Engine Rebuilder Opinion-'32 Chief

[bdawson]

Sorry for all of the questions this week, just have a lot that I don't know with my first project. So here are a couple of pics of the engine. Bike is completely tore down at this point. I do not know what to do with the engine, as I would not even attempt to open it up and kid myself into thinking I know what I am doing or looking at. I am certainly learning a lot as I go thru this process, but this is way out of my league. Does anyone have any recommendations of engine builders for early Chiefs? I don't know if the bike needs to be opened up and looked at, and minor work done....or it may need significant work. Maybe someone has some recommendations of people they have used in the past or possibly someone reading this would do it, or possibly a name of a professional who is in our industry. Any help you could provide would be beneficial. If this is a touchy subject and no one wants to slight anyone with their recommendations, you could always text me or call me at 630 542 8253. Thanks again, Brent

[T. Cotten]

Rule #1 Brent,...

If you take it apart its broken.

So make certain its broken before you take it apart; Does it turn through?

Looks ready to run to me,.. (except the carb and manifold of course!)

....Cotten

[Steve Swan]

in my earlier life i wa an Indian man... That's a beautiful engine! Is your reticence to work on the engine because you have no Indian experience or because you have no engine experience?

[bdawson]

Hey Cotten....the engine turns over smooth, no issues at all. Clutch worked fine when the bike was all together and changed gears fine via the gear shifter.

Steve....I would probably say Yes I have Indian experience because I grew up in a house where my Dad restored Indians his entire life, and I also own a '36 Chief that I ride every so often. So I am familiar with Indians, just not the inner workings of Indian engine restoration. As to your second question, I definitely do not have any engine experience or machinist experience or any knowledge of what an Indian engine needs to be able to run. I just acquired a generator from Indian Frank that is correct for a '32 Chief, so I do know that works....not sure if my Magneto works. I agree my engine looks like it should run, but I don't want to tear it apart as I wouldn't know what I am looking at once I got things apart. Thanks guys for any suggestions for Indian engine mechanics you may know.

[PaulCDF]

Brent;

PLEASE keep asking questions or I will be only me raising my hand here!

I appreciate your candor and your position. I think it is a strength to know one's limitations.
I am no engine builder. Most I have ever done with my Chief is the upper end. AFTER someone who
knew what they were doing BUILT the lower end AND did all the machine work for the cylinders and heads.

On my bike I suspected a rebuild would be best because it had a history of sitting for ~ 30 years and
the engine was frozen. I have heard of bikes that sat for a long time and after a little penetrating oil in the
upper end they turned over and started. In my case after A LOT of penetrating oils I did get engine free (it puked
out, debris; mouse skeletons and crap and was not "free spinning".

So I'd would ask please for a bit more history on why you feel a rebuild is necessary?
Any history on this engine?
Was this your Dad's?
Did the previous owner indicate something?

You could always bore scope the cylinders via the spark plug holes +/or lift the valve covers and check your tappet clearance and see what you find: Spot on adjustment? or things in disorder.

You are in Chicago area?

Maybe reach out to.


#25 Prairie Chapter
Plainfield, IL 60544
Contact
Terry Hughes
President
630-278-9280
amca.prairie.info@gmail.com

[Steve Swan]

in my earlier life i wa an Indian man... That's a beautiful engine! Is your reticence to work on the engine because you have no Indian experience or because you have no engine experience?

