Engine advice... and story.


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Posted by Jonas. on Monday, February 10, 2003 at 0:09AM :

In Reply to: What Manuals are recommended?- restoration of '52 Civi Flatf posted by Cliff Cole on Sunday, February 09, 2003 at 1:19PM :

When I got my first Power Wagon. It ran good, smoked a bit on start up (but stopped after a minute), but seemed under powered. I figured I needed new rings so I might as well do the rebuild while I'm at it. I did what most novice's (that I've talked to) do, I pulled the engine and dropped the whole thing off at the machine shop.
Well, $2200 later with a balenced 230 and higher compression head, etc... Not one bit of difference. In fact it was harder to start after the rebuild! These trucks are under-powered. Live with it or helitool it.
What I should have done, and what I'm reccomending to you, is pull the pan and check the bearings, check the compression, inspect the engine. If it's good, spray it down with diesel, let it sit, spray it down some more diesel, let it sit, get a wire brush, and some solvent, clean it up and "thro thet sumbich in ere!"
Drive it. You will enjoy driving it more than rebuilding it. Not that I'm against turning wrenches... But belive me theres enough wrench turning on a running driving Power Wagon to keep you busy.
"Work smarter not harder"
Another thing, work on one system at a time. It's easy to do a lot of little things to a bunch of different components/ systems, and still have a big pile of parts with 4 wheels and tires sitting in your garage. It helps me to make a checklist and to follow it. (Yes, I was in Avaition when I was younger!)
Heck, for most of us it's hard enough to just stick to one truck at a time!



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