Special K - a rather standard rebuild

[campbell]

So out of sheer guilt, I have neutralised my thread hijack of "Alloy vs Steel uprights" by starting this one.

Now, it could be soon, or it could be a long way off... but the boffins reckon UJI's broadly stock K Series will need a rebuild before long. 100k miles in, whilst all *seems* well in broad terms, the Murray Magicians have detected a small water leak "somewhere around the flywheel area" IIRC.

Prob just a warning shot, but it pays to pay attention to such things.

After talking to Q (that's Robin) at length a year or two back, a ground up rebuild but with some selected engineering tweaks for strength was what we settled on. Don't need more power, don't need a racing engine. Just want another 100k plus out of this one and the option for the kids to drive the car one day.

So we have just 11 years to complete the project then

Robin has been weeing on a donor block already, it seems.

I'm keeping the head.

So what else to plan in...?

[KingK_series]

Re: Alloy vs Steel uprights on S1

Postby campbell » Mon Apr 22, 2013 11:00 am

robin wrote:Not that I ever sell cars I would expect to leave it as is (i.e. rebuild with your block if required) is probably best value in long run.



However the block is potentially the source of a tiny coolant leak, according our tame specialist technicians, in which case the question will be can that be repaired or not. If not, it's a new block...


Highly unlikely you have a coolant leak near the rear of the engine -

are you actually losing coolant?

ie having to top up the header?

[campbell]

Going by Murray Lotus findings, Simon, based on pressure testing results.

No practical impact so far but like any leak I only expect it to get worse

[pete]

Campbell build me on too. Considering the amount of rough love mine's had it's only a matter of miles....

[Sanjøy]

Facility is all yours Campbell.

S

[robin]

Pete, you won't need a new block - probably - so you can just recycle your block when the time comes

[campbell]

Facility is all yours Campbell.

S

Wow, thank you!

Craig may be masterminding this for me at Murray, but who knows...we are a long way off!

[steve_weegie]

Campbell, if I were doing this (again) I'd absolutely build an engine to a spec dictated by a budget I had planned in advance.

New liners and pistons / rings are a given for me though. New clutch and cover too, all fully balanced + balanced flywheel.

[campbell]

Interesting points, Steve, ta.

Clutch still feels like new it OTOH I guess it doesn't owe me anything!

[steve_weegie]

I agree, but in hindsight, my experience is that I really wish I could have spent a little more and done a proper job. Nothing worse than after 10k miles on your new engine, you need to pull the gearbox off & fit a clutch, or in my case wish I'd used new liners.

An AP clutch isn't too expensive either & balancing it along with the flywheel will give you a smoother drive

Also, dont skimp on gaskets... I know from bitter experience that head gasket aside, all the other gaskets you'll change along the way should be as good as you can buy. Life really is too short for leaking crank and cam seals on a relatively fresh engine.

[KingK_series]

Facility is all yours Campbell.

S

what does that mean????


Are you building a new engine for Campbell?

[KingK_series]

I agree, but in hindsight, my experience is that I really wish I could have spent a little more and done a proper job. Nothing worse than after 10k miles on your new engine, you need to pull the gearbox off & fit a clutch, or in my case wish I'd used new liners.

An AP clutch isn't too expensive either & balancing it along with the flywheel will give you a smoother drive

Also, dont skimp on gaskets... I know from bitter experience that head gasket aside, all the other gaskets you'll change along the way should be as good as you can buy. Life really is too short for leaking crank and cam seals on a relatively fresh engine.

AP clutch is just a 'selected' Borg and Beck ie Rover OEM item

don't think its much better - except for a wider friction plate.


if you change a pressed steel clutche 10k down the road - you throw away all your money and effort in the balancing...

just one reason to dislike pressed steel clutches..!!!

[KingK_series]

Going by Murray Lotus findings, Simon, based on pressure testing results.

No practical impact so far but like any leak I only expect it to get worse

hmmmmmmm

forgive me.... deep skepticism keeping in...

1/ how did you fist hear about this 'coolant leak'? did the garage show you, or did you spot something?

2/ if you spotted something? - what did you spot?

3/ pressure testing a head is a recognised process, pressure testing an engine in situ can only tell you aboput the whole coolant circuit? - are you sure your radiator is not leaking?
- I'd believe that any day, coolant leaks from the rear of the engine - never seen it, could not possibly imagine how that would happen - feel that the possibility that that has happened is infinitesimally small .

beware ALL garages.......

[Sanjøy]

Facility is all yours Campbell.

S

what does that mean????


Are you building a new engine for Campbell?

Yup. Bullet proof 200 ponies. Just put dinosaur juice in it.

[graeme]

Need to get mine booked in with you for your twin-charger conversion Sanjoy. I hear good things about it. How busy are you?