Briggs parts help.
 

I really want to push forward with rebuilding the 14hp vanguard out of the junkyard 1440, .020 pistons and rings are easy enough to get but I need .020 connecting rods (part# 807803) and they are nla from Briggs. I'm not sure why a company that still produces these engines doesn't have rebuild parts available for them? I guess it's because we live in a throw away world. Does anybody happen to have an alternate part that would work or happen to have some nos rods laying around? If I absolutely had to I would go with a good used crank and connecting rods but I want that to be a last resort, when buying used part like that there is no way to know how many hours are on it and I'd hate to spend all this money and have it last an hour. I'm looking for suggestions and ideas on how to move this project along and if anybody happens to have the parts I need feel free to post here or send me a pm.

I posted this here so there could be discussion on the topic.

I think you'll end up going to your last resort. I doubt you'll find the .020 rods.

Since pulling and racing are so popular I decided to start searching some of the performance parts suppliers. I talked to a company this morning that sells billet H beam connecting rods with an automotive style bearing, I can get the rods with the bearing for $125 each, not bad considering new standard rods from Briggs are $100 each. These rods are good to 6,000rpm and he said that unless I do something stupid like run the engine out of oil that these rods will never break and they should last forever if all I'm doing is mowing at 3,600 rpm. It's a bit pricey but when I'm done I should have a bullet proof engine that will last a good while. I have a deal going on right now for a tractor I'm selling and if all goes well I will have the money to start ordering parts.

That's a way to go too. I like the sound of a running vanguard.

Tim,
I can buy whole low hour 1440's for 350.00, well last few were in the 250 range, I would go that route.
Just my 2 cent.
But you look like you are determined to get the one you have going.

I wonder what mowing at 6,000 RPM's would be like.... :bigthink:

If you have a good running 1440 with low hours for $250 to $350 I will be there Saturday. But seriously, most 1440's and 1641's go for $600 to $1,000 around here. Besides, if I bought a whole running tractor I would probably just use it to mow. Another nice thing about building an engine is that I can buy the parts over time and not have to drop on big chunk on a whole tractor.

Or, if you're like me... you go buy an engine or a whole tractor with a runner engine and swap it into your 1440, and then you still have a broken engine and possibly another tractor that is engineless that is just calling out to be rebuilt and used for something. So then you're out the money for the replacement used engine AND a rebuild.... and your driveway and back yard looks like mine.

Probably pretty scary. I don't know how comfortable I'd feel sitting that close to and engine that spinning that fast.

That's exactly what would happen. I could buy 100 replacement engines but the thought of rebuilding this one would never go away.