From: David Cole (DavidCole@tk7.net)
Date: Fri Jan 16 2004 - 18:57:34 PST
Aaron,
You need to do an evaluation on the engine.
First thing I would do would be to make sure it spins free. Then get the
engine into an engine stand set it up for cranking. You'll need a battery
some wire, etc. Make sure the oil is up and crank that engine over with
the starter. If it sounds good (ie nothing clanking, etc), put a
compression checker on it and see how the cylinders and valves are. If the
pressure is within spec, I'd either try and set it up to run on an engine
stand, or stick it in the M38 and see how it runs. If the compression is
out of spec, you can narrow it down to rings or valves by squirting some
oil into the cylinders. That tends to seal up the rings and if the valves
are bad, you pressure will still be low.
I wouldn't spend a dime on the engine until I spent 4 hours or so
evaluating the engine. It's also pretty simple to pull the pan and check
the main and rod bearings with the engine in an engine stand. It might be
junk or it might be close to perfect. Chances are it is somewhere in
between.
The more you know about the engine the less it will cost to get it ready
for your ride.
Good Luck,
Dave
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 13:34:01 -0800, Horrocks, Aaron <ACHb@pge.com> wrote:
> Hi List,
>
> If you've been following my project, I've got an M38A1 with a lot of CJ5
> parts in and a hunk of junk for an engine (it's a CJ5 engine with a crack
> and very poor compression). Anyhow, some civy nut job had a '53 A1 that
> he was gutting out for a 12V conversion and a 350-Chevy. He put the parts
> on e-bay, and I won the engine. He claims it ran fine when he pulled it
> out, however the fuel filter stopped working so he by-passed it with a
> newer one. By the time he sold it on e-bay, it was sitting for about a
> year.
>
> So, now it's in my garage and I've got a little bit of money. Before I go
> head and drop this into my jeep...
>
> Should I have this engine professionally rebuilt? Or am I safe giving it
> a good cleaning, draining all the fluids, give it a flush (oil and anti-
> freeze) replacing all the gaskets, etc, etc. Cost isn't too much of an
> issue, but I'd much rather spend the money on something else if I didn't
> have to. Like a new set of canvas seats and a summer top! The way I see
> it, I could spend $100 on all the fluids and gaskets and might luck out
> with a decent engine. Or, it might still need a rebuild and there goes
> $1,500. However if I take it straight to the shop I'd spend the $1500
> when the engine might not have needed it.
>
> I called M&M head in Hayward, CA (the same guys that the Archer Brothers
> use) and they quoted $1,450! To me, that sounds like a decent price...
> perhaps a bit on the high side?
>
> In any case, I'm sure some of you "list-ers" have experience about
> engines sitting around for a while that I could really benefit from.
>
>
> Aaron Horrocks
> 1952 M38A1
>
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-- Dave
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