GM Futurliner Progress Photos
GM Futurliner Restoration Project
National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States

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ENGINE OVERHAUL
    Following are the specifics on the restoration of the Futurliner Engine that volunteer Bill Bicknell contributed.
    In order for Bill to accurately perform a historical restoration of the Futurliner engine, he had to learn the differences between the military and commercial version of the GMC 302-inline 6-cylinder OHV engine. For this information, Bill was able to obtain a military manual and, along with help from many members of INLINERS INTERNATIONAL, he was able to sort out the differences. In addition, he had the physical engine that came out of the #10 Futurliner we are restoring.
    The first thing he discovered in his research was that in engine in our Futurliner was a replacement based on its serial number and the date it was manufactured. It appears that this engine was installed in 1955. He also discovered that when GM replaced this engine they used a commercial version rather than the military version. The displacement (302) of the military and commercial engines are identical and many of the internal components are the same. However, the external portion of the engine blocks are different to accommodate several differences such as engine motor mounts. This required Bill to fabricate and modify the front engine mount attaching surfaces.
    Because the military engine uses an electric fuel pump, rather that a mechanical fuel pump, Bill had to seal properly the hole in the commercial engine block that would normally accommodate the mechanical fuel pump. At one time, during the life of this engine, the distributor was changed from the original. In order to allow the vacuum operated governor to operate we must locate the proper distributor.
    Other differences include the fact that military engines are sealed so they can travel through rather high water. Military engines have 24-volt systems. Some of the engine pans are cast steel rather that stamped sheet metal. I have just listed a few here, there are many more that Bill had to sort out.
    Bill's goal was to restore this Futurliner engine to the same configuration as it was in 1952 when GM readied it for the 1953 Parade of Progress. He studied all the information in the military manual and installed oil lines, vacuum lines and all accessories that are attached to the engine in the exact same way it was in 1953. He obtained parts from many sources that included places in Florida, California, North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Canada to name just the ones I heard about. There were others.
    When Bill restores an engine he goes through every detail. Even though we had a NOS (New Old Stock) engine from GM he disassembled it. It was good he did, as he found machining debris inside the engine which he cleaned out as well as other items that needed correcting. Then Bill assembles the engine to its original specifications. Another function that Bill performs once the engine is assembled is installing all the accessories such as generator, distributor, starter, carburetor, oil and vacuum lines, fan so that the engine is complete. The next step is to run the engine on his test stand.
    In our case, he ran the engine over 4 hours. During that time he measures all the engine parameters such as oil pressure, temperature, RPM, etc. Any problems such as an oil leak he takes care of. Next in the process he removes all the bolt on accessories (generator, distributor, etc.) so that the engine itself can be properly painted. Once the paint is dry, he again installs all these accessories. Next, he built an engine mounting cradle for shipping and displaying purposes.
    Bill loaded the engine in the back of his pickup and delivered it to us here in Zeeland this past Friday. We received an engine fully assembled, painted and with oil in the crankcase ready to be installed.
    All of us in the antique restoration business have had or have done an engine overhaul. I do not think we have ever had or done an engine restoration as complete as Bill has done. We could not have had a better volunteer for this job.
    Bill is an engine engineer by profession. Specifically his past jobs have included converting very large locomotive size diesels to run on natural gas for powering natural gas pumps. Bill does have a hobby engine restoration business (Bicknell Engine Company) and has done many variety of engines including Dusenburgs and Buicks to name a few. He is thinking about making his hobby business a full time business. If you are interested in a professional engine restoration Bill can be contacted at (937) 864-5224. Bill does not know about me plugging his work until he reads this.
    We want to thank volunteer BILL BICKNELL for the outstanding restoration he has done on the Futurliner engine. We also want to thank all those from INLINERS INTERNATIONAL who supported Bill in this process. This entire restoration is being done by volunteers
   

The 302 is being restored by Bill Bicknell of BICKNELL ENGINE CO., specializing in engine and vehicle restoration. Bill's shop is at 7055 Dayton Road, Enon, Ohio 45323. His phone is (937) 864-5224.
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