Dean Klinkelaar examines one of the re-Babbitted rods, ready for
use. His company specializes in making or refurbishing vintage
engine parts (www.effinghamregrinding.com).I agreed. One eyewitness account from 1946 noted that the vehicle
wasn’t operable then. Chances are, it wasn’t tinkered with after that. If
so, that meant 64 years of dormancy.
Now, in its 95th year, we were preparing this old-timer to come out of
retirement. Coaxing is a better word, treating every part with respect
when the engine was reduced to parts, examined, rebuilt and
reassembled. Only one way to do it — the right way.
This takes time. If you ever jump into an engine, give yourself plenty
of time. A dose of patience is necessary, too. Put on your thinking cap,
because you’ll have to out-guess some problems and think like the
assembly line workers and engineers who put it together. Unfortunately,
Quirin and I were running short on time in order the show the vehicle at
the highwheeler gathering, so extra energy, long days and short nights
were in order.