The Ragtop Express

So I’ve started tearing down the engine. The slotted screws for the cooling tins were not very fun to remove...

Good thing I split the case, because I found this little gem along with some other small remains from the guide for the fuel pump...

Before tearing the engine down, I measured the end play, which came out to 0.14 mm, and the main bearing saddles don’t look disastrous. But you can feel a ridge with your fingernail. Still, this engine will be reassembled with the same internals it was taken apart with. The plan is for a bigger engine in a couple of years.

Then I spent a day at a friends garage and got to borrow a hot water pressure washer, small parts washer, and the vapor blasting cabinet.

The vapor blasting cabinet works wonders. Here’s the cam plug as an example.

The heads also got a once-over.

Even the valves!

I lapped the valves to the seats before reassembling everything. The valve guides were really nice on the intake side, and a bit loose on the exhaust side, but not catastrophic.

Quite a difference!

I also blasted the pistons and all the rocker components.

Back in the garage, I was ready to assemble a short block.

…almost, anyway. I thought I could drop in the crankshaft with the distributor shaft in place—immensely difficult. If the distributor shaft has to come out, the bakelite guide for the fuel pump has to come out too. Yeah… you probably know how that usually goes...

Eventually, it was out, the case halves cleaned again, and all parts in place without issues.

I also honed the cylinders.

Then the fuel pump and carburetor got a bath in the ultrasonic cleaner and new gasket kits.

The distributor got new contact points and a light cleaning.

A pair of old valve covers from “the stash” got a coat of black paint.

This engine is by no means rebuilt—just cleaned and reassembled with fresh gaskets. It’ll live, as long as it lives. I had previously planned a 130–150 hp engine build, but I’ll build a “Stage 1 engine” first in a couple of years which can go in my bus when this one is taken apart and turned into a proper “Callooker.” I’ve got a case to send off for line-boring and have started collecting parts and sketching a build plan. Dual relief case, deep-stud, large oil pickup, and M8 case savers.

I also got a set of super-Chinese IDF 40 carburetors that will go on that engine.