My two half’s of a short block sat in half on my work bench containing many gears rods , bearings and I could see even as a layman that there where some nasty marks on the crankshaft bearing shells.
Several Beers later and a few hundred phone calls revealed a company in Tonbridge Kent, Hodson Engineering, Gazza Trading Estate. My first visit to this place bought back heady memories of the lathes, milling machines and machinery that was in our technical block at Angley Cranbrook. Every wall was occupied and this was truly an old engineering company with many specialised skills.
I soon had the information i needed to obtain from them about the engine, that told me that it could be rebuilt.
The end float was approx .04 inch + or - inch in free play with three shims fitted, I was talking like an engineer even though I could not utilise the information myself. My crankshaft, seals, shims, gaskets and flywheel where all taken up to Hodsons and left for two weeks. During the two weeks the crankshaft was reground to fit the oversized shims and the flywheel was balanced. The whole process was completed and a telephone call was made asking me to collect it.
My parts arrived home in a brown cardboard box. The crankshaft was taped together and had been reground and the seals, gaskets and shells had been fitted. It was a lovely sight all clean and polished. I had bought new piston rods and bearings and these where soon greased and fitted onto the crankshaft. The whole lot was then inserted into one half of the engine casing and the hot cam and shells where replaced as where the tappet followers. I remembered to get some of the hematite case sealant and a couple of days later my short block was back together.
The transplant was a success. The crankshaft was rock solid in its bearings and the engineering company had done a wonderful job for £30.00.
Two half's of an engine and a packet of shims
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