Further Engine Reassembly...What Does It Cost To Rebuild A Flathead Engine?

In this video I fire up my stone dead '38 Chrysler. I also progress further on my flathead 6 engine rebuild. I talk about engine rebuild costs and cheaper options. I also review the financial risks and rewards when rebuilding your own engine.

[@error52]

All the people saying you should have had a professional re-build the engine have obviously never had to deal with incompetent, half-wit "professionals". If you want something done right, do it yourself, and considering, as you said, how easy these old lumps are to fix compared to more modern stuff, there's no reason not to have some fun.

[@dailyclassic]

I agree with your last point completly. I rebuilt my corvair engine in my kitchen over a week and have been daily driving it for years now with only minor (non engine related) issues. If you're diligent and know your weaknesses, a classic engine rebuild is a great experience. I can't wait to hear this engine run for the first time, and I'm taking notes for when I rebuild my '53!

[@raynyhus2026]

I'm a firm believer in "It's your car, do it your way." Theres always going to be armchair quarterbacks. You did a fine job.

[@a075923]

looks foggy out. Fully agree about doing your own work. In the day, I can remember my dad, and his neighbors, all pitching in to work on their cars. Some work was pretty simple, some was complete rebuilds of a component. Did they make some mistakes, likely, but I don't remember anything serious happening. Thank you for this series!

[@tydavis4867]

Good morning…I appreciate this video and your ending comments are on point. Thank you kindly. Stay safe, blessed, and be well.

[@timparhamsr9598]

Keith , I think you're onto something. . .. Make certain that the rotating asembly ( bearings ) are as perfect as it can get , aside from that and the cylinders being honed . . . . Just pay attn to details - I'd figure : You're good !! Enjoyed watching this video . . . . Thanks for sharing ;)

[@DoctorWonka]

I like your car. It can be fun to have an old vehicle that is not “show car” but in good mechanical condition. These are the types of cars that one can USE and ENJOY! It does not have to be real “Classic” either! I have a 36 Dodge sedan that I tinker on too (which is why I came to your channel 😉). It is almost drivable, and I am very much looking forward to doing so 🚗…. 👍🏼 Keep up the videos!

[@dannoquin7322]

Keith, never mind the naysayers, your productions are stellar in every way. You’ve got my vote on enjoyable moments with the overhaul. The memories you’re making are priceless and are for us as well here in KZbin land .Touché!!!

[@tombob671]

Keith great job, you did it right , as close to a new one a guy could get. I have been trying to remenber back to the 50s. Max engine life was about 100k miles, mabe valve job at 50k miles. Is my old brain remembering it right? These old engines are workhorses

[@USAFpj]

Keith- my observation with these old motors is similar to yours. With a little patience and time, if a flathead is not stuck, then they generally will run. On an unknown motor, and like you said, check compression and oil pressure- also drop that pan, remove the sludge that has accumulated, and bolt the pan back up. I love getting an old flathead that was scrapped, and within an hour, having it running under its own power...

[@richardthomas1566]

Take welding for example I’m very mechanically inclined and could take a welding class and learn how to weld but it’s not going to look like a guy that has been welding for 30 years . His work did not look like that the first year he started welding . I’m all about having a pro rebuild stuff and me bolting it back on filling it with oil , or bleeding breaks. That way your project can get finished in a reasonable time instead ending up on e bay in a box . I can see Keith loves this and does his homework and I enjoy the videos and learn a lot so I don’t want him to quit . I live vicariously thru him and enjoy my 1936 Dodge on Sundays .

[@frankdavidson9675]

if you hae a tech school in your area they may teach a class on welding

[@FranklinNewhart]

I am just in the process of rebuilding the engine in my 1949 Studebaker Champion flat head six 170. I only want to do it once. I am 73 just about 74 and I am a retired Machinist. This is not my first auto restoration either. My oldest was a 1916 Model T truck. But it will likely be my last. And I only want to do it once because I want drive my car, not spend my time upside down under the hood.

[@montysmith2076]

Looking forward to seeing this run. And you're right about enjoying your work. It's the reason we have a hobby.

