Congratulations for being able to maintain heavy iron without sweaty palms and a nervous twitch! lol I contend many people have pulled these engines simply because they are old, as they have done with the 427 engines as well.
These motors have more iron and are heavier built than the industrial Hercules, and we all know how many times those can be rebuilt. Compression, valves, and bearings are all you have to watch for. If those items are able to produce good oil pressure and clean running, you probably have lots of time (and cash) left to enjoy them.
Water pumps, impellers, carb problems, poor timing, ignition problems, have all caused people to think the motors are worn out.
A year ago I had a ride on a boat powered by the big Lincolns. At the time it smelled of gasoline because it was so poorly tuned. Looking under the hatch, we saw wires that should have been replaced 20 years ago, the carbs obviously were crapped out, and the motors were begging for a Pertronix conversion, and the decision was already made to repower. There had not been much of any attention given to the motors. The owner spent a wad of cash and a boating season trying to adapt new engines to burn equal or more gas at the same cruising speeds they will likely be using.
My 427 starboard engine had NO COMPRESSION AT ALL in one cylinder when I bought the boat. NONE, not even 5-pounds. I went over the motors carefully, took the time to get things in order, and found the valves were way off the setting. Upon giving them a proper set, guess what? Compression in the offending cylinder came up to spec, and believe it or not I've been running the motors like a bandit for TEN YEARS. I could have easily gone for a repower at that point.
Since I've been a member of the ACBS for 22 years, and was a wood boat nut long before that, I appreciate the durability and viability of old iron. Thankfully, some of the V-12 Liberty powered Gar Wood boats and OX powered Chris Crafts (Al Shinnerer's Arrowhead) I've ridden in on Lake Tahoe, Lake George, and Lake Geneva didn't have owners who tossed those motors. It's surprising how well they run too. I've seen thousands of really exotic motors in old boats over the years, and the Lincoln is hardly exotic. It's about as simple and strong as it gets. If you ever have any issues, you should contact Theo, my buddy in Germany who did the rebuild and sent in the photos.
As for your Lincoln Continental motors, they were some of the finest on the roads of America, a luxury car motor, and very expensive to build. One of the reasons they changed over to the 427 was for lower cost. Yes, the 427 is rated at more power, but the MEL could have easily been rated at the same power ratings, having been offered to the general public in automotive form at 375 and 400-hp options.
If I had a sweet running pair of Lincolns, I'd be crowing about them. Since I have 427s, I crow about them.
All the best to you,
Paul
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