Dodge D-24 engine

[jstephendavies]

Hello out there in Moparland. I've a 1948 Dodge D-24 Custom that I like very much except it has an engine noise. Took it to a mechanic who determined it is not in the valvetrain so I decided to have the engine rebuilt. Is it better to rebuild the engine in the car, which is expensive, or go a cheaper route and have a rebuilt one installed? I saw a website advertising the 230 flathead and received a reply  but it is a company in Truckee CA called California Engines and they got an F from BBB and some bad reviews alongside some good ones. Is there anyone out there that has experience with California Engines  or could recommend a decent company that does have the correct long blocks or "crate" engines for sale? Thanks

[greg g]

have you done anything to determine the source of the noise? When does the noise occur, what does it sound like? Is it steady or intermittent? How is the oil pressure, what does a compression test show you? What does a vacuum gauge reading tell you about your engine's condition?

Edited February 2, 2014 by greg g

[jstephendavies]

The noise is a tapping that is constant, originally I assumed valvetrain. Previous owner's mechanic thought wrist pin, my mechanic also  thinks something piston related. Oil pressure decent from what I remember as car is still in shop. Had not done compression test, was on my to do list as part of full tune up but engine ran very  well except noise was bothersome and I want to get that cured before any more related damage could occur. Thinking that they would have to tear down engine anyway to find problem might as well get it rebuilt as internals are probably original with no knowing what actual mileage is.

[pflaming]

I'm far from an expert on these engines, but I would pull the head. There could be a few pieces of carbon bouncing around, if so, remove those, reassemble and give it a 2nd chance. I wish you all the best. 

[_shel_ny]

Isolating the cause of the noise could allow you to repair the engine in the car. If a single wrist pin, cost for that repair would be a fraction of going all out at a rebuild. Were it mine, and all else seemed good (compression, oil pressure, oil consumption, ...... I would consider taking a shot at fixing the cause of that noise and getting more miles on it to determine the serviceability of the engine.

[Lumpy]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you were asking if you should repair the engine that is in the car, or purchase another. ?? (not actually work on the engine, while it's in the car) If that's the case, I would first see if it looks like the engine is the original engine. If so, I'd definitely rebuild it, and not another.

 

I'm not sure how to I.D. an engine as to it's originality, but you can determine the year for sure. Again, if it's a 1948 engine I would fix it, as it's very likely to be the original engine. The engine in my '48 is a 1953.

 

Pulling the head is such an easy task...you might want to do that and look at the cylinder walls. If there is a lot of ridge, then it might make sense to rebuild the engine. If you love your '48 as much as I love mine, and plan to keep it forever, as I do, then a fresh rebuilt engine is a very nice asset, and well worth the money spent in the long run. Knowing the engine is fresh, strong and reliable is a great feeling. A fresh motor makes more power too. Bonus! 

 

If the motor looks like it has fairly low mileage, you can indeed pull the pistons and fix a wrist pin with the engine in the car, if you can determine that that is indeed the problem.

 

Hope that helps.

 

ken

[greg g]

A common problem with these engines is broken top rings, and then damaged top ring grove on the piston. your ticking could be a piece of ring or piston bouncing around in the cylinder. a compression test would show suspect cylinder/s. you couls also do a look see down suspected cylinderspark plug holes with a scope if your mechanic has one.

Edited February 3, 2014 by greg g

[jstephendavies]

Thanks for your informative posts, I appreciate your help. I am better armed to make a decision and will talk to the mechanic about these possibilities. Ride on, Moparheads.

[dodgeguy]

Pull harmonic balancer and check for loose inner ring where it is pressed together had this happen sounded like rod knock.

[Dan Hiebert]

I always thought my engine made a lot of racket.  I've heard some of these cars run in person, and I've been looking at videos of other folks' flathead 6s and am starting to think, that even though you can tell where I've been in the D24 by the trail of blue smoke, my engine doesn't make any more noise than most.  I could probably get it a little quieter, but with over 250K on the engine and no major overhaul, I think its doing well enough.  Point being, I don't know if you can get these engines to be as quiet as a modern one.   

[pflaming]

Dan, It's not noise, it's mechanically controlled explosions!  At a certain speed when the engine relaxes and maintains speed rather than gaining or pulling, the engine goes into a hum. If the driver is constantly changing speed, the engine cannot relax. Also I've been lead to believe that the fan is possibly the main or major source of noise, thus an electric fan greatly helps and of course the best sound insulation you can find for the firewall and floor.

 

Anxious to get mine back on the road. Oh I forgot, Western and Country Music is white sound to the old engines, that's why it's so popular with old car enthusiasts. 

Edited February 13, 2014 by pflaming

[TodFitch]

. . . Oh I forgot, Western and Country Music is white sound to the old engines, that's why it's so popular with old car enthusiasts. 

In my new (only 10 year old) car it seems I need to have some music on. If not the radio then a CD or the MP3 player. Awful quiet and odd feeling otherwise. With the old Plymouth I have no radio or MP3 player and don't miss it, I just like listening to the sounds of the car itself.

[Lumpy]

I sure like listening to the car and engine, rather than music. But, having said that, I have been thinking of getting a CD player, and some 1940's music for Lumpy for when she's parked at the park, or a car show, or something like that.

 

k.

[Dan Hiebert]

Dan, It's not noise, it's mechanically controlled explosions!  At a certain speed when the engine relaxes and maintains speed rather than gaining or pulling, the engine goes into a hum. If the driver is constantly changing speed, the engine cannot relax. Also I've been lead to believe that the fan is possibly the main or major source of noise, thus an electric fan greatly helps and of course the best sound insulation you can find for the firewall and floor.

 

Anxious to get mine back on the road. Oh I forgot, Western and Country Music is white sound to the old engines, that's why it's so popular with old car enthusiasts. 

I know what you mean...."Noise" being in the "ear of the listener" - to play on the "eye of the beholder" metaphor.  I was thinking the mechanical symphony created by my engine should have been more of a lullaby than a rock concert and was concerned something was amiss.  But since its only a little worn out and is supposed to sound like it does, I'm OK with what I'm listening to       

[ptwothree]

Get your mechanic to pull each plug wire, one at a time, while the engine is idling.  See if the noise changes or goes away or what....should at least tell which cyl is having problems.......

[pflaming]

I know what you mean...."Noise" being in the "ear of the listener" - to play on the "eye of the beholder" metaphor. i agree, usually my wife's voice is a sweet melody yet at times it's like scratching on the black board!!!!  

[Dan Hiebert]

I know what you mean...."Noise" being in the "ear of the listener" - to play on the "eye of the beholder" metaphor. i agree, usually my wife's voice is a sweet melody yet at times it's like scratching on the black board!!!!  

Yeah, like listening to women's Curling in the Olympics.....