AA Truck Restoration Project - Engine Tear-down

On a very cold Saturday afternoon in March, eight knowledgeable club members showed up to disassemble the Model AA truck engine.  There were nine of us, but that includes me, a beginner, when it comes to this hobby.  Having had a Model A for only six months, I have a lot to learn.  I thought this AA Truck restoration project was a great opportunity to learn from the masters with hands on experience.  My hands did get dirty whenever some heavy lifting was required, but mostly I tried to stay out of the way.  My greatest contribution was keeping the wood stove hot and mopping the floor afterwards.
The day started inside the horse pasture by hauling the previously abandoned engine out of the shed.  We had to get the engine into the back of Jim Callander’s pickup and then into the clubhouse.  This operation was closely followed by the half a dozen horses, who were desperate for attention.  The Model AA engine weighs about four hundred pounds and was quite tricky to lift without any mechanical help.  We placed the engine on two sawhorses inside the clubhouse and the old boys began to swarm.  Lead by Gord Watt, the step-by-step process began and the toolboxes started to rattle.  It was like lions feeding on a fallen gazelle.
Having read a stack of restoration and maintenance manuals, it all started to make sense to me.  You have to realize, my experience as a mechanic is rather limited.  As a kid, I was quite skilled at taking everything apart.  Occasionally, I could even get things back together, with a few parts to spare.  The engine came apart without major complication because of the experience of everyone there and their extensive toolboxes.  Everyone was firing on all cylinders.  At times, creative thinking was required by the group.  The biggest problem was left over oil leaking out of the thing-a-ma-gigs and a couple of stuck valves.
The talk suggested the engine was in good condition despite the fact it laid in a field for decades.  Only the key measurements remained in determining the fate of this mechanical antique.   The measurements of all the major components were compared to the “Mechanics Handbook”.   It was determined the cylinders were beyond maximum and would need to be sleeved.   The alternate engine, already disassembled, was also measured and was found to be roughly the same dimensions.  The block, head, cam, and crank will be sent to Alberta Chrome.   There it will be cleaned, Magna-Fluxed and a more precise evaluation for defects will be made.  If the original engine checks out okay it will be used, if not we have the alternate.

 It was a very interesting day, everyone would agree it was well worth the time.  Many thanks to Gord Watt, Glen Smith, Grant Alger, Jim & Gary Callander, Harry Wigle and Reg Fryling.   For those who didn’t make it, you missed out.  Stay tuned for the next AA Truck gathering.

By Troy Dillabough