The engine is positioned on a sturdy engine stand to aid in the
removal of parts.Metal Crafters advertises itself as “the most versatile tool and die shop
in Wisconsin,” and there’s little doubt to this claim upon walking among
the shop’s heavy equipment. The shop can design parts and complete
production runs, repair metal and machinery, work with food-grade
stainless-steel and offer specialty machine rebuilding services, as well as
a complete metal fabrication shop. Most importantly to this series of
articles, Metal Crafters offers a complete engine rebuilding shop. Though
it specializes in Model A and T Fords, the shop happily rebuilds all types
of engines. When the Cadillac’s 331-cid V-8 was brought to the shop, a
1931 Chevrolet six-cylinder and alcohol-injected small-block Ford were
undergoing work in the machine shop.
Metal Crafters employee Troy Herman does the bulk of the engine
rebuilds at the business and will complete this Cadillac engine. When an
engine is dropped off at Metal Crafters, Herman likes to know why the
rebuild is necessary. Was it knocking? Did it burn oil? Does the owner
just want a fresh engine or more horsepower? (In this case, the ngine
burned oil and was simply tired.) It also helps Herman if the owner
leaves a factory shop manual for the car at the shop, as the manual
contains the engine’s original specifications. The fluids, such as the oil
and coolant, should be left at home, though; drain the oil only a short-