Brent, the first part of my question was not how i intended to ask it which was more from the standpoint of having engine experience, just not Indian engine experience. I'm sure you'll find someone that can carry out the work you need done. Kindly, Steve Swan

[bdawson]

Thanks for the info Paul. No this wasn't any engine of my Dad's, I bought this bike from a guy who bought it from an estate sale....so the person I bought it from knew nothing about it. In the 12 months I have owned it, I had to source a bunch of '32 chief parts for it since many of the parts on it were not '32. ie: generator from a 40's Scout, transmission tower from a 30 or 31 Chief, handlebars from something in the 20's, had no oil pump at all, had only one oil line and it was crushed/kinked, wrong taillight assembly, wrong carb, wrong fork, just a bunch of mismatched parts.....and I just found out yesterday that my cylinders are not '32 and they look something more like '36. So I don't have any history of the engine, but based on the mis-matching of the external components of the bike, I just assumed that the inside of the motor was probably going to be similar....that is my only reason for thinking that it will need something done to the inside. Thanks for the contact name from the Prairie chapter, I have emailed him a couple of times in the past and I never get a response so maybe the emails go to his spam folder or something. So now I guess I am on the hunt for some '32 Chief cylinders. Thanks everyone for their thoughts.

[D.A.Bagin]

Maybe try to message FLFD7. Hid dad was a Indian man and he may be able to point you in the right direction.

[PaulCDF]

"I have emailed him a couple of times in the past and I never get a response so maybe the emails"

Brent Man that . . . is not good

Maybe call him: 630-278-9280

Hopefully another Prairie member will see this and step up (Hope Springs Eternal).

With all the work you have done to date replacing mismatched parts, particularly being on the hunt for 1932 cylinders
sounds like you are going for "period correct" or dare I say "restoration".
If that is the goal then I would consider disassembly of the top end while you search for said cylinders and have a competent Indian Engine Builder assess end play in the lower end.
If that is good (Hopefully; there's that hope again) then when you have 32 cylinders in hand rebuild from there up, if not . . .

Mismatched parts can work as long as they were competently assembled. (Some day I need to change that HD seat on my 46 Chief if I ever get ambitious and recover the Indian seat pan I acquired a few year back) So I get the mismatch "aversion", but it's riding season now and its my one bike.

Please Keep us posted.

[Skirted]

I noticed an ad in the club magazine, Ace Motors, page 65 May/June. Have no affiliation or experience with them but their ad is intriguing enough that I would investigate/vet if I was getting an Indian engine rebuilt.

[PaulCDF]

Not to steal this thread . . . he said as he stole the thread. . .
But, on an unrelated topic I clicked on this thread before I logged in and saw Jason's link to the Allegheny Chapter of the AMCA. WOW what a nice job and site!!!!

[FLFD7]

Hey,
Just to chime in here, I don’t think my father had anything for a 32 Chief (but I’ll look anyway, don’t know how long Indian used those cylinders). But the first name that comes to mind for older Chief stuff is Kent Thompson from New Hampshire. He usually vends at all the big meets on the east coast anyway, and I know he’s done some of the rarer bikes from the early 30’s.
Let me know if you need his contact info pretty sure I have his card somewhere.
Joe

[FLFD7]

Here is Kent’s card, he’s old school, I don’t think he does anything on line…

7DD70AB1-81E2-4A84-A8F3-699F865A2F76.jpeg

[bdawson]

Thanks everyone. I routinely speak with Kent Thompson, and he doesn't have any '32 cylinders when I asked him last week. Also spoke with Robin Markey, and he doesn't have any either. I have been able to source a rear '32 cylinder....so still on the lookout for a front 32 chief cylinder. Does anyone know if 32 thru 34 chief cylinders are the same? Meaning....do the serial numbers on the cylinders stay the same from 32 thru 34? Can you look at a 34 cylinder and it looks identical to a 32 chief cylinder or are they different looking?. If they didn't make any changes to the chief cylinders from 32 to 34, maybe I could broaden my search from just 32 cylinders to 32 thru 34 cylinders. I believe the cylinder numbers on a 32 chief are something like 92024 and 92026. Thanks all again. Brent

[tfburke3]

I dont know whats correct for 32 but Hatfields resto guide states 32-34 same.My 34 chief has nickle plated cylinders with no casting numbers on cylinders.Very original bike.
I have another set on the self that also has no numbers. Sorry they are spares but hope the info helps.
Tom