Re: old time mechanics....was engines

Posted by jim mason on April 04, 1998 at 09:54:33

In Reply to: Engines
posted by Mike Flanagan on April 04, 1998 at 08:42:42

my father...and me vaguely. had the pleasure of owning a 41 ford that was 'built' by mr. wilson (the only name i remember) former mechanic for the indy race team that produced the novi specials.his work was also amazing.

p.s. i've worked in er's....panty hose aren't bad...when you expect a female and find out the patient is male...that throws you!

jim

: I just had the distinct pleasure of checking the bottom end of an engine the likes of which may not be seen again.

: This engine was built by the late Clint Brawner. For those unfamiliar with racing one of his cars won Indy in 1958 with Jim Bryan at the wheel.

: The engine was built in the 70's and spent a lot of time in the hanger until about 5 years ago. Since then it has been driven all over hecks half acre and mostly at full throttle.

: To say the least the engine has not been well cared for by the present owner and I told him as much. Not knowing the history of the engine when I dropped the pan (I had to prod the oil to get it to flow when I removed the bung plug) I fully expected to find a thoroughly trashed motor.

: To my surprise what I found was extraordinary. To say the mains were pristine would not be overstating. The clearance was at .001 to .0015 and the wear pattern was uniform over all the bearing surface. The only real departure I found from a "normal" engine was the hard chrome on the journals. That and superior workmanship has built as close to a bullit proof Model A engine as I can invision.

: When my time comes I would like to be found slumped over just such an engine, finished and ready to go... with clean underriggin's on....

: The only time I was ever seriously injured on the job was the same day I decided to take Broadway Joe's advice. About wearing panty hose when it's cold... you guessed it, fell off the dam building and went to the hospital in a pair of "Leggs full Figured"... made quite a hit in the emergency room!

: God Speed Under 50.

: The Model A Fool.


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