Author |
Message |
Ben Curtis
Experienced User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 42 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Sunday, 02 April, 2017 - 07:48 am: | |
Not going as well as I might have hoped.... Engine 1 - in the car, incomplete, very poorly. Engine 2 - I bought from a car breaking, one head was stuck on, properly stuck, I set it aside. Engine 3 - I bought a spares car and pulled the lump, stripped it down, looked ok, took the block to a RR chap to have the liners pulled and re-sealed......this block is now cracked, and scrap. Its a well known risk with them that pulling liners can crack the block. Apparently it went with a bang. Engine 2 - got pulled from the corner, I cut the stuck head off. It looks like this block might be ok. I have the major building blocks. Hopefully this will survive the liner pulling... |
Jeff Young
Grand Master Username: jeyjey
Post Number: 336 Registered: 10-2010
| Posted on Sunday, 02 April, 2017 - 08:01 am: | |
Nothing like a good challenge, Ben! Cheers, Jeff. |
Geoff Wootton
Grand Master Username: dounraey
Post Number: 1668 Registered: 5-2012
| Posted on Sunday, 02 April, 2017 - 08:34 am: | |
Ben Did your RR chap heat the block up before pulling the liners? If the liner went with a bang it means far too much force was being applied. There are several threads on this forum which are worth consulting before attempting to remove the liners on engine 2. Geoff |
Ben Curtis
Experienced User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 43 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Sunday, 02 April, 2017 - 05:57 pm: | |
Yes, the block was heated. He's an ex Hythe Road RR tech with masses of experience. The block was very poor inside, lots of corrosion. When stripping block - 2. I tipped it up on the stand to pull the crank and a little blue coolant ran out, some I'm more hopeful... |
ross kowalski
Grand Master Username: cdfpw
Post Number: 339 Registered: 11-2015
| Posted on Sunday, 02 April, 2017 - 10:49 pm: | |
Ben, I gotta ask. Wouldn't it be easier to just source a running core? That way you toss the working lump in the RR drive it around and rebuild a nice one at your leisure. I have done this and often find that the engine to get built correctly ends up sold before being rebuilt. |
Ben Curtis
Experienced User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 44 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Monday, 03 April, 2017 - 05:00 pm: | |
Ross - fair question, that's where I started out. Engine 2 was supposed to be a good running core, I planned to drop the sump and wash it out, pull the heads, lap in the valves, replace valve seals, fresh head gaskets and fit it. That of course all when wrong when the A head got stuck. Had I fitted it, motoring utopia would have been short lived, the lefthand thread castellated nut on the crank holding the cam and oil pump gears was loose...woodruff keys nearly sheared, oil pump drive gear close to failure. Engine 3 - By this time I had decided (from reading this forum among other sources) that pulling the liners while this far apart was a good idea. I'm only doing this once. This block had major internal corrosion, even if it hadn't cracked it would not have run well for long before failing, plus the sludge in the sump was incredible (very much more than any other one of the dozen or so car engines I've rebuilt). It wasn't well. I think, in light my experience, regardless of what sellers say about 60k miles engines, there's no such thing as a good core. |
ross kowalski
Grand Master Username: cdfpw
Post Number: 348 Registered: 11-2015
| Posted on Tuesday, 04 April, 2017 - 09:49 am: | |
Ben, Not a good story there. Are you going to try and pull the liners on the #2 engine? |
Ben Curtis
Experienced User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 45 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Tuesday, 04 April, 2017 - 05:01 pm: | |
Yes. When I inverted engine 2 to take out the crank a little dribble of coolant, clean blue coolant, ran out onto the floor, so I'm a little hopeful. Its happening this week. My stupid gene is strong. |
Ben Curtis
Experienced User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 46 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Wednesday, 05 April, 2017 - 03:22 am: | |
Hot off the press - all 8 liners out ok. No block damage. Phew! |
Jeff Young
Grand Master Username: jeyjey
Post Number: 338 Registered: 10-2010
| Posted on Wednesday, 05 April, 2017 - 03:54 am: | |
Sweet! |
Omar M. Shams
Grand Master Username: omar
Post Number: 1164 Registered: 4-2009
| Posted on Wednesday, 05 April, 2017 - 04:23 am: | |
The sigh of relief from all corners of the globe must be a pleasure to behold by any martian watching..... Well done Ben |
richard george yeaman
Grand Master Username: richyrich
Post Number: 734 Registered: 4-2012
| Posted on Wednesday, 05 April, 2017 - 07:38 am: | |
Well done Ben the Lord loves a trier. Richard. |
Ben Curtis
Experienced User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 50 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Tuesday, 11 April, 2017 - 07:06 am: | |
