Pontiac 249 Straight-8 Engine Teardown, 1948–1949 | Ed Smith | In the BTG Shop

Master Engine Builder Ed Smith Deep Dives into the Legendary 1948 Pontiac 249 Straight 8 - Complete Teardown! Join Barry T as he interviews veteran engine builder Ed Smith for a detailed examination of this massive Flathead straight-eight engine. Watch as Ed reveals the intricacies of this 249 cubic inch powerplant, from unique wear patterns to restoration challenges of this extra-long engine block. The engine belongs to a neighbor who has a couple of these cars. He bought it from a junkyard and brought it to Ed, who took it apart a week or so before this visit. Ed puts it at about 1948. The cylinder head is already cleaned up and machined flat. What Ed covers: The pistons: Ed calls them steel, not aluminum, and each wrist pin is held by a slot headed screw instead of clips The ring layout: two compression rings at the top and the oil ring down at the bottom, and Ed says Hastings makes rings for it Pontiac's water cooling solution: a long tube behind the water pump that runs the length of the motor and shoots water up on the valves, with holes lined up between the valve seats Brass against tin: this original brass tube pulled right out, where the rusted tin one in the old Dodge took hours to dig out Two cracks in the middle of the block, which Ed puts down to the length of the motor and getting hot and cold over and over Repair or scrap: the block can be sent out, heated in a huge oven and welded, if the customer wants to spend the money What was still good: the cam, the lifters and the valves Unusual ring wear: rings worn up and down until the cross section looked like a T Why a cast iron camshaft soaks up oil like a sponge One carburetor in the middle of a long eight: the end cylinders run leaner, and a hot rodder would put on two How modern intakes do the opposite, with every cylinder measured the same length Perfect for classic car enthusiasts, automotive history buffs, and anyone interested in vintage American engineering. Don't miss this rare look inside one of Detroit's most interesting engines from the golden age of American automobiles. Ed is retired and works on his own projects. He shares how he does things and what he likes; it is not advice. Check any modification against the exact year, model, parts and intended use. Explore Barry T's Garage Knowledge and sign up for the newsletter: https://BarryTsGarage.com Search technical answers, exact video moments and expert explanations from the Barry T's Garage archive. Key Contributors: Engine Builder: Ed Smith Host and Interviewer: Barry T (Barry T's Garage) CHAPTERS 0:00 A Pontiac Story with Ed Smith 0:14 Catching Up with Ed 2:04 The Engine: a Late 1940s Pontiac Flathead Straight Eight 2:48 The Pistons: Not Aluminum 3:00 A Slotted Screw Holds the Wrist Pin 3:33 Ring Layout: Oil Ring at the Bottom of the Piston 3:45 The Water Pipe in the Old Dodge and Other Flatheads 4:16 Ed's Little Secret: the Pontiac's Long Water Tube 4:31 Original Brass Tube: It Pulled Right Out 5:15 Two Cracks in the Block: Why a Long Motor Cracks 5:54 How a Cracked Block Gets Welded in an Oven 6:46 It Came Right Apart: Side Panels and Water Pump 7:02 Sliding the Water Tube Back into the Block 7:26 Water Holes Between the Valve Seats, and What Was Still Good 7:47 Unusual Ring Wear: Worn Up and Down into a T 8:27 Ed's Cadillac Story: Rings Worn in Two 8:42 How the Rings Wore Thin in the Ring Lands 9:16 Cast Iron Camshaft Soaks Up Oil Like a Sponge 9:35 One Carburetor in the Middle: Lean End Cylinders 10:10 A Hot Rodder's Fix: Two Carburetors 10:29 Buick Straight Eights with Two Carburetors 11:06 Modern Intakes: Every Cylinder the Same Length 11:41 Put Your Questions in for Ed What would you ask Ed about this Pontiac straight eight? Put your question in the comments. Related video: the rusted water tube in the old Dodge:    • Was It DOOMED? Digging and Drilling a Chry...   More shop videos with Ed Smith:    • Five Star Engines — Complete Engine Archiv...   Have a question for Ed? Email: AskEd@BarryTsGarage.com Join this channel to support Barry T's Garage:    / @barrytsgarage   Shop Barry T's Garage: https://store.BarryTsGarage.com Watch every In the BTG Shop episode:    • In the BTG Shop | BarryTsGarage   Subscribe to BarryTsGarage:    / @barrytsgarage   Videos and Newsletter: https://www.BarryTsGarage.com Copyright BarryT'sGarage 2024. All rights reserved. #BarryTsGarage #InTheBTGShop #StraightEight