I've decided...engine rebuild

[knighthawk]

once the engine is reved up, it's probley still there. Sounds like the valve train. I'm at all familiar with these engines, but if you can get to the lifters, just by putting a feeler gauge in there, it takes up some of slack, should change the sound. I worked on a Packard one time, had to remove an acess panel from in the wheel well....just a thought....

[47heaven]

Hey guys...reading all of your feedback really made me stop and think that I am jumping to a conclusion too quick. Personally, I would not rebuild my own engine, and that's for my own piece of mind. I don't have the knowledge to do something like that on my own. I would have to learn it visually, not by a book. So I would feel more comfortable having that kind of work done by a professsional or someone who knows what they are doing. I do know for a fact that the engine has to be taken out, cleaned up and painted so that it looks good in newly painted car.

Thanks again for making me think twice.

[eric wissing]

I really like James Douglas's input. You get their expertise and tools and you get to use your time and care. Just my 2cents. Eric

[48Dodger]

Hey Darin,

Don't fear doing the rebuild yourself. Its easier than you think, its fun, and it changes the way you look at your own car. Most rebuilds you read in magazines are for High Performance engines. Much different animal. The domesticated work horse is very forgiving. Pull out any old chilton's from the seventies or eighties and read up the chapters on rebuilding the long block. Nothing scary there. I agree with James, plenty of help here too.

[knighthawk]

Now I don't want to offend anybody here, but......... Myself, and I assume a lot of guys out there, have been around or inside of engines, for quite awhile and take alot of little things for granted.I personally would have a had time finding some one that I would be comfortable with having them overhaul an engine. Just because it's ''overhauled'' dosen't menan it is, like just using a glaze breaker and cast rings vs honed and chrome. Average guy ( owner ) would never know the difference, for a while ! I guess what I'm trying to say is , it would be better if you could help or hang out with someone who is building an engine, or have someone redily available to guide you. Let me ask you guys out there... would you be comfortable taking someone off the street that you never met before, put them in your garage, and giving them only a telephone ( and your tools ) and tell him to go ahead and overhaul your motor ???.............................P S ... most engines have noises if you listen hard enough .

[48Dodger]

Hey Darin,

I dare you to rebuild your own engine! I double dare you! I double DOG dare you!

48D

[Plymouthy Adams]

The dreaded DOUBLE DOG dare..man its do or die now..can't lose face....in all truthfulness. the guys are right..an engine rebuild is just keeping to specs, torque values and cleanliness..don't let terms like balance and blueprint scare you. Most piston sets are sold in set that have taken balance into consideration..a crank from the factory turned all journals equal will remain balanced..rod will be within specs if original to also keep the factory balance on your engine..blueprint is nothing more than ensuring all specification are within spec..nothing more..pre assembly lube is your key to successful long life engine on initial stat up..have it prepped to start immediately..make that first run for about 30 mintues to break in the cam and lifters at a very high idle..say on these puppies about 2000 RPM..if you have access to molybedinumdisufide..(sp) by all means use it on the lifter lobes and bottom lifter surface...if you can find just the powder..mix with 30 weight oil and mix to a good paste form.

[Don Coatney]

Now I don't want to offend anybody here, but......... Myself, and I assume a lot of guys out there, have been around or inside of engines, for quite awhile and take alot of little things for granted.I personally would have a had time finding some one that I would be comfortable with having them overhaul an engine. Just because it's ''overhauled'' dosen't menan it is, like just using a glaze breaker and cast rings vs honed and chrome. Average guy ( owner ) would never know the difference, for a while ! I guess what I'm trying to say is , it would be better if you could help or hang out with someone who is building an engine, or have someone redily available to guide you. Let me ask you guys out there... would you be comfortable taking someone off the street that you never met before, put them in your garage, and giving them only a telephone ( and your tools ) and tell him to go ahead and overhaul your motor ???.............................P S ... most engines have noises if you listen hard enough .

Just curious, what does "overhaul" mean? I have never understood that term. I do understand rebuild.

[Plymouthy Adams]

shade tree term Don..I could explain it but would have to make a pitcher of ice tea first...

[48Dodger]

o•ver•haul

Pronunciation: (

—v.ō"vur-hôl', ō'vur-hôl";

—n.ō'vur-hôl"), [key]

—v.t.

1. to make necessary repairs on; restore to serviceable condition: My car was overhauled by an expert mechanic.

2. to investigate or examine thoroughly for repair or revision: Next year we're going to overhaul the curriculum.

3. to gain upon, catch up with, or overtake, as in a race.

4. to haul or turn over for examination.

5. Naut.

a. to slacken (a rope) by hauling in the opposite direction to that in which the rope was drawn taut.

b. to release the blocks of (a tackle).

—n.

Also,o'ver•haul"ing.a general examination and repair: The state roads were badly in need of a major overhaul.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.

48D

[Don Coatney]

shade tree term Don..I could explain it but would have to make a pitcher of ice tea first...

Tim;

Guess I always relate that term to Mrs. Murphies chowder as in "who threw the overhauls in"

[Plymouthy Adams]

Overhaul...definition..slightly OT..largely political..but extremely funny......

Hillary Clinton goes to a primary school in New York to talk about the

world. After her talk she offers a question time. One little boy puts up

his hand. The Senator asks him what his name is.

"Kenneth."

"And what is your question, Kenneth?"

"I have three questions:

First - whatever happened to the medical health care plan you were

paid to overhaul during your husband's eight years in the office as President?

Second - why would you run for President after your husband shamed the

office?

Third - whatever happened to all those things you took when you left

the White House?"

Just then the bell rings for recess. Hillary Clinton informs the kids that they will continue after recess.

When they resume, Hillary says, "Okay, where were we? Oh, that's right, question time. Who has a question?"

A different little boy puts his hand up. Hillary points him out and asks him what his name is.

"Larry."

"And what is your question, Larry?"

"I have five questions:

First - whatever happened to the medical health care plan you were

paid to overhaul during your husband's eight years in the office as President?

Second - why would you run for President after your husband shamed the

office?

Third - whatever happened to all those things you took when you left

the White House?

Fourth - why did the recess bell go off 20 minutes early?

Fifth - Where's Kenneth?"

[Young Ed]

Darin your engine would be a good candidate for what I would call an overhaul on one of these. Since it currently runs new bearings throughout, a valve job, and new rings on the old pistons would probably get you many 1000 miles. You'd have to check and see just how out of spec the pistons and bores are.

[Jim Saraceno]

Here is a good article about identifying engine noises... http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v76/JImCno/Fix%20Plymouths/?action=view&current=Page66.jpg and... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/JImCno/Fix%20Plymouths/Page67.jpg

There are a lot of things you can check to see what kind of condition your engine is in. The two easiest and most telling is the vacuum gauge and the compression tester.