The 37 is getting a new motor

Ever since I put the taller gears in the 37 I noticed a rattle in the motor when its not under load and sounded like in the valvetrain,the other night I installed a set of rocker arms that I filed down the tips and it got rid of the tap but the rattle is still there. It only rattles when warm so tonight I pulled each plug wire while giving it some gas and the noise went away when #2 plug wire was removed so its either a wrist pin or rod bearing going out,thicker oil for now and I think its V8 time if I cant find a good 235 or 261 since I have too many projects going on right now to repair the existing motor. I want a 401 or 425 Buick nailhead but I can get a good running 302 and AOD cheap but its going to be put on the other side of the garage and will decide what to do later,so much for the original look.

howabout a all aluminun buick 212 block heads all complete

I want a little more power this time.

If I want to fix my 37 quickly I need a 235 I can hear run,would like a 54 motor but a 55 to 62 would be fine and would consider a whole car or truck and a 261 would be better.

Might even consider a good running 216 to get me by untill I get everything for a V8 swap

No need for another motor since it was the valve springs.

Installed new valve springs on cylinder #2 and most of the rattle is gone so I will order 10 more springs and replace them all,so much for a hotrod motor right now.

Been tinkering with the motor and getting it to run a little better,ordered a heat kit so the intake will get warmed up and should help with the cold running issues. Playing with the jet in the carb and got some I needed at the junkyard and also picked up a drilled head bolt so the rockers will oil quicker,some day I will pull the side cover and see whats going on but its getting a good flow of oil now so no need to tear into it right now.

The noise is still there so watching for a 54 235 or a 261.

There was a guy parting out a 58 235 on craigslist that threw a rod outside the block so I picked up a generator,carb and a foot stomp starter,yes I am going to take the car starter out and replace it with a foot stomp version and it will go back to the generator when I pull the motor to check it over and do a repaint in the original color. I did rig up a non working foot pedal for the starter for the look so its time to make it work,I think the present starter is dragging a little so after the 66 goes back to the storage garage I will send it out to be freshened up and go it.

As much as I would liked to install a V8 in the 37 its not going to happen this time but will be getting another 235,while at the family reunion sunday I was discussing the issues I am having with the 235 and a relative said he has a very low mile 235 that came out of a one owner 56 car that got a V8. The car belonged to his buddy and he yanked the motor out by hooking the chain the the rocker arm shaft so I will have to find another set of rocker arms,it will get painted the original 37 color and get all the 216 parts I put on the present 235 and go back to a generator and foot stomp starter. He claims the motor only has about 12,000 miles on it so this weekend I hope to pick it up and will swap it over the winter.

Picked up the 235 sunday and I doubt it has very low miles as it was not as clean on the inside as I would think a low mile should be,it looks to have been repainted so it was out of the car at one time so I am going to make up a stand to fire it up to see just how good it is. If it has good oil pressure and does not smoke it will get cleaned up and put in,I will put it on the stand and check it over before going in but I do want to hear it run before I do anything to it.

junkyardjeff wrote:Picked up the 235 sunday .

nice!

If it has low miles it probably had alot of non detergent oil used in it,if it runs good I will put it on the stand and take it down to a long block for a good cleaning and all new gaskets.

Got the original coil gutted and the conduit cut off the original ignition switch and cleaned up,a GM coil will fit inside the original but I ordered a VW coil since it has a internal resistor and see if it will fit. Need to get the foot stomp starter out and send it out to be freshened up.

Got the foot stomp starter in and will take a little getting used to since I have used the key since putting it togather,not sure on the motor right now as I am looking for a early 235 that looks like a 216 to use the crank and rods out of the 56 motor to convert to full oil pressure. Also keeping watch for a very nice 216 to go in temporary until the early 235 can be done if I can ever find one,might also consider a free or dirt cheap 216 to convert to full oil pressure too but they will need custom pistons that gets expensive to use with 235 crank and rods.

Cool! Glad to hear that the '37 is getting closer!

later,

Lee

Might have a 261 located but in Kansas,the seller has a truck coming this way and might jump on it.

I have found a 57 Olds J-2 motor that ran a few years ago and seriously thinking about buying it for the 37,I hate to give up on the six and trying to make it look original but a Olds rocket is the one of very few GM V8s I would stick in it.

A J-2 is pretty sweet!

later,

Lee

The Olds engine swap would be the coolest thing you could do. I don't think you would ever regret it and may even put you in the driver seat of that old truck more than you have been.

I want to do the swap but wish I could hear the motor run,its been sitting for about 10 years and not stuck but will probably need to be gone through. I need to get a Y block built for the 55 before I can tear the 37 apart. I have to do some research to see what a new flywheel and trans adapter will cost,the 57 to 64 motors use a different flywheel then the 56 on back and are not as easy to find a used one.

The 37 just lost its one and only billet part which was a inside rear view mirror,I found one that looked a little more correct and installed it tonight. I wish I could change the interior but too much to do before I can get to it.

Go the left spindle removed and the spindle I picked up does not look much better,had to destroy the old spindle to get the bearing spacer off so I am going to take a wheel cylinder hone to it so it wont be such a tight fit the next time. I am going to call a place in Springfield to see if I can com up with a NOS spindle before I put it back togather.

I installed the spindle I have tonight and seems tight so I am going to put it back togather and see how it does,I am still going to check on a NOS spindle in case there is a problem in the future. I am almost certain the bushings required more force to go in on the other side,if I have to do too much work to it again maybe its time for a IFS.