[@talkmack]

i'VE ALWAYS LOVED THESE CARS AND HAVE OWNED (AND STILL DO) MANY. iN THE 1960'S SEARS OFFERED A 216 SHORT BLOCK FOR $200!!

[@johnmaki3046]

In 1965, my dads (FRIEND/ONLY MECHANIC), Henry Paap ("Modern Service" Duluth, Mn.) EXPERTLY rebuilt our '50 DeSoto's flathead "6" for $90! IT RAN (94,000 miles to 253,000 MILES) AS NEW! THIS was "in the day" of HONEST PEOPLE AND QUALITY PARTS!

[@petemack1745]

Was given 1939 Plymouth Business Coupe Rd. king 60 years ago. Blow my was so bad they had a pipe run to the rear to carry it away. It looks like the car had dual exhaust going down the road. I rebuilt the engine myself. Of course I had the cylinders for the head machine and the crankshaft turned at a machine shop. The engine ran perfectly for years after that.

[@richd5749]

Kinda fun knowing it takes patience.

[@paulvetter7242]

Regarding the cold start: the 8 cylinder Chryslers with the dual-barrel Stromberg carbs have a nifty little port on the side of the carburetor fuel bowl, which is intended as an inspection hole to check the fuel level. You unscrew the little brass plug, and if fuel is way under the level of the hole or way above the level of the hole, you need to adjust the float level in the carb. But this hole makes a really useful priming port for the carb. When the car has sat around a couple weeks without starting and the carb fuel bowl is dry, you can unscrew the inspection plug and fill the carb with a syringe and about 100 ml of gasoline. Then you've got a full bowl, and it takes no cranking at all on the starter to fire up. This saves wear and tear on the starter, although it's an extra hassle when you go to start up the car after a long sit.

[@richd5749]

What about single barrel ball n ball CARTER, thats whats in my 37 Dodge 218.7 ci in.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

I had a Buick Nail Head with a 4 barrel Stromberg with those brass plugs. Was really handy, being able to fill the float bowls up.

[@richd5749]

37, 48 Dodge 2dr coupes in the houzz. Thanks for the plain explanation.

[@dorishiggins59]

Hi Keith this was interesting, my 1954 Plymouth oil pan also has two spots braised on it.Tom Higgins

[@richd5749]

My 37 Dodge sat in a California driveway for 3 1/2 years. No start/run during sit period, parked it at my driveway, my car now! Pulled the plugs, oil, plug cables, coil. Now we pulled it with a chain to roll kick start, it cranked over and started running on the 3rd pull. Historical american inginuity designed by the Dodge brothers who put the star of david. A symbolic gesture to thank Ford for being a bigot.

[@USAFpj]

As much as we would like to validate this old wive's tale, there is no reference to the Dodge Brothers using that design as anything related to the Jewish faith.

[@liovardocalban5673]

I like how you think

[@skippynj1979]

Just bought a 53 B4B truck . Looking forward to the adventure.

[@user-ut9ps4xu9y]

Helo! I'm from Uruguay, i have the same engine in a Dodge 1946. I find out that the crankshaft has axil movimiento so i have yo tales It off but what i realy need yo know is how mucho do i have to tight the bolts when i put them back! Sorry for muy english! Thanks

[@user-ut9ps4xu9y]

Muy phone correct a few words yo spanish! Sorry

[@frankdavidson9675]

tip that will help on timing if you have the eng. out working on it paint the crank shaft pully black look for those tiny timing marks all so tdc stamped into the pully used a tooth pick and white paint to mark these groves and tdc only mark 4 before tdc this big help looking down at the pully when using a timing by start timing by rotating eng to line up marker on eng with 4th white line before top dead ctr with the spark plugs out rotate eng is easy with fan blade with cover off dist. look at rotor should be pointing to 1oclock pos.look place cover on dist add spark plugs crank eng. connect timing light to #6 plug wire theother to eng gd. hold flashing light on crank shaft pully if not on 4th mark loosen bolt under dist very slowly rotate dist till marker is on #4 tighten bolt on dist its timed

[@bombardier3qtrlbpsi]

In the early 80's 1000$. That's a shop doing it. Just sending the block out to the machine shop.