Collected the block tonight, I have a few things to sort, sourcing parts, then can start re-assembly. |
ross kowalski
Grand Master Username: cdfpw
Post Number: 353 Registered: 11-2015
| Posted on Tuesday, 11 April, 2017 - 10:10 am: | |
Ben, It's always a relief to be on the downhill run of this kind of thing. Are you documenting the process? might be a real help for folks that never rebuilt an engine. |
Christian S. Hansen
Grand Master Username: enquiring_mind
Post Number: 576 Registered: 4-2015
| Posted on Tuesday, 11 April, 2017 - 10:18 am: | |
Ross... I like your optimistic use of the term "downhill" as I had always thought that reassembly was the "uphill" battle, given that it is easier to take things apart than to get them all back together again! Your encouragement is right on, however! |
ross kowalski
Grand Master Username: cdfpw
Post Number: 355 Registered: 11-2015
| Posted on Tuesday, 11 April, 2017 - 10:44 am: | |
Christian, Funny, I always look at the teardown as the worse part, dirty, full of unwelcome surprises, and going the wrong direction. The build..., just resist the temptation to use borderline spec parts because new ones are expensive. Good parts properly installed makes the engine. |
Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 51 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Tuesday, 11 April, 2017 - 05:55 pm: | |
I may come to eat these words, but I think we are now past all the seized heads, broken bolts, cracked castings etc, fresh bearings, seals and gaskets and we should be good to go...ha hah ha ha.... |
Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 56 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Monday, 01 May, 2017 - 06:59 am: | |
Crank is in. First two pistons are in.. I'll try and sort some photos, everyone loves photos! |
Patrick Ryan
Grand Master Username: patrick_r
Post Number: 1505 Registered: 4-2016
| Posted on Monday, 01 May, 2017 - 07:40 am: | |
Im sure everyone here has everything crossed for you Ben. |
Omar M. Shams
Grand Master Username: omar
Post Number: 1186 Registered: 4-2009
| Posted on Tuesday, 02 May, 2017 - 04:48 am: | |
If I cross my balls any more I risk losing whatever fertility I have left...... lets have the photos Ben and good luck mate.... |
Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 57 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Tuesday, 02 May, 2017 - 05:08 am: | |
All pistons are in, feels fine. I have 2 cams, one is knackered on the brake pump lobes, the other on the valve lobes, the later one isn't too bad, I think it'll re-grind, will send it off this week. Heads, talk to me about heads. I can only see one difference. See photo, next to the blue plastic bottle top is a threaded hole, seems blind, its only on one head. http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u4/burgundyben/20170501_185916_zpsehzfvg51.jpg Which head is which? |
Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 58 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Tuesday, 02 May, 2017 - 05:12 am: | |
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Patrick Lockyer.
Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer
Post Number: 1307 Registered: 9-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, 02 May, 2017 - 05:55 am: | |
A quick look on my Shadow 2 as far as I can see its the off/side RHD. With a temp sensor fitted at a guess. |
Larry Kavanagh
Frequent User Username: shadow_11
Post Number: 65 Registered: 5-2016
| Posted on Tuesday, 02 May, 2017 - 09:27 am: | |
I think you're correct Patrick, on my Shadow 11 it's the temp warning sensor mount, the sensor that sets off a buzzer under the dash if the engine gets too hot. The buzzer operation can be tested by earthing the sensor connecting wire to the block with the ignition turned on. |
John Beech
Grand Master Username: jbeech
Post Number: 369 Registered: 10-2016
| Posted on Tuesday, 02 May, 2017 - 09:47 am: | |
A custom cam isn't that expensive. And if you're lucky, commonly available roller lifters may be close enough you can turn them on a lathe to a suitable diameter. Suddenly more than 35 bhp/l becomes a possiblity . . . just kidding (sort of). Didn't RR do any racing? Yeehaw! |
Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 59 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Tuesday, 02 May, 2017 - 05:22 pm: | |
Examining the info on RRtechnical.info carefully. A head, fifth page refers to standard cars 11882 to 26700 shows the sensor. B head, sixth page refers to standard cars 9001 to 26700, does not show the tapping or the sensor. Corroborating with the comments above, head with sensor will be on A bank. Jolly well done to RROCA! Thanks! |
Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 60 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Saturday, 06 May, 2017 - 06:26 am: | |
