1959 Clark Clipper Fork Lift: Engine Block Cleaning & Valve Guide Saga

The Continental Y91 engine teardown continues! In this episode, we tackle the massive cleaning and prep work required before the block and head can go to the machine shop. We knock out the old pilot bearing and take the first measurements of the block and crankshaft to see exactly what we're up against after finding that metal debris.

The biggest challenge? Building a custom DIY hot tank to properly clean out years of rust and sludge, including a major blockage in the coolant drain port! Then, it's off to the machinist where a broken stud and a cracked head mean more money, and a lack of available oversized pistons forces a difficult decision on the engine's future.

Watch as we go from rusty block to clean metal, ready for final assembly!

Engine Prep and Machining Update Timestamps:

Time Topic
0:23 Driving out the old, seized pilot bearing from the flywheel
2:20 Cylinder Bore Inspection: Looking at scores and verifying the 0.060" overbore
3:45 Measuring the bore—is there enough material left for a simple re-ring?
5:07 Crankshaft Visual Inspection: Checking for scores and damage
5:54 Measuring the rod bearing journals for wear limits
6:57 Removing the broken and damaged valve guides
7:44 Pulling out the old cam bearings with a driver tool
8:30 Plan Change! Deciding to finish building a DIY Hot Tank
9:12 Explaining the custom DIY Hot Tank build (heating element, aeration, screen)
13:42 Hot tank success: Yellow paint is finally coming off!
14:40 Huge rust blockage found in the main coolant drain port—a potential cause of overheating issues
17:26 Cleaning the block using Rust 911 solution after hot tanking
20:23 Head Damage: Breaking a stud and finding a slight crack in the cylinder head
21:39 Honing the cylinders and spraying with WD-40 for rust prevention
22:49 Update: Block and Head sent to the machine shop (Milling, valve guides, stud repair)
24:38 The machinist raises concerns about the 0.060" bore, but parts are unavailable
25:48 Decision made: Reusing the 0.060" overbore and hoping for the best!
26:04 Next Episode: Rebuilding pumps and covers while waiting for the machine shop!

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