ahh good to hear. Thanks for sticking with this thread guys. Its really helping me.:beer Keep you updated when I get the heads cleaned and the pistons all ready for install etc.
Is your nailhead a 401 or 425? If it is a 425, I have some used pistons in a box that are alredy off the rod. They are original Buick pistons that will match what is already in your engine. The aftermarket piston you buy to replace the one will most likely weight in at 20 grams more than the factory ones. If you have a 425 and want one of these, I will pick out the best one and send it to you if you pay the shipping.
So bill from the machine shop is in, he did a vaccuum test and said some of the valves were leaking so he took them all out (both heads) did a valve job, cut back the valves or something like that, put in "high quality" valve seals, he said this would help so it doesn't smoke and for longevity but it did not originally have them. Also completely cleaned (ready for paint) and resurfaced the whole part where it meets the block, looks really nice. On Monday I pick them up and he's gonna show me how to do the re ring. All for $230, hope that's a good price.
Sounds like you got a good deal, keep that machine shop on retainer, if the engine works well when it's together do him a favor and advertise him, good machine shops are hard to find...
Today was awesome, I went to my grandpas and brought the block and pistons. I told him I wanted to learn, he showed me how to use a ridge reamer and we honed the bores, it was an awesome experience and some good valuable time with my grandpa. Tomorrow he's gonna show me how to re-ring and were gonna put the pistons in. :grin:
fantastic! take all the moments with your grandfather that you can... soak up all his knowledge... As awesome as it was for you, I bet it was even more for him...
Adrian, Son, your post brought tears to my eyes, and a lump in my throat.... I got started just that way,,, my grandfather owned a garage/wrecking yard when I was growing up.... I followed him around like a puppy.... I am going to shout here,,,YOU HAVE FOUND A TRUE TREASURE.... Thanks for the good memory..... When you guys do the heads,, just be sure to replace the valve guides BEFORE you grind the valve seats, so the seats will be true to the center line of the valve stem... have Grandad to show you how to remove the rings and clean the ring grooves with the ring groove cleaning tool , and then how to ''spin'' on the new rings without breaking them... there is a art to it... and remember,,,, the old Doc quote,,'' If an engine aint clean enough to eat out of ,it aint clean enough to put together''.... most of the damage that an engine gets , it gets the first 2 minutes after it is first started up, due to foreign material assembled into the engine.... Simple Green is your friend, soak grungy parts in it, full strength, over night and they will come out very clean... just wash them off with a brush and clear water....great on hard to clean stuff like timing gear covers, rocker arm assemblys ect... and speaking of rocker arm assemblies ,, break yours down completely, clean and inspect them... and pull the plugs out of the shafts and run a rifle cleaning brush thru them untill they are clean,,, then reassemble... and lube.... the new plugs are made by dorman and available thru the parts houses... this is a must,,, there is a lot of crud inside of the rocker arm shafts and the oil must flow thru them to get to the rocker arms.... Thanks again for the memory,,, what would I give to just be able to sit down again with my grandfather and have a cup of coffee....
adrian : was just wonderin how that was goin ? parts ok ? and don't forget to keep grandpa on retainer also . good luck , take your time , do the best ya can and enjoy . del
Another great day with grandpa, he busted out the old ring groove cleaner, showed me how to use it. Then showed me the technique to putting the rings on without busting any. I never knew his shaky hands could be so precise! Its awesome, they are set to go. Thanks for the reply Doc, I'm glad I could bring that memory back for you. Here's another thing that I thought was funny, while we were cleaning up the pistons, he asked me if I knew about how much it was to get one rebuilt nowadays, I told him and his eyes grew about 5 sizes! He then proceeded to dig deep into his shop drawers and showed me how much he payed for all the machine work and building of his old 55 Caddy engine. $432.00...Wow. That was cool to see Del, parts are awesome, thanks a lot. Youre a big part of this rebuild, thank you. Next stop, pistons in the block! Whoooo :grin:
Cool Story. It reminds me of my Buick engine rebuild story. In 1975 i was 13 years old. My dad had a 1955 Roadmaster 2dr. The Buick had been his ride to and from work for the six years since he bought it for $300. We decided to restore it. On our way to our FIRST show a valve dropped and busted a piston. A friend of Dad's was a NASCAR mechanic at the time . He helped us pull the engine in the front yard. Then the Nascar mechanic took the block and heads to his machine shop. At his shop he fixed up the heads and sleeved the block. Dad had a parts car Super that donated a replacement piston. The Nascar mechanic refused to take any money for his time and shop use. Now 35 years later the old Roadmaster runs as good as it did in 1955. Dad is 81 and I'm 48. We took the old Buick to a Cruise-In last Saturday. And, had a blast! Good Luck with your Buick!
Grandpa came through again, we got all the pistons in. Im done with this thread, all updates from now on will be through my restoration page (link in my sig). Thank you everyone for youre help throughout this thread! :beer :beer :beer :beer :beer
