The sad tale of my last engine rebuild.

Jonny69 · 03-09-2009, 21:40

I've recovered anough to be able to talk about this now so here's the story. I took my Anglia up to the NSRA Supernats at Old Warden at the end of July and decided at the end of the journey that the engine wouldn't make it to the Retro Rides Gathering and back. It was just too knackered and I had 3 clear weeks to do a quick rebuild. I had the final week off work so the idea was to get most of the bits in advance and just the uncertain stuff like rings and bearings could wait until the engine was stripped. I had the engine out and in bits with 2 weeks left, so I put in the order to Burton Power and sat there and waited. And waited. And waited. Good old Burton, never deliver anything on time and in the final week before RRG I rang them and it hadn't been dispatched

Drove over there instead and got it all, which takes us to 3pm August 12th, the Wednesday before RRG09

The important thing was I had everything I needed sat on the bench:

So I got cracked on at a fair old pace. I'd already honed the bores and cleaned the block so it just needed reassembling and fitting back in the car, which was outside gathering bird poo. Bottom end first, fitting the new shells then a good lick of oil before assembling:

The two moon shape ones are the thrust bearings. With the crank in one can put the pistons back in. New rings all round. I kept them in order so the balance stays in and also note that there's a front and a back to them, which is cast in the conrod. You need a ring compressor to put the pistons back in which clamps round the top of the piston. You oil it up and slide it in like this:

Then tap it down into the bore with a mallet:

The cam gear goes on with the chain and tensioner. Note my flash vernier timing gear:

Lashings of oil on that lot before the timing cover goes on.

Down on the sump these engines are notorious for leaking so I degreased and applied silicone to both surfaces as well as using the gaskets:

Don't forget to put the oil pickup pipe on before you bolt the sump pan on because it's a pain to get back off. Guess how I know that?

Back up at the top I replaced the valve stem seals, since the head was off:

These are much nicer than the old plastic ones. They're hard rubber with a spring at the top. They slide on with the valve springs off, like so:

There's the head decoked. Note how I labelled the valves so they went back in the same holes, same with:

As a random diversion I replaced the seal in the back of the gearbox. I really really really wanted to do this and since the picture is bang smack in the middle of everything else I clearly couldn't wait any longer to do it:

Back to the engine the flywheel went on next. That's at arm's length. I'm not Superman, it's just light

:

Headgasket. Make sure the head and block surface are nice and clean and degreased:

Head went on, followed by the rocker gear:

Then all the ancilaries went on but I was in a serious hurry so I didn't photograph everything in detail.

Next thing I needed to sort was the exhaust. Where it goes under the crossmember it takes a right beating from speedbumps and it was worn a bit thin:

I didn't cut the flattened bit off but I did make up like a sump-guard type plate for it so it could take a battering:

*takes a breath*

Jonny69 · 03-09-2009, 21:40

That took me up to the Thursday before. Due to leave Friday, remember, and the car looked like this, spread liberally round the garage:

It went in relatively quickly and easily Thursday morning...

...followed by the laborious task of fitting everything else back on the car which took a fair few hours. I took a risk using a new electronic ignition module but I got it fired up at about 9pm and nearly got all the bits back on before calling it a night, shattered.

Friday morning I was out early to put the last bits on and pack the car on time to leave and meet the Southern convoy at Fleet. I left literally 20 minutes late but there was a misfire and I wasn't going to get there with it. DOH! I'd forgotton to do the valve clearances, so I had to leave it for at least an hour to cool right down. I used the time constructively by going to the supermarket and buying supplies, then washed the car, then did the valve clearances, one last water and oil check and I left just after 3pm.

Ran great, saw loads of old motors on the motorway, the carburettor fuelling problems that I just couldn't figure out were cured, I joined the M3 and then BOOM. Thick stinking grey smoke out the back, loads of noise, no power, pulled over and it seized up on the hard shoulder.

So that was it. No RRG09 for me and I waited for the AA who sent a driver who I swear was about to drop dead in the driver seat and I was trailered home

Justsomebloke · 03-09-2009, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny69

So that was it. No RRG09 for me and I waited for the AA who sent a driver who I swear was about to drop dead in the driver seat and I was trailered home

Gutted for you mate but the car still looks fantastic even at the side of the road.

Darrin · 05-09-2009, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny69

Thick stinking grey smoke out the back, loads of noise, no power, pulled over and it seized up on the hard shoulder.

Checked the oil sump for the dreaded milkshake? This sounds like a head gasket catastrophic failure that threw oil and water in a combustion chamber, hydrolocking a cylinder. And then when it "cooled off" (water drained past the rings) it was able to fire up.

And the water/oil mix in the sump could account for the rattling/clunking (poor mix in the main and rod bearings).

Just my thoughts on the whole mess. I hope it's as "simple" as that and there's not actually something broken in there.

kaiowas · 03-09-2009, 21:53

Any diagnosis of what went wrong?

Flibster · 03-09-2009, 21:56

It has a reason for it's sad face now.

Seizing isn't good though. Big bath of diesel on standby.

Jonny69 · 03-09-2009, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaiowas

Any diagnosis of what went wrong?

