone who works on Model A or any babbit engines anymore. When I bought the '30 roadster 54 years ago I drove it to a garage 15 miles away and the old time mechanic removed engine pour and bored Babbitt complete rebuild and reinstalled. I even had a choice of several others at that time. I just think since I have engine out and on stand it should get some better attention instead of just new gaskets and a paint job. __________________ "Never complain,never explain"... Henry Ford II

10-19-2018, 08:18 AM	#2
BRENT in 10-uh-C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Tennessee Posts: 11,513	Re: how much engine work with good babbitt Sure, as an engine rebuilder we do piece-work all the time. Often times we will bore, deck, or perform valve work with the babbitt intact just for the reasons you mentioned. About the only thing we cannot do is soak the block in a sodium hydroxide solution, and mediablast the components. Since we have a jet washer that blasts a water-soluble soap solution at about 200°, we can wash the block pretty thoroughly without damaging the babbitt. In a total rebuild, we will do the caustic soak followed by the jet wash rinse. After all of the machine work has been completed and the block is ready for assembly, we re-rinse to ensure it is all clean. The babbitt is never affected. BTW, most shops have actually gone away from hot tanks and just use ovens that will take the part up to about 650° to bake the crud off followed by the same jet wash solution I use. The reason why they are not hot tanking any longer is most of these shops perform the majority of their work on alloy parts which cannot be cleaned in a sodium hydroxide solution.. . __________________ . BRENT in 10-uh-C . www.model-a-ford.com ...(...Finally Updated!! ) .

10-19-2018, 11:10 AM	#3
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,088	Re: how much engine work with good babbitt Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) As Brent says, it is the hot-tank that ruins babbitt, I'm not sure I would want my block heated as is commonly done today. Can you disassemble and clean the block at home before taking it to a builder? If so, do that and instruct them not to clean it and tell them why.