New here with broken car.

[Diddles]

Thanks, well the parts should be coming tomorrow, do ill be doing little bits each evening after work, so hopefully all being good it will be running at the weekend.

 

[McDonald]

I'm hugely impressed that Diddles is working so hard to get the car up & running. His parents will be overjoyed if he's successful. Even if it's written off, he's given it his best shot.

Watching the tech advice and offers of tools, also reminds me what an amazing resource this forum represents. I have nothing to offer to this thread - nothing but admiration.

 

[Taffy7hfa]

As above... hats off to you Diddles. Persistence always pays off !

 

[Diddles]

Thanks a lot. I really am hoping it pays off but im going in with the mind set that it could not work out.
But i couldn't just let it go to scrap with out giving it a go. If the car was a pig I would of called it a day, but the car is immaculate and was my parents first ever car they brought brand new so has a little bit of sentimental value to it.

And this forum has been a great help so far with members giving me the help abd encouragement to give it a try.

Just want to get it running, all washed and to be able to enjoy it.

Will update the thread with build progress pictures for people who are interested.

 

[LostKiwi]

Even if the worst comes to the worst you can get a used engine, swap your new timing chain and sprockets onto it and be up and running.

 

[Diddles]

Yeah i was thinking that. At least it should be running so I can at least get it to where changing the engine would be possible.

 

[Xtractorfan]

I would never advise rebuilding that engine with those cracks and the bits missing from the pistons....You are asking for bother... Get that engine along to a decent engineering place who specialises in rebuilding engines and get their opinion on using pistons with cracks and bits missing...Pistons are weighed and balanced to make the engine run smooth... It might get you home if you were stranded on the continent and had no other way home...
Buy an engine or fit new pistons /used good ones , and you will have less worries. I've seen these fixes before and they usually end up costing 3 times as much.
Just my opinion

 

[Diddles]

I know rebuilding this engine isn't ideal as those pistons need to be replaced. That just isn't an option I have at the moment.

I have nothing to lose giving it a try, only my time. It's a gamble I'm taking and I know it could all be for nothing.

When it's all built up and running. Even if it runs poorly I can move it to somewhere where changing the engine over to a good second hand one will be easier. Then as lostkiwi said I could transfer my new sprockets and chain to the second hand engine which is really the only weak part of this engine.

I'm hoping it will run fine, even if it gets me 5,000 miles it has only cost me time and a few new tools.

But even if it does run ok initially I won't be selling my current car anytime soon just in case it doesn't work out.

And if nothing else its a been a good learning process.

 

[joderest]

You could get it running fine .but you will always have that doubt in your mind about the damaged pistons, me, I would do same as you, get it running and see what it is like, then take it somewhere more comfortable, and replace the pistons.
I am sure it can be done without taking head off again, just by working via a removed sump, someone with more knowledge than me would confirm.
I am same as you, go for it and see.

 

[LostKiwi]

I am sure it can be done without taking head off again, just by working via a removed sump, someone with more knowledge than me would confirm.

No you can't. The pistons must come out the top of the engine.

 

[Diddles]

All parts have come including my valve spring compressor.
Ive also cleaned the block ready for the new gasket.
Will be winding the new chain in tomorow and hopefully getting the head bolted on.

 

[joderest]

LOSTKIWI, i bow to your knowledge, thanks.
Your preparation is really good, you deserve this to be all ok. Look forward to end result

 

[Diddles]

All the intake valves are lapped and installed.
On one valve I was unable to get a consistent grey ring around but ive installed it and they are all water tight.
Is this ok or should i get going at it with the grinding paste?

 

[LostKiwi]

Are they the original inlet valves?

 

[Diddles]

No they are aftermarket. I filled up the intake ports with water and they are all water tight.

 

[LostKiwi]

Probably OK but I'm curious to know why it has a mark. Did it reduce while you were grinding?

 

[Diddles]

Yeah it was getting fainter, but i didn't want to over grind the seats. I was only doing them with fine grinding compound.

 

[LostKiwi]

I'd be tempted to carry on to make sure the mark covers less than half the valve seat. If it is a weakness in the sealing it could lead to a burnt valve.

 

[Diddles]

I'm talking about this on the valve, after lapping they should have a consistent grey ring around the valve. This is the little bit I couldn't get to go grey. I might remove the valve and do a little grind with the coarse then the fine.

 

[LostKiwi]

Yep that's the bit I'm talking about too.