39 Zephyr. 3 steps backwards

[Ken/Alabama]

Got the 39 Zephyr finished and drove it for the first time to town to get front end lined up, good power and running great. About a mile before I reached the shop (5 miles total ) the engine began knocking. The oil pressure went from 50# to 30#. Coasted on into the shop and got the front end done. Drove it back home and parked it. Pulled the engine out and found all the rod and main bearings and crankshaft were shot , I'm talking bout eat up. Couldn't figuire what the hell was goin on. Nothing was blue or dis colored like it had gotten hot . All the cam bearings looked good along with the cam. After further investigation I found the two center main bearing oil holes in the block were full of dirt from what we have here in the south known as dirt daubers . Got another crank and everything is at machine shop . I've built a lot of engines but never had this happen.

[jimalabam]

Ken, Sorry to hear this news, never had it happen in one of my engines, BUT you are right Dirt Darbers are everywhere. Keep Stan & I informed. Jim...

[50fordcoupeman]

Yes they are everywhere here in the Pacific Northwest too. Had a heater core once sealed in a box and they managed to fill one of the ends..............

[Bruce in southern OH]

Ken, I have to tape all the ends of hoses that I hang up in my garage, Mud Daubers in southern OHIO. They build behind light fixtures on houses if there is a hole to enter. So sorry to hear of the trouble, Bruce.

[Zephyr Q]

As someone who's Lincoln is about to hit the road after an extended downtime I feel for you. I also feel fortunate in that I had to google what the heck a dirt dauber is.

[Brian]

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Sorry to hear this news Ken. Your car is so beautiful, this is a real pity. We've got those pesky insects down here too...we call them mason bees. Clog up every hole they can.

[Dodge]

I've had them up inside carburetors inside of distributors with the cap on and other crazy places. Who would of thought a crankshaft.
You might have the shop chamfer the oil holes in the crank while it's there also.

[Detonator]

Oh man, that's awful. Glad you were able to sort it out and hope everything goes back together smoothly. That's really a gorgeous build.

[38coop]

A few years ago I ordered a new flex fuel line for my 49 Ford. Before I put on I thought I would blow through the line to make sure it was clear. It was plugged. I got a piece of wire coat hanger and started running it through the line and found it was plugged with dirt dauber mud. I called the vendor and told him to be sure check his other hoses before selling them.

[flatford8]

We call them "mud wasps" in Maine. They do get in everywhere. Hope the repair goes well.... Mark

[37 Cab]

Puts a whole new meaning to working the bugs out.. Sorry to hear this. Your car is beautiful. Sounds like you got it by the tail though. Hope you are up and running soon with no scratches from the repair.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Ken, sorry to hear about this happening to your beautifully restored Zephyr. That's more than enough to make a grown man cry.

[36coupe]

Originally Posted by flatford8

We call them "mud wasps" in Maine. They do get in everywhere. Hope the repair goes well.... Mark

Mud wasps in Nova Scotia.

[TomT/Williamsburg]

So sorry, Ken - but with a nice new engine back in the car there will be no worries ...

[Vic Piano]

That's a shame Ken. I'm all too familiar with the damage mud daubers can inflict however, I've never had them in an engine... I'll be going out to the garage to take a closer look at the Flatheads I've got stored there. Good luck with the rebuild.

[KiWinUS]

A crying shame Ken .... right when you think your getting ahead!
Cheers
Tony

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Originally Posted by Ken/Alabama

Got the 39 Zephyr finished and drove it for the first time to town to get front end lined up, good power and running great. About a mile before I reached the shop (5 miles total ) the engine began knocking. The oil pressure went from 50# to 30#. Coasted on into the shop and got the front end done. Drove it back home and parked it. Pulled the engine out and found all the rod and main bearings and crankshaft were shot , I'm talking bout eat up. Couldn't figuire what the hell was goin on. Nothing was blue or dis colored like it had gotten hot . All the cam bearings looked good along with the cam. After further investigation I found the two center main bearing oil holes in the block were full of dirt from what we have here in the south known as dirt daubers . Got another crank and everything is at machine shop . I've built a lot of engines but never had this happen.

Well that sucks. I need some pictures of a V12 crank shaft out of the engine. The 12 is a odd fire crank and i would like to have a picture to explain that. Can you send me a few pictures when you get it back... Thanks

Jim @ Bubbas

[Ken/Alabama]

Originally Posted by BUBBAS IGNITION

Well that sucks. I need some pictures of a V12 crank shaft out of the engine. The 12 is a odd fire crank and i would like to have a picture to explain that. Can you send me a few pictures when you get it back... Thanks

Jim @ Bubbas

Yes, I can do that. I have the one I removed here in the shop. I'll send you some when I get out in the shop today.

[rotorwrench]

South Texas has its fair share of mud daubers or dirt daubers or what ever they are called. They get into the pitot tubes on the aircraft that take a measure of air flow for the airspeed indicators. Our customers are always complaining of a "no airspeed" condition when they come in for maintenance. Many of them don't fly much so the little buggers have plenty of time to build nests. They can be a b!tch to remove sometimes depending on the system design. As soon as we get the tubes & lines cleared, we put pitot covers on until they pick up the aircraft.

I can feel some of your pain. It's a never ending problem that can cause a boatload of maladies of all sorts. The V12 is a lot of motor and good cranks for them don't grow on trees. We have our build up area in a closed and air conditioned part of the shop but even that is no guarantee something like that can't happen. We cover every thing with plastic bags during build up if we are not around. Damb buggers will sneak in when you least expect them.

[cdan34]

So sorry Ken, what a bummer. Hope you get it going soon, that's one special car! My L.Z. is a ways of yet and I wonder if the "dirt daubers" are here on the West coast ?

Thanks again for your past help !

Chuck