Engine rebuild

[arnhemmer]

I'm new to Ford Barn and this is my first post, so bear with me.
I'm in the market to have my stock engine rebuild to an touring engine.
Has anyone had any experience with Bert's in Colorado who does inserted engines in house?

[BudP]

If you were to list your location in your profile, someone may have had a positive experience with an engine re-builder near you that they would share.

Bert's has given me honest and excellent service re mechanical and body parts.

[arnhemmer]

BudP, thanks for the reply. I just updated my profile so that people know where I'm at. I do understand that Bert's is a good company to deal with and after talking to Dan who runs the machine shop I am interested in having my engine rebuilt by them. H&H in California has reviews that are all over the map. Maybe others have more referrals.

[P.S.]

Bert's gets rave reviews.

Locally in our area, Joe Sivils at Turlock Machine gets rave reviews. I have one of Joe's rebuilds in my 31 Tudor, and it runs fantastic. Just jump in and drive anywhere, anytime.

[zzlegend]

Sounds like you have wisely reviewed H&H. I would think twice about them. Just my 2 cents.

[hardtimes]

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Originally Posted by arnhemmer

I'm new to Ford Barn and this is my first post, so bear with me.
I'm in the market to have my stock engine rebuild to an touring engine.
Has anyone had any experience with Bert's in Colorado who does inserted engines in house?

You live fairly close to Joe Sivils of Turlock. The Turlock Swap Meet is on the end of this month. If you can get to this event, I'm thinking that Joe will have a booth showing his wares. At any rate , call Joe and discuss your wants/needs. You will be thankful you did, IMO

[arnhemmer]

P.S. Thanks for the info. Do have any contact info for joe sivils?

[arnhemmer]

I just joined Ford Barn and I am new to the model A , already you guys are of great help to me. It is greatly appreciated.

[P.S.]

Sure. Check your Private Messages.

[waxhead]

I have recently installed an engine built by Joe Sivils of Turlock Machine. The engine is strong, runs smooth and has no oil leaks. I can recommend him based on my experience with this engine.

[Fred K-OR]

If you ever need any used or new parts, Bert's is very good option. Will give you good used parts and if you need new, they have them also.

BTW, below is a Ford Barn story about what Bert's does for the Model A hobby.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152289

[JohnLaVoy]

One or two of the Summer Tour to Puyallup this year were running Sivils engines. A local friend put one in and is pleased with it so that looks like a good choice. Bert's is good too and Antique Engine in Skokie IL does a nice one. Schwalms back east does a great one too, it is what we have in the sedan and have about 40,000 miles on it.

[arnhemmer]

Thanks guys for all the info on engine builders. Makes my choosing a builder a lot easier.

[700rpm]

If you can support a local supplier it helps your Model A community and local economy, and you don't have to pay shipping charges. No patch on Bert's or other suppliers; they are great. But local is a good way to go.

[DougVieyra]

There was a recent thread on this site a couple of days ago, about Ron Kelley (R-K) engines. R-K specializes in Touring engines and does an outstanding job. However, he is in Texas (or is it Oklahoma ?) which is a ways to ship a big, heavy engine (both ways) $$$$.
So, all things being equal, you can save some bucks by delivering (and picking up) your engine to Joe Sivil's nearbyTurlock Machine. with good reviews from fellow Model A'ers, it sounds like your best bet.
I too have heard mixed reviews about H&H touring engines.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by zzlegend

Sounds like you have wisely reviewed H&H. I would think twice about them. Just my 2 cents.

Just to add my 3¢ (that makes it an even nickle).

I think about H&H quite often. In fact have thought about them most of today! All the while I am taking my H&H engine apart now for the 5th time to "fix" things on one of their engines with ~3,000 miles on it.

[Mike V. Florida]

Before you call a builder it is a good Idea to have a plan in mind on what you expect the engine to do. There are mild changes as well as radical changes. There are changes that need extra equipment installed like the R-K engine mentioned.

Figure what you want it to do THEN call.

[arnhemmer]

Thanks again for every ones input. I am in the planning stages and in the process of taking my engine out. I want to set up for touring which is longer driving capabilities. My engine runs very well and uses no oil but started to make a noise at the bottom end. Not a knocking sound but more of a rattling sound. Changed the oil and found a piece of Babbitt material in the drain pan.
It is part of the thrust surface from the rear main. Best that I shut it down to prevent any damage to the block, which I'm having rebuilt. Going to set it up with inserts, high compression head and a better cam. Thanks all again for the help. Just joined the Barn and glad that I did.

[dlfrisch]

If, you want have a reasonable $ source of transportation - DreamWerks in Leicesteer, North Carolina (828 775 1257) is the best, that I know of here in the East. They only do Model T and Model A engine work complete and they guarantee their work. They did my '30 "A" Coupe engine complete, rods, pistons, all new Babettes, etc, but I had to install a new timing gear after about 50 miles. All is A OK now - have about 1200 miles on it.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by dlfrisch

If, you want have a reasonable $ source of transportation - DreamWerks in Leicesteer, North Carolina (828 775 1257) is the best, that I know of here in the East. They only do Model T and Model A engine work complete and they guarantee their work. They did my '30 "A" Coupe engine complete, rods, pistons, all new Babettes, etc, but I had to install a new timing gear after about 50 miles. All is A OK now - have about 1200 miles on it.

This is a little misleading, ... I think, and probably needs a little clarification. You had Mike replace the timing gear because it failed in 50 miles, -or because you went from an aluminum to a fiber gear after the 50 miles??

[James Rogers]

Brent, the gear was not changed when I did the engine. It was not part of the engine work and was fiber. I did the work as I was contracted and the gear was not checked or changed at David's inference. Not a problem and now all is good. This engine was a partial rebuild or what most would call a repair and certain areas were not addressed since there was no obvious damage to repair.

[Marshall57]

I'm in Nevada, and asked around to a few clubs. Some very trusted folks recommended Joe Sivlis in Turlock. I have an engine that is being completed this week. He comes recommended and will tell you that his only criticism is that he takes a while to complete an engine. The price is very reasonable and he is great to work with. I am driving down the first of next week to pick up my new engine and it feels like Christmas is just around the corner.

[700rpm]

Marshall, how long did it take to get your engine completed?

[arnhemmer]

Marshall

You'll be happy with Joe's engine, met him at one of our seminars last month. He brought a rebuilt engine with him and answered a lot of the members' questions. Because of his turnaround times I went with Bert's who was 12 weeks out at the time. This was 12 months ago and the engine has been running strong since. Both use antique engine re builders components in their inserted motors.

Arnhemmer