Daisy Mae being my '14 Touring. The front axle/steering assembly is restored, just about ready to button up the rear axle rebuild. I knew the tranny had issues, biggest concern being 3/8" play in the drum pack. But the engine ran very well, albeit some oil burn, and some bubbling at the head above the lower water outlet. Compression was great, bearing clearances were all good (except rod side clearances were at edge of tolerence, worst #3 being 0.011).
Supposedly one of the few things that were restored in the 60's was the engine (but why the worn tranny bearings??)... but....it also still has the original early style valves.... as good as she runs, she's on borrowed time...
Soooo. I've decided to yank the entire unit and just rebuild the whole thing, at least I'll know condition with certainty. Starting up my wish list now of parts to start collecting as budget allows.
All in all though she appears to be in great shape in the pots.
There are some curious stampings in the block deck (T, G, B, X)
One of which I gulped looking like a crack in the block, but no visible appearance externally nor in the bore, neither in all my years of engine rebuilding decades ago have I ever seen a V internal crack....crossing fingers just an old scratch.
In the meantime while all apart I'll be repainting the frame, fenders, splash & boards. Will leave the body as is for now, not bad shape. Sometime next year though I'll have a solid runner!
I don't believe Daisy will be any long distance runner, probably just local, in Florida flat....so...likelihood is rebuild maintaining more relative stock vs modified condition.
That being said, feel free to sing out with advice, suggestions, anecdotes, things you'd recommend, things you wouldn't, specific parts, etc, balanced with needs of constrained budget (eg, gulping at prospects of 2+k Scat)