It's not back out yet. Doesn't sound good though, it unseized when it cooled down and it fires up but instead of singing like a sewing machine it goes WAWAWAWAWAWA clatter etc inside so I fear it's killed the bores. Curiously it shows compression on all 4, but I only checked it cold and it gets noisier as it warms up

Will · 03-09-2009, 22:20

Oh dude

Zirax · 03-09-2009, 22:43

Really sorry to see this, always wanted to find time to head over to yours and be taken out for a spin

Time for seeing if a bigger engine will go in? Or will that mess up the webber setup that you have?

Darrin · 04-09-2009, 05:31

This is one of those times where I wish I had an extra credit card...

03-09-2009, 21:40	#1
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	The sad tale of my last engine rebuild. I've recovered anough to be able to talk about this now so here's the story. I took my Anglia up to the NSRA Supernats at Old Warden at the end of July and decided at the end of the journey that the engine wouldn't make it to the Retro Rides Gathering and back. It was just too knackered and I had 3 clear weeks to do a quick rebuild. I had the final week off work so the idea was to get most of the bits in advance and just the uncertain stuff like rings and bearings could wait until the engine was stripped. I had the engine out and in bits with 2 weeks left, so I put in the order to Burton Power and sat there and waited. And waited. And waited. Good old Burton, never deliver anything on time and in the final week before RRG I rang them and it hadn't been dispatched Drove over there instead and got it all, which takes us to 3pm August 12th, the Wednesday before RRG09 The important thing was I had everything I needed sat on the bench: So I got cracked on at a fair old pace. I'd already honed the bores and cleaned the block so it just needed reassembling and fitting back in the car, which was outside gathering bird poo. Bottom end first, fitting the new shells then a good lick of oil before assembling: The two moon shape ones are the thrust bearings. With the crank in one can put the pistons back in. New rings all round. I kept them in order so the balance stays in and also note that there's a front and a back to them, which is cast in the conrod. You need a ring compressor to put the pistons back in which clamps round the top of the piston. You oil it up and slide it in like this: Then tap it down into the bore with a mallet: The cam gear goes on with the chain and tensioner. Note my flash vernier timing gear: Lashings of oil on that lot before the timing cover goes on. Down on the sump these engines are notorious for leaking so I degreased and applied silicone to both surfaces as well as using the gaskets: Don't forget to put the oil pickup pipe on before you bolt the sump pan on because it's a pain to get back off. Guess how I know that? Back up at the top I replaced the valve stem seals, since the head was off: These are much nicer than the old plastic ones. They're hard rubber with a spring at the top. They slide on with the valve springs off, like so: There's the head decoked. Note how I labelled the valves so they went back in the same holes, same with: As a random diversion I replaced the seal in the back of the gearbox. I really really really wanted to do this and since the picture is bang smack in the middle of everything else I clearly couldn't wait any longer to do it: Back to the engine the flywheel went on next. That's at arm's length. I'm not Superman, it's just light : Headgasket. Make sure the head and block surface are nice and clean and degreased: Head went on, followed by the rocker gear: Then all the ancilaries went on but I was in a serious hurry so I didn't photograph everything in detail. Next thing I needed to sort was the exhaust. Where it goes under the crossmember it takes a right beating from speedbumps and it was worn a bit thin: I didn't cut the flattened bit off but I did make up like a sump-guard type plate for it so it could take a battering: takes a breath __________________

03-09-2009, 21:40	#2
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	That took me up to the Thursday before. Due to leave Friday, remember, and the car looked like this, spread liberally round the garage: It went in relatively quickly and easily Thursday morning... ...followed by the laborious task of fitting everything else back on the car which took a fair few hours. I took a risk using a new electronic ignition module but I got it fired up at about 9pm and nearly got all the bits back on before calling it a night, shattered. Friday morning I was out early to put the last bits on and pack the car on time to leave and meet the Southern convoy at Fleet. I left literally 20 minutes late but there was a misfire and I wasn't going to get there with it. DOH! I'd forgotton to do the valve clearances, so I had to leave it for at least an hour to cool right down. I used the time constructively by going to the supermarket and buying supplies, then washed the car, then did the valve clearances, one last water and oil check and I left just after 3pm. Ran great, saw loads of old motors on the motorway, the carburettor fuelling problems that I just couldn't figure out were cured, I joined the M3 and then BOOM. Thick stinking grey smoke out the back, loads of noise, no power, pulled over and it seized up on the hard shoulder. So that was it. No RRG09 for me and I waited for the AA who sent a driver who I swear was about to drop dead in the driver seat and I was trailered home __________________

03-09-2009, 21:53	#5
kaiowas The Stig Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fightertown USA Posts: 1,458	Any diagnosis of what went wrong? __________________ Anal Fish Porn

03-09-2009, 21:56	#6
Flibster Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,388	It has a reason for it's sad face now. Seizing isn't good though. Big bath of diesel on standby. __________________

03-09-2009, 22:20	#8
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	Oh dude __________________ *No No!*

03-09-2009, 22:43	#9
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Really sorry to see this, always wanted to find time to head over to yours and be taken out for a spin Time for seeing if a bigger engine will go in? Or will that mess up the webber setup that you have?

04-09-2009, 05:31	#10
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	This is one of those times where I wish I had an extra credit card... __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".