Some believe I've crossed over to the dark side. 39/40 vs. '36

[38 coupe]

Rebuild at 30,000 miles was common in the 1930s. The roads were mostly dirt and gravel so lots of dust to tear up the rings and cylinder walls, the lubricants were crude compared to modern oils, and no there was no oil filter on the engine. Engines wore out before the car did. One of Ford's advertised selling points was their engine exchange program, get a factory reconditioned engine installed in your car in one day instead of whatever quality and time it took a local shop to go through your worn out engine.


One possibility for why the car got a rebuilt engine and was parked is the same as some projects today: the owner was older and fixing up a car that was special to him, but health issues got to him before he could drive and enjoy his labor.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 38 coupe

Rebuild at 30,000 miles was common in the 1930s. The roads were mostly dirt and gravel so lots of dust to tear up the rings and cylinder walls, the lubricants were crude compared to modern oils, and no there was no oil filter on the engine. Engines wore out before the car did. One of Ford's advertised selling points was their engine exchange program, get a factory reconditioned engine installed in your car in one day instead of whatever quality and time it took a local shop to go through your worn out engine.


One possibility for why the car got a rebuilt engine and was parked is the same as some projects today: the owner was older and fixing up a car that was special to him, but health issues got to him before he could drive and enjoy his labor.

I think your theory is probably a good one.

Also, I agree 100% as to how quickly engines wore outback then. Even as late as the early / mid 60's, it was not unusual to rebuild an engine at 75k. Valve job? 40k.
I think many folks forget just how poorly things were built / designed, etc. back then vs. today.

[34fordy]

Originally Posted by Kube

I think your theory is probably a good one.

Also, I agree 100% as to how quickly engines wore outback then. Even as late as the early / mid 60's, it was not unusual to rebuild an engine at 75k. Valve job? 40k.
I think many folks forget just how poorly things were built / designed, etc. back then vs. today.

The school year 62-63 I worked in the afternoons at an auto repair shop. I was introduced to the Sioux valve grinder early on and became the soul operator. I don't know how many valves I resurfaced that school year but it was a lot. I would venture that most cars end up in the salvage yard before having a valve job now. 60-70 years ago many engines had 2 or 3 valve jobs before their demise.

[Als48]

Originally Posted by 34fordy

The school year 62-63 I worked in the afternoons at an auto repair shop. I was introduced to the Sioux valve grinder early on and became the soul operator. I don't know how many valves I resurfaced that school year but it was a lot. I would venture that most cars end up in the salvage yard before having a valve job now. 60-70 years ago many engines had 2 or 3 valve jobs before their demise.

I remember my grandad Sam's '52 pickup, which was a flathead V8 having trouble with one valve in particular on the passenger side. I think it was the No 3 intake, which was accessible with the sparkplug removed. I would use ATF down the carb once in a while to free it up, but usually required tapping it gently with a screwdriver. It would run fine for a while, but if left sitting for a week or two, it would stick again. It must have been bent a little from someone (maybe a 16 yr old, me) tapping on it with a screwdriver! Ha ha

That was a vehicle I should have kept, scrapped it for $40 in the 70's.

Al Hook