I recently bought a Oliver Super 88 which has the older 88 engine installed in it. To make things worse, it has a gasoline block and diesel head. Has the original 3-1/2 inch piston/sleeve assy, and I can't bore the sleeves to 3-3/4 as they are tapered on the water jacket side.Upon disassembly I found a ton of things wrong, and it's getting worse. Grade 2 bolts on the rods, some bolts in backwards hammered into place, etc. Originally they said it was running and just that the injection pump was removed to put onto another tractor. (No Pump with the tractor). Yep, Running 20 years ago? I began disassembly as the pistons were froze in the block, or so I thought. Looks like it has 2 spun rod bearings and they put undersize bearings and cranked the caps tight. What a "Hack Job" !!! Wouldn't budge a bit. So, now I completely removed the crank only to find a spun bearing in the block (#2 Bearing) and that #1 bearing hammered extremely wide. #2 Cap looks extremely bad but block only about .003 to .004 spun out. I believe we can line bore block but need to find a cap, and 3 rods and a new crank (Spun #5 and #6 journals to .050"). Been told that I may as well get a good shortblock from a Super 88 or 880, or at the least put a newer crankshaft in this old block. If I put money into this tractor it isn't a problem as I will keep it. I need a little tractor like this around the farm. Anyone have any ideas where to find a good shortblock or have opinions what to do.??? I figure my options are as follows: #1- Save the block, use the 3-1/2 sleeves, rebuilt older crank and 3 rods. #2- Save block, updated newer crank, 6 updated rods, sleeve kit, etc. #3-Get another S88/880 shortblock assy and rebuild that. #4- Buy a good used running shortblock. #5-Buy a rebuilt shortblock. Each time it gets more expensive. My shop, I can do most all the work except turning a crank or line boring a block. Input?
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