1948 Kaiser still a project HELP!

[Evan Crowell]

I don't know how many people in the club still remeber me, but im the young kid out in NJ with the 48 Kaiser. Well now I'm going to West Point and I'll be in the Army and my car still sits as it has for the past 1.5 years. Its my only car and a daily driver, or was I guess. I sent my motor out to get machined, but the guy did all of the work on a cracked blocked and charged me $2500 for a useless block. Now Ive got anouther block, but for a 51 with the hydramatic. The crank from my 48 won't fit so I can't use it. So I have a few questions and open ended requests for the good of the club. I want to continue this love for kaisers into the future, but I need a bit of help from you all.

1. I caould really use a block for a 48-47 if anyone has one they'd sell

2. I need an overdrive I can put on the car once it gets going

3. If anyone can give me any guidence for making a 51 hydramatic engine fit in a 48, or that can sell me a crank or any other parts to do it that would be good.

4. Can someone put me in touch with Ed Ewing in Redding CA to buy a motor

5. I would be intereded in buying a motor or full drivetrain if anyone has got one sitting.

I'd be willing to make a trip pretty far to pick up parts, I'm located in Leonardo NJ. If there is any way to workout anything please let me know, I love my little old car.

[Fid]

If you add overdrive, you may have to change the rear end as well. The overdrive equipped cars used a different rear axle ratio.

[Evan Crowell]

Do you know what the ratio is? or how I could differentiate between an overdrive and non overdrive rear?

[joefrazer]

No need to swap rear ends. With the standard rear end you won't win the race from a traffic light, but you will do better at the top end. My 50 Traveler has OD and a standard rear end.

[rialto]

Where is the block cracked?  Sometimes they can be repaired.

[kfnut]

I sent an email . Did you receive it ? If not interested , just let me know . I was making sure the email came thru .

[Evan Crowell]

Mr. Frazer,  I think you might have recently spoken to my stepfather about parts. His name is Bob Reuter. Thanks for the input about the overdrive, the idea is to increase top speed so I can bring it up as close to modern traffic as possible.

Jake, Any Info you might have on those 2 motors?

Rialto, Its about a 13 inch crack along by the valve lifters. we are going to repair it to have an extra, but with the miles I put on it we want as solid a motor as possible.

KFnut, I did I also replied to the message. thats not too far from me and probably worht the trip if I can get in contact with the gentleman.

[kfnut]

NEPTUNE 96 . I haven't seen a reply yet . May need to call me if interested .

[Bobm90]

Just a suggestion here, it might be worth consideration buying yourself a parts car, there is one listed in the for sale column - if you have room and can get a good running original you could strip out what you need (drive train) and sell the rest, or do a engine and trans swap and sell the parts car, many possibilities here but of course you need room for a parts car. Or maybe it becomes a beloved 2nd project car which isn't the worst thing in the world and you have saved yet another Kaiser, at least you may have a original engine without a cracked block or one that can be rebuilt and lots of spare parts.

[Bobm90]

PS here is what I am talking about, car is located in NH,

http://http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/5594463608.html

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/5594463608.html

listed on this site for 3,900

[Fid]

Here's a block.  It's in Missouri -

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kaiser-226-Supersonic-Flathead-Six-Engine-Motor-Block-with-Main-Caps-/142002853710?hash=item211007974e:g:EFIAAOSwEgVWThLt&vxp=mtr

[rialto]

There are four broken head bolts you will need to remove on this one.

[Fid]

There are four broken head bolts you will need to remove on this one.

Good catch rialto. Yep, that is something to take into consideration.
...But, the ad also states it comes from a smoke-free home so that's a plus I'm sure!

[Evan Crowell]

I have a block for a 51 in good shape, the problem is that I don't have a crank to fit it. will the crank from my 48 fit into this block? how can i tell a manual from an automatic block or are they the same?

[joefrazer]

226 blocks are the same - automatic and standard shift...however...the 1947 thru 1950 block differs from the 1951 thru 1955 unit externally. The dipstick tube was moved on the later block.