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At around 67K my engine and transmission went kaput, https://www.speedsterowners.co...n-have-to-be-rebuilt

After listening opinions here and talking to friends and since I want to keep my car as long as I can, I decided to get a new long block engine (don’t ask me why it is called long block and what is the difference with short block, but that is what I was told) from Pat Downs. The engine is certainly not cheap, but as we all know, money is not stupid, and the engine is worth the price. It is smoother, quieter and the power seems to be the same if not slightly more than the old engine which is the 2332cc. My new engine is 2180cc and supposedly rated 150hp, 168 ft lbs torque and I haven’t pulled it to the redline as it has only about 1K miles. It pulls cleanly from idle without any stumbling or hesitation. It is highly recommended if anybody is looking to get an engine.

The transmission was rebuilt by Rancho and it runs now quieter, except on fourth gear if I lift my foot from the gas pedal, the stick clicks forward, but it did not go out of gear. I hope that is not an issue later on, Rancho said it should be OK.

1957 JPS Coupe #3

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@DannyP posted:

So you got 67k miles out of a 2332? That's pretty good. 40k is about all to expect out of 94mm cylinders.

Exactly what was the failure mode of the engine? Did it seize or was it just tired and spewing lots of blue smoke?

At 67K it is spewing blue smoke especially when I turn right. The valve guide were all messed up, some went in, some came out, apparently this is common if the engine runs hot. The timing gear on the camshaft were moving even when touched by hand because the key that hold the gear was loose. One of the wrist pin scratch the wall of the cylinder, the plug hole on cylinder #4 is cracked causing that side to be always wet. By this time I didn’t even asked my mechanic the condition of the main bearing as the cost of rebuilding it comes close to getting a new engine ( without any accessories) from Pat. What is the life expectancy of a2180? I think if I get at least as long as the 2332, that should be good for me although I hope that Pat built engine will be more reliable. By that time I probably won’t be able to drive anymore😳

@Karyadi posted:

What is the life expectancy of a2180? I think if I get at least as long as the 2332, that should be good for me although I hope that Pat built engine will be more reliable. By that time I probably won’t be able to drive anymore😳

There are guys who think otherwise, but a really nicely screwed together Type 1 typically need freshened up on the top end at 40k or 50k mi. The bottom end can usually make it twice that.

I like that you understand that 50k mi is probably 10 years, assuming a very aggressive driving season. There are guys who think they're going to get 100k mi.

Anything's possible, I suppose. I think you did exceptionally well with what you had. A 2180 should last longer than a 2332, given the shorter stroke and the (much) thicker cylinders.

Last edited by Stan Galat

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