Measuring

[Truck Shop]

I only rebuild engines that I know have good component history - and as much as possible, have been under my ownership.

It would be nice to operate that way but it's really not very practical, especially these days.

One thing I have learned over many years is to avoid taking someone elses block, crank or head unless you can prove up its authenticity.

I believe it's the reason for inspecting, the risk is low if you know what your doing.
*
But one thing I have gained out of this thread so far--------------There really isn't that many on HEF
that do major rebuilds, or have completed very many, or maybe too shy to respond.

 

[Truck Shop]

all sorts of shonkiness.

Now I have heard the term Honky before, Red Fox used it all the time.

 

[1693TA]

"Honky" is my tractor's name. It is a "White Farm Equipment" brand and named after a "Red Foxx" character. We call it the "White Honky"; and as Lilly Tomlin used to say, "and that's the truth".

 

[crane operator]

I've had a head at a shop for like a month now, they are only just getting to it. Probably worse in this state though.

I just had a head take me twice that long. First shop was over two weeks, and they didn't do anything but lay a straight edge on it, and tell me "good to go!". It was a 3406 head and too big for their tank cleaner and their hone I believe. Which they could have just told my guy when he brought it in, but didn't. Second shop took just over a month.

As far as all the measuring, I'm not nearly a precise enough individual, and "close enough" just doesn't cut it in engine work.

 

[1693TA]

And sometimes it's just hard to beat someone at their own game.

I've worked with literally dozens of skilled craftsmen and engineers over my career and many times it's best to lay down the cash than expend the effort to save a few bucks.

 

[Truck Shop]

Which they could have just told my guy when he brought it in, but didn't. Second shop took just over a month.

And that brings up a good point-I deal only with shops that perform diesel machine.
Most automotive don't have the equipment to handle large engines plus they don't
have the expertise to go with it. Look for a Industrial Machine Works.
*
If you enter a shop that's full of billy-bob chevys and fords-----your in the wrong place.

 

[Old Doug]

Back when i was working on a lot of engines and it was thier first overhaul i didnt check much but now a lot of stuff has been apart multible times i check more but getting older i about need a list of what to check. I have had great luck rebuilding engines for other people but i had one i did for my self that drank oil . I had it apart 2 times and couldnt figure it out. I put it back together and used it a lot hard but it used a quart of oil in less than 500 miles. I still have that engine along with 4 others but i dont know buy looking witch one it is.

 

[OzDozer]

If you hear an Australian or Kiwi start to talk about "a shonk", "some shonky business" or a "shonky character", you know straight up, there's some highly suspect goings-on, around the individual or the operation, and the trust levels are extremely low.

I guess "crooks" or "scammers" is your equivalent.

We even have "Shonky Awards" for businesses and products that don't deliver what they promise.

The Shonky Awards | CHOICE

CHOICE's annual awards have been running since 2006 to name and shame the shonkiest products and companies taking advantage of Australian consumers.

www.choice.com.au

 

[56wrench]

When i do an engine, the amount of measuring depends on several things. If i know the recent history of it and it ran well, then for an in-frame, just the basic upper end stuff, counterbores and all con-rod measurements along with crank endplay and plastigage the oil clearance. Also oil pump if re-used. On a bare block rebuild, all of the above, then all the lower end, main bearing bores and alignment. Also cam and all related stuff gets checked as well as complete crank measurements. If its an unknown engine or core, then i check everything there’s a measurement for and anything else that may be suspicious. After all, its a core engine for a good reason, otherwise it would still be running. I probably missed a few but I haven’t done a bare block rebuild for years

 

[Truck Shop]

Completes for me are my favorite-I guess that's why I've done over 400 engines, gas, diesel, inframe
out of frame. Working auto machine for five and building long blocks for machine shop-you end up
doing a few. I remember late 80's I rebuilt 9 454's/440's, for motor homes in 7 weeks. The Cornwell
tool guy use to sell me a 3/8 drive air ratchet every 3 months-burned them up. I was known to have
to grab the cranks out using rags because those were still hot. I guess I always liked internal work
best.

 

[Vetech63]

---There really isn't that many on HEF
that do major rebuilds, or have completed very many, or maybe too shy to respond.

I know in my case I've done many.......too many to keep track of. ...............but its been quite some time ago now. Today's technology seems to be well enough to shut down a powertrain system in more than enough time to quell a major disaster before it happens. The older stuff is another story...............I just don't see a lot of older equipment anymore.

 

[Old Doug]

Completes for me are my favorite-I guess that's why I've done over 400 engines, gas, diesel, inframe
out of frame. Working auto machine for five and building long blocks for machine shop-you end up
doing a few. I remember late 80's I rebuilt 9 454's/440's, for motor homes in 7 weeks. The Cornwell
tool guy use to sell me a 3/8 drive air ratchet every 3 months-burned them up. I was known to have
to grab the cranks out using rags because those were still hot. I guess I always liked internal work
best.

I was always afraid that something would happen taking a engine apart hot. I would do 2 gas engines a week . I would try to have a vehical at the shop Sunday and pull it that afternoon so i could get to block heads and stuff to the machine shop early monday morning.

 

[Truck Shop]

I know in my case I've done many.......too many to keep track of. ...............but its been quite some time ago now. Today's technology seems to be well enough to shut down a powertrain system in more than enough time to quell a major disaster before it happens. The older stuff is another story...............I just don't see a lot of older equipment anymore.

Throw away industry.

 

[Tyler d4c]

I've learned the measure the parts the hard/expensive way. The first possibly second n844t I rebuilt (17 years old) just put the rods in that came out. Well after about a hour it spun a rod bearing and I got to buy a crank and all the other goodies to get it back together again luckily it didn't trash the block. Now I have a fellow check the rods. I need to get a bore gauge so I can one of these days. I never have checked deck height on the engines I get in to. Alot of smaller diesels I ever get in to they want you to check piston to head clearance and you adjust to spec with different head gaskets. I'll have to start tho for all the more time it takes. Probably spend more time finding the spec.

 

[Truck Shop]

I've learned the measure the parts the hard/expensive way.

The simple one hardly anyone checks on 855's is cylinder head thickness. Max new is 4.380, minimum
is 4.340, most of the old cores have been cut to minimum. Allot of heads are rebuilt that are beyond
using. The Cat B model head has the same issue, cut too many times.

 

[Diesel Dave]

Found out the hard way. Piston protrusion bit me once…never again !
One rod fooked it up.