589 replies to this topic

[Bobbins]

It's a funny old world, on cars we want components to look like new and white plastics to be white ..... yet if it was an old guitar the discolouration and changes over the years are all part of the appeal, the character and patina become muddied into one!

[jamesquintin]

Can't believe that the whiteness of my fuel pipe brackets has generated so much discussions...

Anyway, back to proper work on engine. I got a nice package form Minispares containing my new rings:

 

 

So i set to work and got them all gaped and put on the pistons:

 

 

Next job was to clean out the bores and get cracking with the crankshaft install:

 

 

 

 

All in and torqued up! Spins freely and has perfect end float. Happy bunny.

Pistons in tomorrow!

Q

 

[jamesquintin]

Urrrgh. Things were going so well.... Got the follwers and the camshaft in:

 

 

 

Then got the engine on its side and started on the pistons:

 

 

 

 

 

Then managed to snap the bloody oil ring! Not happy. It wasn't the tools fault, it was user error.

So that means I couldn't finish the pistons off and get the block finally onto the gearbox. I thought I'd have a go at setting the timing up with the new cam, but have realised that I don't have all the gaskets I need to make sure everything is in the correct place before measuring clearances etc

Another Minispares order has been placed...  

 

Q
 

[tankertanker]

Just bad luck , still doing good work and making nice progress....

[g111mds]

Read through the thread again from the start over the last couple of days - really nice work on this.

[jamesquintin]

Am I anal when it comes to detail? You betcha! The original fuel pipes have green/orange tape on the ends to help with plugging the right pipes together in the factory, so of course I've got some more!

 

 

Next job is to remove the old cover from the second hand MPI exhaust manifold and put the new old stock one I have on:

 

 

Of course it didn't work and one of the bolts has got stuck! Oh well, I'll soak in WD40 overnight and see if that works

Q

[jamesquintin]

Carried on with cleaning up the manifold. Obviously one of the bolts wouldn't come out, so will have to sort that. Gave it a wire brush:

 

 

 

One of the studs had a dogy thread so will have to get a new one (and new nuts)

 

Then I put some dexon on it and gave it a scrub followed by a coat of VHT Halfords paint. Most if it'll come off but it'll look nice for a while:

 

 

 

And just laid the new shield on it to see what it'll look like

Q

[Steve220]

Nice work chap! If you were ever interested in getting your exhaust manifold ceramic coating, Powdercoat Shropshire did mine and did a great job!

[jamesquintin]

A couple of bits done today:

I had my graphite grease delivery, so put the clutch arm together:

 

 

 

 

Can't do any more on that part!

I carried on with the exhaust manifold. The studs for the lower exhaust pipe were shot, so I took the remaining two out. Obviously one just snapped off, so I drilled and tapped it:

Q
 

[Bobbins]

James, "Then I put some dexon on it and gave it a scrub" ... what is dexon?

Stu.

[jamesquintin]

James, "Then I put some dexon on it and gave it a scrub" ... what is dexon?

Stu.

 

I meant Deox-Gel.... (couldn't remember what it was called)

 

Q

[jamesquintin]

Had a delivery form Minispares today!

 

 

So got the past piston in and put the gearbox on the block...

 

 

 

Happy JQ

[Bobbins]

 

James, "Then I put some dexon on it and gave it a scrub" ... what is dexon?

Stu.

 

I meant Deox-Gel.... (couldn't remember what it was called)

 

Q

 

 

Thanks James, I've got a cast manifold to attack this weekend, I hadn't considered using the Deox Gel before the high temp paint.

 

Stu.

[Steve220]

James, "Then I put some dexon on it and gave it a scrub" ... what is dexon?

Stu.

I meant Deox-Gel.... (couldn't remember what it was called)

Q

Thanks James, I've got a cast manifold to attack this weekend, I hadn't considered using the Deox Gel before the high temp paint.

Stu.

Give it a month and it'll rust through it. Unfortunately there's no real prevention with cast iron manifolds

[jamesquintin]

Got a little more done today. Added the water gallery plugs to the block:

 

 

Shiny!
 

Then popped the timing chain on:

 

 

I then checked the end float of the idler gear. Seemed to be ok at 3 thou

 

 

And then just for a laugh I placed the head/rocker cover on to make it look vaguely like an engine

 

Q