Engine's.... informatin, & humor (i hope)

proper care and maintenance of both *farymann* & *atomic-4* engine's i have been told, though i am not old enough to know as a fact. and as my Father is long past dead, i can't ask Him anymore; but as i was saying; when i was talking to a friend who knew i bit more than i about the *atomic-4* engine's origin; as i was making comment on their lack of modern accouterments. he simply said what do you want for a remake of a model-T engine. Oh, i said, well that explain's the total lack of engineering refinements on this paper-weight. but it doesn't explain why people are still using the things. but i can't really say too much as the engine in my Father's Tug was a pre-WW-II 8 cyl, direct-drive-reversing 2-cycle 375 HP diesel weighing in at 18 ton and turning a max of maybe 350 RPM on a good day. and that damn thing still runs today if the people who own it now are taking care of it. but then we are talking about little engine's that don't coast $250,000 to replace. engine's that if one watch's the Seattle *Craigslist* (or S.F. or L.A. or the cragslist of any other large civilian port city), one can find at lest one used one a week or so. sailboats are always getting re-powered it seems, and what better to do with that old diesel that has been sitting in your garage for the past couple of years that you thought was so valuable. time to sell now that your moving! that is how i got my *Kubota*, complete with gear. Oh, and about taking good care of those other two type's of engine's; well, first off, you should clean the crank-case out of all the years of old oil build-up. be sure to get it real clean; even remover the head and get any old build-up out of the cylinder's. then clean the gas out of the carburetor, and for the diesel; get the fuel oil out of the pump, oil lines, and injectors (if you can). and of course, get all of the old oil out of the reverse gear. then bolt it all back together, and as long as you have it out of your boat (to do all of this really important work), load the now clean engine in the back of your pick-up truck and take it down to the local do-it-yourself car-wash. now this is where you can clean the out side of your favorite engine. always remember, cleanliness in very important for all engine's to work their best. Ok, when your done at the car-wash, drive over to the local city dump and roll that piece of *Clean* cast-iron into the pile. knowing all the while that you didn't add any harmful oil's to the land-fill, or where-ever the thing ends up........ now you are free to go and get a good reliable engine of your choice to install in your proud boat! one that will last many, many years, and add value to the price when and if you ever sale your pride and joy......... fiver, Master of The "BB-54" one of the famous Cal-28 flush-decks out of Sierra-5, Papa Hotel (in days gone by) now resting outside my shop Federal Way, Wa. (built like a Battleship; sails like a Sub......)