The disaster was just that the original Weasel engine was in such terrible shape up top.  We were just exercising a little "creative license" there John 😀

The assembly oil/lube is petroleum based and does indeed just merge with the oil.  There is debris created when you first start a rebuilt engine...a little ring wear, a little bearing wear, bushings, etc....so you do want to change the oil after it has run a bit, although not after a test run.  In the case of the engine that we ran in the video, we just installed new valves and cleaned everything else.  We won't change that oil now, but rather install the engine into the Weasel and run it for a year.  We will change that oil during "routine" maintenance at some point in 2025.On the new engine, we will run it on the test stand for a few hours to make sure it runs right without leaks etc.  We will change that oil before installing it into the Weasel.

more...in next comment.

Appreciate it Daniel!

Don McKeown  Sorry about your loss Don.  As for the spent brass, how about melting it down into a plaque - ala a lot of post war rebuilding centers, that could honor Grampa and you and your son's restoration efforts? Alexander's work is impeccable!The engine assembly process is great fun.  The next episode is going to have more things to pay attention to....like setting end play on the crank and cam, etc.  Very satisfying work!

Definitely call the machine shop and ask them how well the block and crank were cleaned.  My machine shop tells me - "clean it" because he is a one man show and while he cleans cranks and blocks after working on them, it is mostly a manual process and he wants the builder to double check his work.  In shops with automated cleaning equipment, I think the risk is much less.  "Squeaky" clean is an excellent indicator - I would not worry but I would give them a hollar!  Thanks for the comments!

We are going to talk all about labyrinth seals next episode...darnedest thing ever!

You guys are cooking.  How is the hull coming along?

They do indeed look symmetrical, but it looks like both the block and the caps were machined very slightly off perpendicular so they only fit one way.  I am guessing intentional and very cool. 

Thanks Mark!  Hoping to receive the new valves this weekend so we can see where we are going to end up with that one....a little luck is a fine thing ;-)

Thanks Daniel - love to hear it.  That was a big reason why we started this channel - to demystify! 

I was surprised too Howard.  That thing was some kinda stuck!  That being said, I don't think the cam is any worse off for the wear.  I polished a few spots on lobes/bearing surfaces and I think it should work great.  Excited to start building the engine next week.