Engine Rebuild Finally Underway

[robwright]

Compression results:

1. 115 psi 2. 105 psi 3. 115 psi 4. 115 psi

With CR of 8:1 and not even accounting for temperature rise due to compression the straight sum works out at 120 psi so I believe the reading should be a minimum of 130 psi and probably arouind 140 psi. The wet readings with the cylinders oiled up were as foillows:

1. 140 psi 2. 120 psi 3. 132 psi 4. 130 psi

The lip wasn't very pronounced and the CT wasn't disastrous but was concerning. No worries about the oil Al I wouldn't use that muck that they stick in the locos. I know it is zinc free. I wouldn't use it anyway! I was using 20W50 in the hope that it was wear on the 163k engine that was causing the oil usage. I will go back to proper stuiff once this is sorted out. I was thinking about the black oil as well and could that be down to exhaust gasses passing by the rings into the crankcase?

 

[zcacogp]

Rob,

Classical scope creep ... what more do you know now that you didn't know at the start of the project? The leakdown test was known before. As was the fact that it sealed better with oil in the bores. Do you have any more reason to suspect the rings are pooped now than you had before you wielded the first spanner?


Oli.

 

[Hairyarse]

Good progress today Rob, that's one manky head gasket!

No Dan this weekend so you can keep the herd of cows in the field this week []

 

[robwright]

You know Oli I have been sat here all night contemplating what to do with a couple of Carlsbergs to help me out. I think I have decided I am just going to push on and get it all done. I mean I already have the top end completely stripped so I may as well just fetch the bottom off as well. She is 163k up and after all the work it should be no worries for the rest of the car's life.

 

[robwright]

ORIGINAL: Hairyarse

Good progress today Rob, that's one manky head gasket!

No Dan this weekend so you can keep the herd of cows in the field this week []

Might need a bit of help dropping the cross member at the weekend if you are free mate.

 

[os951]

Rob,
are you going to take engine off the car? If so, why didn't you dropped off the whole package as a one unit?

 

[barks944]

I have done rings with the engine in the car. You could do it in a weekend....

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: robwright

You know Oli I have been sat here all night contemplating what to do with a couple of Carlsbergs to help me out.  I think I have decided I am just going to push on and get it all done.  I mean I already have the top end completely stripped so I may as well just fetch the bottom off as well.  She is 163k up and after all the work it should be no worries for the rest of the car's life.

Fair enough; that'll give you effectively a new engine. (Are you going to re-grind the crank as well? Or is that the next bit of scope creep! [] )

Keep us posted with the work. (And don't have too many of those Carlsbergs before working on the car!)


Oli.

 

[robwright]

ORIGINAL: os951

Rob,
are you going to take engine off the car? If so, why didn't you dropped off the whole package as a one unit?

Olli I just couldn't justify spending the money on an engine hoist and stand for what would essentially be one time use. I did manage to borrow a nice cross member though to support the engine from above while the sump is off. Trouble is though I am struggling to see where I could attach it to. barks944 perhaps you could help as you have done this before? There is a linky here to the type that I have borrowed.

 

[os951]

Rob,
that explains it. I have bought all necessary hoists etc. with a friend of mine. We do every now and then engine removals, so it was good spent money. Engine is really easy to slide off when you lift car to 60 cm jack stands []

Few examples during the years with friends. Check out my friend Pete's shirt style. Everyone should work with 951's with "clean" white shirt. Since Pete flies Airbus A340-300 as his profession, it's good to have a possibility to re-use uniform shirts []

 

[George Elliott]

I have done rings with the engine in the car. You could do it in a weekend....

Rob, the above did not mention the big end bearings but you realise it includes them......one weekend, no hoist, block remains in engine bay.....what additional improvement will you achieve by removing the engine?? Do the clutch while in there...another £500...engine mounts...starter motor.....ref sensors....disturb a load of wiring - replace the engine loom.....just in case.....

I have re-shelled one of these cars (20+ years ago) when the bolts were fresh, and recently (5 yrs ago) replaced the Head gasket, water pump, fuel pump, fuel lines, waste gate, intercooler, engine mounts, turbo, recon callipers, dampers, bushes, exhaust, etc, etc, and it is possible to make a lot of work out of a simple job. (am assuming the bores are not scored and the crank is in tolerance, but you don't need the block out to know that)

If its not broke.....

good luck, I admire your enthusiasm.[]

George
944t

PS. sorry, did not notice your rags blocking the ports

 

[robwright]

George I did the clutch last year so a lot of what you mention was attended to then. I think I will probably do the steering rack as well while it is off with the crossmember.

 

[Diver944]

Good progress Rob, keep it up. That looks to be one seriously manky head gasket []

 

[Frenchy]

If it's a keeper Rob then do it.

 

[944Scott]

You could always hire a hoist.

 

[robwright]

I am doing this on my drive as well so the weather is a big factor at the minute. With the rain like it is the minute the hire would be pretty much open ended and I may as well have bought one. And like George says if you don't mind lying on your back, which I don't I don't think you actually gain that much.

 

[Frenchy]

Lovely up here in West Cumbria at the moment Rob []

 

[robwright]

To be fair it's not too bad but once I get the support member on the top of the engine and fetch the sump off the bonnet will obviously be open for the duration of the sump and crossmember being off. Unless I can fashion some other kind of Heath Robinson method of supporting from underneath maybe?

 

[robwright]

Haven't been able to get too much done the last couple of days due to the weather oh and my Stepdaughter giving birth lol [] Have manged to wrap the exhasuts though and paint the intake manifold (pictures to follow). I did get a nice parcel in the post this morning though []

Hmmm precious things

Now if anyone could just tell me where they all go [&:] Although ProMax do offer a top notch service without question I would have loved to get an itemised list with each kit. Has anyone used their widefire HG and sump/bottom end gasket kits before and know exactly what is included? Oh and BTW yes that is my Spiderman slipper under the coffee table []

 

[sulzeruk]

Give me a call Rob if you need help finding where they go, some of them can be a challenge!
Alasdair