2N engine evaluation: no sleeves!

[Gustafson]

Got the engine up on a stand yesterday and started measuring things. The crankshaft is stamped .010, the journals are smooth and it plastigages .002 to .003. The camshaft looks like new. That's the good part.

But wait...there are NO SLEEVES at all in this engine. The pistons were running in the bare block. I'm not sure how big a problem this is.

More information: the pistons are 3.265 diameter (.080 oversize?) They have 4 rings and they have a dome shape on top.

The bores measure 3.271 to 3.272 at the bottom and 3.276 to 3.280 at the top. So I'm looking at .002 to .004 out of round and .005 to .007 taper. MARGINAL according to my FO-4.

My question:I'm on a real tight budget, can I get by with just a hone and re-ring...or do I need to get the block bored out for .090 sleeves and new pistons?
 

[souNdguy]

some people wanted to cheat a few CI out and pull sleeves and run OS pistons bare inthe block.

depends on actual conditions if you can re-ring and go.. etc..
 

[Dell (WA)]

Gussy........many early thin sleeve 9N-2N's had their sheetmetal sleeves pulled so they could run 1940 Mercury pistons for more horsepower. Unfortunately, the "cure" is NEW CASTIRON sleeves and pistons. Yes, you will haffta "bore" yer block; this is a common engine machine shop procedure. Castiron wears better for chrome rings. BTW, Ford specs: 90-psi min (dry) NEW rebuilt engine is about 125-psi. ........Dell
 

[Bill Rowles]

If money is a consideration, I would run the engine as-is unless there is a problem such as burning oil or low power capability......It is not clear what operating history is.
 

[TheOldHokie]

[Ken(Ark)]

[Gustafson]

Ken:
I got this tractor from an estate. I saw the PO bushhogging with it a few times 20+ years ago, it seemed to have plenty of power and it certainly wasn't smoking. (I didn't get a chance to observe the oil pressure) Winter of '92, the PO parked it in a shed on his place...the following spring it wouldn't run, so he just walked away and there it sat until I pulled it out of the shed and opened up the engine.
I found one of the exhaust valves was firmly stuck open...no doubt the cause of the twenty-years-ago troubles.
I'll use this tractor to mow a 50'x 2000' strip in our pasture...maybe 6 times per year.
 

[Badger bob]

Gustafson what do you have for a airplane? iam flying a champ out of a 1000 ft srip hear. thanks bob
 

[Gustafson]

TOH:
Thanks for the opinion, that's exactly the kind of feedback I'm looking for.

Interesting, isn't it, when we're younger we live on a "tight budget", in middle age the money seems to flow more easily, then we get older and find ourselves, AGAIN, back on a strict budget...But I suppose that's just the cycle of life.

Anyway, of course, I'd like to do a first class overhaul, but this tractor project is being financed by retirement savings and whatever I can squeek out of my social security check. And that means I'm not going to be able to do everything perfectly, I'll have to cut some cornors somewhere. So I'd sure value your opinion on how to proceed in this situation.

The wife tells me I can spend $700 on this thing. So I guess a better question would be: what's the most I can do for $700?
 

[Gustafson]

Hi Bob:
It's a 1947 Taylorcraft BC12-D. Bought it wrecked in '04, rebuilt it over 8 year period.

1000' strip sounds a little snug even for a champ. But great fun I'm sure!
 

[TheOldHokie]