Durant Mike Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 Well today was a frustrating day for me. About six month ago I called around the Central Florida area to have my 1928 Continental 15L engine rebuilt out of my 1928 Durant. Well all the machine shops in Orlando responded that they wouldn't touch it and many had never worked on any engine older than the 60's. Contacted a restoration shop and they recommended a machine shop in Tampa. Called the guy and spoke with him and he said sure he could do it and has done older engines for the restoration shop before. Drove over an hour and 45 minutes to take the engine to the guy and he looked it over and said " Oh that has Babbitt bearings and I don't do them. Told me there was only one shop in the Tampa area that he knew of that could do that. So I called them and wasn't impressed by the help I wanted to drive over there since I had my engine with me and had already traveled a long way. Well they said they couldn't see me today, but maybe tomorrow. I sure wasn't going to drive back. Later in the conversation they told me that the guy who could do Babbitt had had a heart attach and they didn't know when he'd be back. They were not aware of anyone around that could do it. So I drove back to Orlando and put my engine back in my garage. Does anyone know of anyplace in the Southeast, especially Florida, Georgia or the Carolina area that can work on my engine and replace the Babbitt. Someone that has worked on the older engines and has a good reputation. Certainly do not want to trust my engine to someone that isn't experienced. Any leads would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durant Mike Posted May 14, 2019 Author Share Posted May 14, 2019 I guess another question I have is can any machine shop restore and rebuild an engine with Babbitt bearings without destroying the original ones My engine was not running when I got the car so I have no way of knowing how it ran. I know machine shops do various processes to get the engine back to tip top shape, such as boiling the block, honing the cylinders etc but will this process destroy the original babbitt? Or can they do all the work and just put the old crank back in and be good to go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercer09 Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 just send it to J and M machine in Mass they are the best- do it all in house and you can send your engine to them through Fastenal for about 150. get someone who knows what they are doing............... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JV Puleo Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 Excellent advice. I try to do everything myself but I still had them bore my blocks. After you've been at this for a long time you get a strong sense of the competence of a shop and they really impressed me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 franklin Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 send to Patrick Reeve in Cazenovia NY. Him and his dad do all their own babbitt work and complete engine work 315 663 1569 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herm111 Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 10 hours ago, Durant Mike said: I guess another question I have is can any machine shop restore and rebuild an engine with Babbitt bearings without destroying the original ones My engine was not running when I got the car so I have no way of knowing how it ran. I know machine shops do various processes to get the engine back to tip top shape, such as boiling the block, honing the cylinders etc but will this process destroy the original babbitt? Or can they do all the work and just put the old crank back in and be good to go? The best is J & M Machine in Southborough, Ma. They work on the exotic engines, no one else will touch. They also have a web site, and is very interesting. Talk to Mike, or John. 508-460-0733. You won't regret it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durant Mike Posted July 2, 2019 Author Share Posted July 2, 2019 Thanks for everyone's replies. I was hoping to find someone here in the Southeast that could do the job. Long way to travel to New York and Mass. But I'll start calling them and seeing who can handle my engine and get it done. I'm anxious to get this car running and driving after a very long long restoration. Road trip here I come! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chistech Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 I’d recommend Advanced Engine Rebuilding in Wareham, MA. Hans has been rebuilding all my babbitted engines and they pure like kittens. He does motors from all over the country and recently completed a Kissel for a customer out of FL. He had a early thirties Buick 8 in there last time I was in along with a $50k Maserati engine he had just rebuilt. His pricing is very good also with a fairly quick turnaround. Shipping an engine is no big deal these days as was already stated. I’d rather ship an engine to a reputable shop than chance a rebuild at a questionable shop because it’s close to home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike36 Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 Hey Mike, remember the length of the trip isn’t near as important as the quality of the work done. Good luck with your Durant and enjoy your trip. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Dobbin Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 Mike, I Pm'd you to google Doug Schooley Engines in St. Petersburg FL. YOu'll be happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredpack Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 I bought an all original Chevy two door sedan about 3 years ago. Sat in an attached garage since 1985. The engine was locked up. With the head removed, I poured Aero Kroil on top of the pistons and let it sit for weeks. Still locked. Since I finally pulled the engine out the other day, I figure I might as well do it right and rebuild it. I live in Louisville, KY and none of the shops that I have contacted in this area will work on Babbitt bearing engines. Some of their websites say they do but when I call they say they haven't in years. Wish they would update their websites. Anyway, I would love to find a shop closer than Massachusetts or Florida. Can anyone recommend a machine shop closer to Louisville? Maybe Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Gregush Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 (edited) Does that engine have Babbitted shell bearing or are they poured? If they are Babbitted shell bearings you can send them to; https://www.kohnkerebabbittingservice.com/ Kohnke Rebabbitting Service | Facebook More than likely they are the shell type. You would still need to have them line bored to fit your crank after you got them back, but would save shipping the whole block. Edited January 9, 2022 by Mark Gregush (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hook Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Hercules Welding & Machine Co Inc 618 W 5TH ST PALMYRA, NJ 08065 This company has been in business since 1913 and has many Babbitt mandrels' for early cars. CLAIM THIS BUSINES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akstraw Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 This place in Charleston, SC has been recommended to me, but I have not used them myself: https://www.simonsbalancingllc.com/ Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 On 1/8/2022 at 6:16 PM, fredpack said: I bought an all original Chevy two door sedan about 3 years ago. Sat in an attached garage since 1985. The engine was locked up. With the head removed, I poured Aero Kroil on top of the pistons and let it sit for weeks. Still locked. Since I finally pulled the engine out the other day, I figure I might as well do it right and rebuild it. I live in Louisville, KY and none of the shops that I have contacted in this area will work on Babbitt bearing engines. Some of their websites say they do but when I call they say they haven't in years. Wish they would update their websites. Anyway, I would love to find a shop closer than Massachusetts or Florida. Can anyone recommend a machine shop closer to Louisville? Maybe Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana? fredpack, I sent you a PM (Private Message) Check your email from AACA and click on the attachment/link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 CT is not that much closer but Pat's Restoration in Monroe can help you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFeeney Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Please note that the Babbitt in the original mains and rods will be melted out and repoured, then machined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kelso Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 DFeeney why is that? Any body interested in Babbitt equipment? I have it all to pour about any size bearing plus a line bore,new Babbitt, there is also a rod cutting machine that needs some work. Also a cylinder bore. I have not done bearing for 20 years, and don't plan to start. Contact me if interested Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 On 1/10/2022 at 3:16 PM, hook said: Hercules Welding & Machine Co Inc 618 W 5TH ST PALMYRA, NJ 08065 This company has been in business since 1913 and has many Babbitt mandrels' for early cars. CLAIM THIS BUSINES I'm told that Hercules is no longer doing this 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave39MD Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 Kenneth Hoods Garage, Austell , Ga. has done that work, mostly Fords but has done Chevrolet's. Our VCCA Region toured his shop. Give them a call and see if they are still doing the work and can help you. Dave Kenneth Hoods Garage Inc 5707 Powder Springs Rd Austell, GA 30106-3230 (770) 948-8011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hook Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 8 hours ago, Dave Mellor NJ said: I'm told that Hercules is no longer doing this If that's true, it's a terrible loss. They have or had a lot of ancient data and equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 The last few people I sent over there all said they were told they aren't doing it anymore 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilium.don Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 On 1/12/2022 at 12:02 PM, JAK said: DFeeney why is that? Any body interested in Babbitt equipment? I have it all to pour about any size bearing plus a line bore,new Babbitt, there is also a rod cutting machine that needs some work. Also a cylinder bore. I have not done bearing for 20 years, and don't plan to start. Contact me if interested Hi JAK, can we get in touch about this stuff? My email is lilium.don@gmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durant Mike Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 Well thank you anyway for the information. Took the engine to Ron's Machine shop last January and they have it to work on. Never could find anyone in the Southeast to do it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejboyd5 Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Can't help you since we sold all our Babbitt equipment back in the '90s. There was simply not enough work to justify its retention when there were so many modern engines to be modified and rebuilt. While we were doing Babbitt work, we found that many owners needing this service were very careful with their money and had no idea how many hours of labor were involved. I got tired of explaining costs and found it easier to abandon that small segment of the market. It was somewhat akin to dealing with sailboat owners with marine engines who believe that since the wind is free, everything else should be free as well. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Here's a place in Ohio that does real nice work. They did the Babbitt in the 20/20 Rolls Royce I rebuilt the motor in a while back. Larry Schramm has also had work done there on his 1915 Buick truck and other Vehicles that require Babbitt. I know it is also a ride but the work was excellent. Dandy Dave! http://www.hartsmachineservice.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petevelasco Posted May 17 Share Posted May 17 Does anyone no of machine shop in California that does babbitting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted May 17 Share Posted May 17 51 minutes ago, Petevelasco said: Does anyone no of machine shop in California that does babbitting Try Egge Machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepher Posted May 18 Share Posted May 18 I would be leery of Egge these days. Do a lot of research on their quality before you have work done there. Egge used to be one of the 'go to' shops on the West Coast but they haven't been the same for over a decade. Our Rickenbacker had engine work done at Egge in the 70's. That is the reason they list Rickenbacker pistons in their catalogue. They had never done a Rickenbacker prior to doing ours but since they had to make a piston for ours they added them to their catalogue. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFranklin Posted May 18 Share Posted May 18 (edited) I wouldn't be afraid to use EGGE, any shop can have a bit of trouble. They served me well, as I'm sure others also. They made pistons for a '36 Olds I once owned. Edited May 18 by JFranklin add thought (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted May 18 Share Posted May 18 Just a suggestion, Pete. You should start a separate post in order to bring attention to your west coast need. Your post above is somewhat buried in a two year old thread that centers around Florida. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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