I stopped by to see Mike at M&M. We spoke on monday (after delays delays delays for weeks) but he was FINALLY getting around to my motor this week. Good timing on my part...it was getting it's cylinders honed as I was there. Block was also bored out .030. Block was clean and decked; looked good! Head was magnafluxed but still bare. Crankshaft was in good shape, but the cam was toast: wear wasn't too bad on the lobes, but you could see some nasty chipping on the edges and pock marks, like casting imperfections.
Full rebuild, new Comp cam, flat-top pistons and rings, new valvesprings, gaskets...reuse con rods and crankshaft...also resurfacing my flywheel. $1390 with tax! Gotta love it when the price goes down from what you thought it was going to be...
That is definitely a chunk of change, but to see what they are doing made me realize that this truck will either go forever, or I will put it into another Ford truck down the road.
I called Mark at MD Trans by Doc's place and they said they would get the T-18 4-speed inspected and resealed. That will help me get both engine and transmission from Delaware in one trip.
Overall my cheap-a$$ is slightly hurt by the expenditure of cash, but I have a strong sense of confidence that this is the right thing to do for my Ford, as well as a great - and necessary! - experience as a car guy. I'd rather be rebuilding a common Ford engine for a hobby truck, than have to get raped by hurriedly replacing a blown engine in my VW or Honda.
I should've repainted the frame with this relatively mild weather we've been having...or at least the front part before the engine/trans goes in. I still will need to modify the driveshaft to accept the fixed yoke on the T-18, as well as the fixed yoke on the axle.
I was hoping to get this driveable by the end of January, but I don't think that's going to happen at this point. More to come...
I also did a full budget of everything I need for the rest of the truck, from hoses and belts to shocks, clutch, brakes etc...$700. Not too bad...