Got my 1959 fc on the road & been driving it the last few months.
Slowly restoring it and getting it nice, It's Getting close anyways..
Congratulations on getting your car on the road, also welcome to the forum.
Last week the Cam shaft has gone in it, So have pulled the motor out & wanna do a rebuild
will all so be doing fuel lines, steering joins & few other things/
When you say the camshaft has gone, I assume that you mean the fibre timing gear has been stripped. This is a common fault with the grey (and red) motors. Fitting an aluminium or steel timing gear usually solves the problem.
anyway, its my first car really, be my first re build too
Just wondering what Ill need to do, what ill need, any good tips and where to get this stuff from
I'm keeping it fairly original with a few extra things
But would like a tad bit more of power if possible.
Ok, as this is you first build lets keep it simple. This is what i have learnt from experience and please note that it is my opinion and that maty differ from others. Please listen to all advice offered and make your own mind up.
You have the engine out, going well so far. These old girls are not hard to work on but will require some special tools. One of the biggest mistake most first timers make is they don't know when to stop. The pull the engine out, see something else wrong, dismantle that to repair the next fault, then see another. Before long the whole car has been stripped, it is now a massive build and in most cases never sees the light of day again, only to be sold off in parts or to the scrap dealer.
The engine. Simple, straightforward without too many issues. Finding parts for them is starting to get to be a bit of an issue. As you want a bit more get up and go, and you have stated that you are going to keep it fairly original, I amassuming that you will keep the old grey motor.
To give the old Grey motor a bit of power, the original FC engine has a 3.000" bore, (132.5 Cubic inches) the later engines had a 3.062" (138 Cubic inches) Now you can either opt to have the engine bored and fit the later pistons, or you can go slightly larger and fit 3.125 pistons which will give you a little bit more. The head should be machined to have hardened valve seats fitted, as originally they were designed to run on leaded fuel. Given that leaded fuel is no longer available, the hardedned seats is really an essential item in a rebuild.
It is the head that will really determine how much more power you want to produce. You could have the combustion chambers deshrouded, larger valves fitted etc but this will cost a considerable amount of money. Given that you are keeping it fairly original, I would suggest a surface grind of the head, to clean it up, hardened valve seats and a good three angle valve job should just about see you right. Make sure that whoever does the work checks the spring pressure on the seats and fits new valve springs if the valve spring aren't up to specifications.
I would opt for one of the twin carb setups that come up from time to time. These help with the power and give the grey the ability to get a better air fuel ratio. This should improve the economy and give the car a bit more get up and go when you want it. Of course exhaust headers or extractors will also help.
In regard to the camshaft, again assuming that you are going to keep it fairly original and therefore are after something with a little more poke, a cam with a 20/60 would be the best suited or a 25/65 profile would be about the most that I would go without losing driveablilty. I would certainly fit a new aluminium or steel timing gear to the cam.
If you are going to strip and reassemble the engine, find someone that has a great deal of knowledge with these engines to assist you. You will need to know that all the clearances and tolerances are exactly right. Any mistakes will spell disaster. You will need a internal and external micrometer, Plastigauge, Piston ring compressor, Dial gauge, Torque wrench, harmonic balancer removal tool and a timing cover locating tool as a minimum.
I recommend that as this is your first build, spend the extra money and have the engine rebuilt for you. Talk to a reputable engine builder, I am sure that there are those on the forum who would be able to recommend someone in your area who is well known to club members. This way you will have a reliable engine, without the problems and you will have a warranty, that in the unlikely event that there is a problem will ensure that you are not out of pocket.
Either way you go, good luck with it.
Keith