[@DavidLouisLouis-qh9ni]

I did a retrofit on my 1953 Dodge Coronet with a electric 6 volt fuel pump from the JC Whitney cataloging, in 1972, Dude use a spray can of starting fluid on a cold winter days ❓❓❓

[@GregTrickey]

Thanks for the series! I'm rebuilding my '51 Hercules (Chris Craft boat engine). Can you give a breakdown (detailed as you want) of the machine shop costs only?

[@frederickp2740]

Try soaking your manifolds in EvapoRust or a solution of citric acid crystals and water. I use it all the time do de-rust old bicycle parts (the citric acid solution).

[@frankdavidson9675]

i cleaned my m37 exhaust (manny fold) in plastic tub with water and arm+ soap powder and my battery charger looked good after 3 days ( called electrolisis )

[@jjtt7408]

IT'S GOING TO RUN LIKE A BEAR / GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY

[@bladerunner6282]

why not fill the float bowl with fuel before cranking rather than cranking the engine over and over until the pump can get fuel to it?

[@frankdavidson9675]

i got my m37 -53 in 2015 worked on every day because i enjoyed it i became sick and old now still tinker a ---little i just turned 88 so looks like it will out last me

[@VicsYard]

I have a 53 M37 as well. Need to get running again. Needs new fuel tank.

[@memogonzalez]

Keith what does that mean to spin a bearing or worry about it wont work, if you did all the work and checked in your videos it was good i dont understand why worry lol anyways its almost done good job and let there be more videos lol👍👍

[@sethm8432]

Nice video! Trying to get my 1939 Chrysler Windsor running, getting a little frustrated with it as I’ve rebuilt the carb and have new plugs/wires, along with a fresh fuel pump. Any advice on timing/TDC? Motor seems reasonably healthy, gets ok compression and oil is flowing good. Only firing I can get it to do is a huge blast out of the carb after 2/3 turns. Hoping to hear it run soon, it’s just being very picky..

[@keithsgarage5831]

Search for my timing video. Its on here.

[@victorjohnson7512]

I love any engine that does not have a single metric part or bolt on it anywhere. Just good old standard American engineering from days gone bye.

[@richd5749]

Any networking to find oil pan replicas for the 218.7 cu in 6volt flat six?

[@keithsgarage5831]

Join Facebook Group 37-38-39 Mopar Cars. My group that I started. Ask there for a used oil pan.

[@ignacioanaya3403]

What is the green color code of your Chrisler 1938?

[@mardyfisher693]

Just did a total overhaul at a machine shop on my 56 Continental 4cyl for $2500. I'm in Idaho. I am now curious what my Studebaker flathead would cost here.

[@jacquespoirier9071]

parts are not cheap on specific industrial engines as contiental, Buda, Lycoming and others, I remember ifn the early '90, I overhauled a buda tractor engine, I reused pistons, sleeves, all the castings, the crankshaft all the valvetrain, I done all the machine work and I invested more than 500$ just in gaskets , rings, seals and 1 rod bearing, this was more than 30 years ago. very good topic

[@bobfidguello7239]

Just bought a 53 Cranbrook, as a newbie,where would one find parts,,brakes,engine parts and such? Thanks your videos are such a big help.

[@keithsgarage5831]

Search for Andy Bernbaum. Vintage Power Wagons too.

[@bobfidguello7239]

@@keithsgarage5831 Thanks.

[@Jobratedman]

DCM Classics of Michigan is a good source

[@rcl700]

After watching the oil pan go on, I'm wondering how you installed the flywheel bolts into the back side of the crank? Did you have to remove again?

[@keithsgarage5831]

In another video I install the flywheel. You’ll see I did not need to remove the oil pan.

[@keithsgarage5831]

See here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaCbY5mYjNF5b9Esi=40s_gJMjZrDdaJiX

[@kobusswanepoel6447]

If you can get a head!!

[@williamwhitehead8362]

I have 1936 Dodge $ DR. SEDAN ALL 0RG