52 M38a1 Motor Pool Resto

Not far Tim. The plan is to separate the engine from bell housing. The tranny/transfer go on the shelf. Engine needs valve cover gaskets, timing cover seal and a good cleaning. It's possible that the rear main seal needs to be replaced so maybe the oil pan gasket as well. There is M38A1 specific trim that needs to be swapped in. Stay tuned, I like to move fast!! Pete

 

That's because this powerplant comes out of a CJ5. I'm just using the engine here....

 

Ahhhh

 

Taking stock of gaskets and seals on hand that I need for the engine. This is something that I'd like to tackle this weekend, but....

This set is missing some things that I need like rear main seal and oil pan gasket. This was on the shelf for many years. Sigh...Well, there's a growing list of parts that I need.

Also missing a right rear engine support bracket (opposite part of the pic below) which bolts onto the mounting plate.

In my frustration, I may have primed a pile of parts which I've gradually been blasting with my crappy compressor which hates the cold. Yup, I may have doubles and some triples of things, but nothing will go to waste. Plenty happening over the next few days. I promise lots of pics....Pete

 

Worst case, it looks like a part you could fabricate. Angle iron, cut and grind?

 

True, but I'll have an email into Pete DeBella over the weekend with a parts order anyway. He probably has it No doubt that I'll need more stuff after the partial engine teardown anyways....

 

Bizal has them as well.

I am curious about D18 military rebuilds. Who installs the paper gasket under the output shaft seals? My relative omitted them when he resealed his t/c.

 

Well I certainly use the seal gaskets, coated in Permatex spray. I don't think it makes a difference, civvy or military.

 

I thought the paper output shaft seal gaskets were military only?

 

When you order a gasket and seal set from DeBella, you get the seal gaskets as well....Regardless of CJ5 or A1. See: https://www.debellajeepparts.com/CJ3B_TRANSFER_CASE_CATALOG.htm

 

Interesting. My transmissions and transfer cases work fine, but they sure leave their mark when they sit for a while.
I may want to do a re-seal in the future.
Haven't gone into the trans or transfer before.
Got some new tie rod ends from John at MWM. Last time I drove the 53, it had a bad case of death wobble. Balanced the tires and had some play in the tie rod ends.
Will look at that when the weather is better.

Your progress is inspiring.

Dave

 

Hey thanks Dave. Hoping for a big push tomorrow.....!

 

So tranny is divorced from the engine and it's on the stand thanks to Shaun. More later with lot's of pics, I promise.

 

Start to my day at 7:30 helping my wife with a project.

She's an artist and wanted me to build an armature for a sculping project she's going to be working on. 1/2" square bar stock and so very easy to work with. River otter on steroids if you couldn't guess based upon her carboard template. She put's chicken wire around the armature with clay and takes it from there. I know not what she does aside from this, but on occasion she helps bleed my brakes and mostly gives me peace. She has no idea what I do in the shop so we're good.

More tear down. I was fortunate enough to have Shaun (Blalp!) to help out today. No room beneath the engine for a sling. But....

I forgot about the lifting hook on the RMD engine. Here's Shaun installing it. The head bolts are specific to M38A1. I'd say about a 1/4" longer that ECJ5 stock bolts in the same location.

More later....and more pics.....

 

Off the ground...

Clutch cover off...

Flywheel...

And onto the stand...Apparently, Shaun is the only guy turning wrenches. I was eating chocolate and drinking coffee the whole time.

 

Pete, you did stuff too…

 

Ahh progress. It was not known that you were also an Artist as well as an expert Jeep rebuilder. Big things happening. I had a machinist friend make me the head bolts for the lift hook as well as rebuilding the "dogs" in the steering box and knurling the bushings to rebuild the steering box. Got that one on the shelf.
Thinking of ordering about 3 of the re-seal kits from Pete Debella.
He also has the wiper rebuild kits. Might give them a try also. Got a couple of wiper arms that just flap in the breeze.
Looking good.
Dave

 

Ha! I'm no artist. I'm ok at replicating other's work at best. We'll see what happens with this engine. Some curve balls but nothing that we can't get sorted out (I hope).

 

It was fun my friend. You and everyone else push me along with this project. We're getting there!

 

Some weeping of oil on the outside of the block prompted us to take the head off. You can see evidence of oil that was leaking right at the corner of the block facing you.

I'm glad that we did. Although I'm confident that the engine would have run, my belief is that it wouldn't have for very long. The good is that the cylinder walls are nice and smooth, except for a tiny bit of surface rust at the top on # 1. Based upon this, I'm confident that the rings are in good order.

But, I'm not as confident with the exhaust valves. The seating is dubious at best. I'll see what I can do to polish these up while in place. I do have a spare set of valves on the shelf if need be.

It's obvious that this motor was fouling for some time. My sense is that it was poor ignition of fuel, or just running too rich. I'd appreciate any wisdom you guys can share. Pete