1940 Oldsmobile Barn-Find Restoration by Erndog

4 minute(s) of a 39 minute read

Added some photos. 

Took off the timing chain and gears. Took a peek at one main bearing. It looks good. After a lot of very dirty effort, got the oil pan relatively clean for evaluation. Found a few pinhole leaks that will need fixing. Waiting on a valve spring compresser and ridge reamer. Then we will remove the pistons, crank, and cam. Then it is off to the hot tank with the block. Of course, we will need to remove the cam bearings, freeze plugs water distribution tube, etc first.

10-11-2009

Still no luck getting the water tube out. I will keep trying. Just got back from Hershey. Found many things we need, tune-up kit, carburetor rebuild kit, fuel pump kit, gas cap, tail lights, fenderwelt, hood lacing, and definately not least, four whitewall tires$$. It was amazing to us just how few old Olds parts were available at the Hershey. Also, we were unsuccessful at meeting up with any national club members. I tried to buy a ridge reamer there, but there were few and no bargains to be had. Met a great couple who were showing a 1940 four door sedan just like this one.

Since last post we removed the valves, lost three keepers in the gook, did a little painting on the firewall and cowl area, and replaced our parts washer. Fried the old one. Just for the heck of it, I asked the Autozone people if they had a ridge reamer (didn't even know what it was last time), and they said no. But, they had two they would loan for free! Used it tonight and removed all six pistons. Bearings look nice. We'll probably reuse them. Removed the crankshaft. The mains are not making me happy. I see cracking on one (from age?) and a little too much wear elsewhere. I guess we need new ones. Went through the oil pump and it looks ok. Removed the distributor. Started removing oil galley plugs and other items to improve hot-tanking results. 

Gave up on eco-friendly parts washer and went back to washing parts in gasoline. So much better! 

Does anybody have an oil pickup screen? Ours really needs replacing.

10-13-2009

Thanks! Good to know.

By the way, couldn't remove any of the tappets. Felt like metal to metal, as though the adjusting nuts were hitting the sides of the holes. Used some brake cleaner spray and they came right out! It was just 40 years of goop stopping them. God, I love that brake cleaner!!!

10-17-2009

Thanks. I will be replacing the mains for sure now. I just pulled out the upper shells and found that the rear bearing has a weird defect in it, almost like it was wire-drawn at one corner. Not sure if it is due to heat or something in the oil, but it's gotta go. Pity, other than the two problems I found they look really good.

 I finally got the old water tube out after two weeks of trying!!!!!!

What a b****! It came out in many pieces and every one of the was thouroghly stuck. I had to make a special removal tool and also use a screwdriver down through the center head bolt holes. It was so rusted, it looked like it had been shot with a shotgun. As near as I can tell there are no little pieces left. :cool:

Got all the studs out, 

Soon to go to the hot tank.