.002-.006" of gap per inch of bore, no?
I remember gapping the rings in my Audi engine to .024" because I wanted them a shade over spec.
You probably could run a flathead tighter because they run low compression and lower engine speeds, but .006" seems really tight.
In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :
I removed the throw out bearing and everything came right out.
In reply to Pete:
I will double check the numbers of course before finalizing, but the point was that a tad over could be better.
In reply to Recon1342 :
No, smooth as glass, which in my mind is bad; no oil retention between strokes. The one on the right is as I found it, the hole on the left has concentric scratches put in by me when I whipped out the rust and extraneous material keeping the piston from being removed. The two stuck pistons had water inside while others had coolant. Condensation?
Yes on condensation with the water holes. Pete is correct on ring gap. .002per inch of bore size is the tight limit. I had an employee build a BMC B series too tight and my customer had the top of #3 piston stick at the top of the bore on the highway. It ran OK on 3 with a lot of oil smoke...
When pulled out, the ring fully compressed stood well outside the piston diameter. Your friend and I were lucky, normally the piston blows in half at the top ring groove. =~ 0
Class, the .005-.006 gap size was off the top of my head to point out you go to the top or over. These are the actual numbers.\
I rented a valve spring compressor from Napa, on a SBC it would be fine. Flathead springs are down inside the block and the top of the block gets in the way of the compressor. I borrowed one from a friend that has a curve to it, beeyoutaful!! There were only two valves that had to be "encouraged" to leave. Things were nasty so I shot some foamy engine cleaner around, I couldn't lift it into the dishwasher.
The Napa clamp is on the bottom.
After my latest Stupid Human Trick, I haven't been in the garage much. A quickie update: Using a small ball grinder and a whip, I cleaned up the bowls and runners through the air runners. I then lubed up the valve stems, applied lapping compound to the valve's seat surface and spun away. Once cleaned up the seats looked pretty good so I let it fly.
Normally I would do a gasket match port opening and mirror up the runners, but I don't see a huge advantage her for all the work.
I honed the cylinders. Diameter sped is 3 3//8" with no +/- tolerance. They run 3.370 - 3.376. Two of the cylinders are severely pitted from rainwater sitting too long. Some had coolant inside, these two had plain water. Bringing it to the Napa machine shop today to have things measured up with a dial bore gage. If it's more than sleeving two cylinders at $250 each, I'll be looking for a small block.
Do the 322 and 346 share a block? The M5 light tanks in WWII used the 346 L-head engine, and the technical manual has all the specs for the engine, to include overbore specs.
TM 9-1729A:
Yes, same block, huge torque!. But my 322 has new pistons, bearings AND someone took the time & money to core the cylinders and resleeve all 8.
As I said, if more than 2 jugs have to be sleeved, it's SBCaddy time. Adding the cost of machining, gaskets, rings etc., another 322 block would work or put my tranny on something else.
In reply to 914Driver :
I hope they can save it for you. Those old flatheads are neat.
Interesting! Heater cores and fans under the front seat. Hard to see, but it's only open at the front and back. Still has one under the dash but I think that's defroster only.
Mice loved it. =~ (
P.S. If you have any tips for the safe removal of mouse feces etc. love to hear from you.
In reply to 914Driver :
Vacuum with a HEPA filter or bag. Do everything you can to avoid putting turd dust in the air.
That's better.
In reply to 914Driver :
Regarding mouse poop, wear your gas mask. I don't know why people think having a gas mask is weird, but they are cheaper than hardware store approaches and keep everything out of your eyes, too.
Good news - Bad news!
Good News:
I am at my son's house where his basement holds cases on cases of good wine, AND he now works for Macklowe Whiskey and has some $1500/bottle stuff (I don't care for it).
Bad News:
Got a call from my friend the Napa shop leader. =~ (
Three cylinders have been re-sleeved. The crack in the water Jacket they were trying to repair leaves a very thin wall and if not done properly coolant goes around the sleeve and over the top into the combustion chamber, as we see here.
Gary explained the process knowing my background, but hesitated when I asked what the success rate was of another repair. "Maybe 40%".
OK, take off your Napa hat for a minute and talk to me like Gary the car guy. "I might try to fix it IF I could find sleeves with a collar or T on top, they don't make them".
He sent pictures which I will try to post, only have my phone here.
WWGRMD??
WWGRMD? Didn't MKE machine his own sleeves for the Ferrari?
Anything can be made. The question is what is more expensive a different block or custom sleeve. If you can come up with a drawing of what is needed and specify material I can give you an estimate of what the cost to have one made.
I can make anything myself, there's not enough block material left. Once I can upload pictures you'll see. Mag Particle Inspection can reveal subsurface anomalies, you can see the repair from inside the sleeve. (subsurface).
Imagine a small explosion, and just on the other side of the wall is boiling water looking to go somewhere. What material, thickness and structure make up would be needed to keep these independent systems from cohabitating?
It's not there.
There's a YouTube machine shop channel that did something similar. I'll try and find it this afternoon.
Edit for my memory. They were sleeving a Jag XKE block.
This makes me sad. LaSalle with stock engine = super cool! LaSalle with generic motivator = ok LaSalle with other flat head or Cadillac motor would still be cool.
My dad repaired one of my damaged blocks with some brazing and other trickery. Find someone who is not afraid to fail, they will find a solution to the problem, it has to be repairable.
Have you ruled out another 322 block?
Nope, searching now.
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