1065 replies to this topic

[Kam]

Checking out the ports earlier I noticed they have a casting mark in the middle which I'm guessing is where the two halves meet





I'm gonna try and smooth down the casting join but leave the rest of the inlet port as it is



The exhaust ports are just caked in crud so I thought I would first off just take that off and try to smooth them down, just started on one as a 'trial'







I'm gonna go for it and do all the exhaust ports and try to get a mirror finish on them, need to get a few add on bits first for the dremel so I can get in everywhere, I know a dremel aint the professionals choice but hey do I look like a professional?

[Kam]

If the head is a good deal I'd go ahead and jump on it now while you can. If you change your mind you can always flip it later and break even...maybe even get some cool points by selling it to a forum member.

Good thinking dude

[Kam]

Well I still haven't bought a clutch yet, I mean, thats all I need to able to drive the car again but as usual plans keep going sidewards and not forwards! was trying to work out earlier how I can clean the carbon off the top of the pistons with them still in the engine, plan was to scrape what I could with the engine hanging upside down to prevent any bits falling in between the cylinder walls and the water jacket but knew this wasn't the best way to do it....



I knew what I had to do, the only real way to clean them efficiently is to take them out but I didn't really want to do this as I am getting in way above my head here, yes I would like to learn but learning on a broken engine is one thing but on a perfectly fine working one?

Sooooo.........I took off the oil pick up pipe and crank shield all held with 10mm nuts

Oooooohhh my crank!



Took some reference pics, I'm sure the haynes says all arrows point to the front of the engine





All the arrows point towards the cam belt? to me the front of the engine is...well when you open the bonnet and look at the front.... But what do I know?

Took off the 13mm end cap nuts and chopped up some 5/16 fuel hose I had left over that never got used



Which would go on the threads to prevent the threads scratching the cylinder walls when you push the piston out



I know you know all this so feel free to scroll down but its easy to forget, but you wont forget if you start scratching up the walls, and if like me you aint getting any work done on them then take care in the first place

Problem I found was the hose side walls were too big so it was preventing the piston from going any further



Luckily I had some pvc cable wrap leftover from when I was doing the wiring so chopped them up





You only need two protectors anyway as your dropping them out one at a time



We have a piston! My first one! Dear diary moment for me









I decided to see if I could lift the engine on my own as its got no gearbox or head now, yep all fine put it down on a stool



I wanted to get the flywheel off as I couldn't turn the crank smooth enough to get to the end caps of the other pistons as the flywheel was catching quite close to the engine stand plate, I'm using the original gearbox to engine bolts, four bolts around 85mm with a 12mm thread, so I need to get some longer bolts if I want to put the engine on the stand again with the flywheel on otherwise I can't turn the crank, but in the meantime I just took the flywheel off and picked up the engine and chucked it back on so I can now turn the crank aswell



So now we have all the pistons out





I'm glad I did take the pistons out as they obviously need to be cleaned between the rings aswell

[Kam]

Managed to snap one of the rings on taking it off but its no biggie, I got to take a trip down to Mr Honda at some point to get some bits anyway and I heard the best way to clean the piston spring groove is with a broken spring, but how many of us have one of these lying around the house?



Checking up on the cylinder walls they look fine but near the top there is well I don't know what it is, seems like some marking around the top lip



But its completely flat, nothing protrudes so I'm guessing its normal



I'm not removing the crankshaft or getting anything done to the cylinder walls, I've decided enough is enough and this is enough delving into an engine for someone who hasn't done anything like this before, I was only meant to change the bloody clutch!

I'm getting withdrawal symptoms aswell now of not being able to drive a mini, I know its only been 42 days since I last drove one (who's counting?) but it aint a nice feeling

Edited by Kam, 28 December 2010 - 08:23 PM.

[Burnard]

Thats where the piston doesnt come to the top of the cylender, so it doesnt get cleaned.

Its just more carbon, nothing to worry about, completly normal


PS. You mad, this doesnt look like a clutch change?

[Kam]

completly normal

PS. You mad, this doesnt look like a clutch change?

I think you have answered your own question there Chris? Me? Normal?

After the recent trackday and the clutch spring snapping due to someones (not mentioning no names here) driving styleee thats all that was needed - a new clutch, but as usual things sometimes take a wayward turn when you have to take the engine out to do a clutch change and the familiar words in the back of your head says "well while I'm here with bits lying around?"

I need to stop listening to those voices mesathinks

[Burnard]

i know a good psychiatrist for the voices.

[alexcrosse]

Thats where the piston doesnt come to the top of the cylender, so it doesnt get cleaned.

Its just more carbon, nothing to worry about, completly normal


PS. You mad, this doesnt look like a clutch change?

*compression ring*... not piston.

feel for a groove where the difference in colour is, this will give you an idea of wear, looks very good nick though pal. Honing marks still well in there.

Edited by alexcrosse, 28 December 2010 - 11:29 PM.

[mini_mad69]

Thats where the piston doesnt come to the top of the cylender, so it doesnt get cleaned.

Its just more carbon, nothing to worry about, completly normal


PS. You mad, this doesnt look like a clutch change?

*compression ring*... not piston.

feel for a groove where the difference in colour is, this will give you an idea of wear, looks very good nick though pal. Honing marks still well in there.

I agree, looks in better nick that the engine im putting together at the moment.

[Kam]

Alex - seeing as you've done a few hybrids swaps already.......

If I get a new "middle' spring on one piston (the one that broke on taking it out) but leave all other rings on that piston and all other pistons rings as they aint been touched do I need to get the block honed? I was gonna just buy a new spring, fit it to the one that snapped, measure it (as per haynes) and thats it job done - replaced

Right?

[1984mini25]

I need to stop listening to those voices mesathinks

I know of a way that they can temporally silenced, but then that also brings with them another kind of ‘voices’ But the morning after normally removes all memory of those.

[Kam]

i know a good psychiatrist for the voices.

If you just tell me what they told you then I would be saving some much needed pennies, don't be selfish now

I know of a way that they can temporally silenced, but then that also brings with them another kind of ‘voices’ But the morning after normally removes all memory of those.

Sounds good mate, keep me informed unless you reply in the morning

[mini_mad69]

Alex - seeing as you've done a few hybrids swaps already.......

If I get a new "middle' spring on one piston (the one that broke on taking it out) but leave all other rings on that piston and all other pistons rings as they aint been touched do I need to get the block honed? I was gonna just buy a new spring, fit it to the one that snapped, measure it (as per haynes) and thats it job done - replaced

Right?

Piston ring, not spring by the way.

I know im not alex, but I've changed rings and not had the block re-honed with no problems. Although this is my experience and may be not the done thing.

[samsfern]

isnt it strange how simplish jobs turn into full rebuilds, lol. Looking good though. A bit of scraping and coarse wire wool, followed by a damn good wash, should clean those pistons up nicely.

Edited by samsfern, 29 December 2010 - 12:25 AM.

[Kam]

I've changed rings and not had the block re-honed with no problems. Although this is my experience and may be not the done thing

The problem I got (of many!) is its only the one ring and the middle one at that, I'm not wanting an easy way out but does the whole block need to be re-honed for one middle ring thats being replaced on the one piston and thats it?

I know its silly not doing the full monty while I'm here now but doing any of this wasn't part of the plan!

I starting to love that phrase "If aint broke don't fix it?"