I sourced a good used cam, its in. Oil pump has a new bronze drive gear, on the oil pumps from both engines the bronze gear was in really poor shape. Pump is fitted, with new o rings on the metal pipe. Oil pick up needed very thorough cleaning, so I took the strainer off to wash it. I then found the gasket is £20! rumaging around on the web found this solution http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262890059005 Hopefully in the next 2 or 3 days the engine should be largely buttoned up. I'll do more pics. |
ross kowalski
Grand Master Username: cdfpw
Post Number: 408 Registered: 11-2015
| Posted on Saturday, 06 May, 2017 - 07:17 am: | |
Ben, Glad to see someone's making progress. I did lower balls on the RR and it could have went smoother. |
Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 61 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Sunday, 07 May, 2017 - 05:01 am: | |
I wonder if I have got the cam timing right.... |
Patrick Ryan
Grand Master Username: patrick_r
Post Number: 1521 Registered: 4-2016
| Posted on Sunday, 07 May, 2017 - 08:56 am: | |
As they say Ben. Measure twice cut once. I'm sure you have, you are just poking us. |
Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 62 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Sunday, 07 May, 2017 - 10:11 pm: | |
Well.....I was told by the guy that did the liners, lobe 15 pointing upwards, then align cam sprocket timing marks and you're there. Its an 8 bolt pattern, not symmetrical, but only by a tiny bit and I think possible to get the 8 bolts in place with the timing wrong. Statement in the manual is a bit vague about checking with a DTI. If I new which way the thing ran clockwise or anticlockwise, I'd wind it over and watch the cams to check |
ross kowalski
Grand Master Username: cdfpw
Post Number: 410 Registered: 11-2015
| Posted on Monday, 08 May, 2017 - 09:03 am: | |
Ben, You must have watched this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37vPjmpGP0Y If not, it's pretty interesting. |
Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 63 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Monday, 08 May, 2017 - 05:17 pm: | |
Ross! You're a legend! I rummaged at the back of the shed and found a knackered cam and gear, plus the 8 bolts, I tried to put it together wrong and you can't do it, he shows this in part 3 of the video series, while its impossible to see with the naked eye (or at least my middle age eyes), the pattern does prevent a biblical scale feck up. |
gordon le feuvre
Prolific User Username: triumph
Post Number: 189 Registered: 7-2012
| Posted on Monday, 08 May, 2017 - 09:25 pm: | |
The blind hole is for high metal temp sensor, fitted from chassis no.? because factory discovered that if a heater hose split, coolant would be lost from rear of engine/heads even though header tank was still full and therefore low coolant light would not be illuminated as warning of problems, until too late. |
Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 64 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Tuesday, 09 May, 2017 - 06:38 am: | |
Thanks Gordon, useful to know. New oil pump drive gear, in both engines this critical little critter was heavily worn, Progress good, front covers on, cam in, tappets in, heads on. Need to do some torque wrench work tomorrow.
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ross kowalski
Grand Master Username: cdfpw
Post Number: 416 Registered: 11-2015
| Posted on Tuesday, 09 May, 2017 - 11:26 am: | |
Ben, Thanks for sharing your progress, looks like you are making good progress. I watched all the videos once I found them on youtube very entertaining and informative. It was an utter joy to watch a consummate professional at work. |
Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 66 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Monday, 15 May, 2017 - 08:27 pm: | |
I was a little unhappy with how B4 piston went in, so decided to whip it out to check, when I went to do it I could not remember if it was A4 or B4 that went in last, so pulled both, A4 was fine, but B4 did seem a little tight, seemed to be the oil control ring, so I did a bit more cleaning in the groove and of the spring sections, then re-assembled, seems better. Front covers are on. Heads are on and torqued down. Lifters are in. Pushrods are in. Rocker gear is in. Needs to come off engine stand to fit rear seal, then back on engine stand and upside down for sump. |
Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 71 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Wednesday, 24 May, 2017 - 05:03 pm: | |
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Ben Curtis
Frequent User Username: burgundyben
Post Number: 72 Registered: 12-2015
| Posted on Wednesday, 24 May, 2017 - 05:11 pm: | |
So...its buttoned up and ready to drop in. I move house in 10 days, so a big push to get it in the car and scrap the dead motor. It'll then have to wait a while as we're going into a rented place. |
Jeff Young
Grand Master Username: jeyjey
Post Number: 350 Registered: 10-2010
| Posted on Wednesday, 24 May, 2017 - 06:03 pm: | |
Well done, Ben! You're on the home stretch now.... Cheers, Jeff. |
Patrick Francis
Prolific User Username: jackpot
Post Number: 132 Registered: 11-2016
| Posted on Wednesday, 24 May, 2017 - 08:50 pm: | |
Hats off Ben. Wish I was sharing the experience! |