Should I strip the engine down?

[swampy42]

Just wondering what best practise would be.
I’m restoring a traveller and have the engine/gearbox out. I know that the gearbox needs a bit of attention, but as far as I was aware the engine ran fine and had no alarming noises before it was removed.

Providing the compression is OK, would there be any other signs that the engine should be stripped down and rebuilt in part or completely? Any other things I should check for before potentially sticking a duff engine back in? I should mention that the core plugs were forced out last winter.

As it’s out of the car, now would be the time to do it I guess, but I don’t want to do it, just for the sake of doing it.
Any guidance greatly appreciated.

[les]

I think it would be fair to say, it depends on whether you are prepared to take a chance, it might be ok. If you don't relish the stripdown just put it back and see, it's no big deal to remove again if you have to. Of course a nice rebuild is great but you've got to want to do it! I suggest that you put it back and wait for it to fail Dave----(2001)

[katy]

Any place around that you could put it on a test stand for a run?

[MarkyB]

A Minor engine will happily run sitting on its sump on a flat surface.
Just remember to hook the throttle return spring onto the exhaust or somewhere or it all get very exciting, very fast!!!

The lack of silencing isn't really an issue particularly at tick over, just a bloop bloop sort of noise.
The lack of water isn't a problem for a minute or two, which is all you need to see if the engine in OK.

Enough petrol for a short run can be supplied by fitting a funnel into the rubber pipe to the carb.

One jump lead from the minus terminal of a well charged battery to a good earth point on the engine, ordinary sized wire from the Plus side to the coil (there needs to be another wire between the other side of the coil and the points).
The other jump lead you touch on the terminal of the starter (bolted to the back plate) to turn the engine.

I've done it several times, before the days of health and safety, or you tube unfortunately!

Warning! If the engine is fitted with an alternator take the fan belt off or it will be knackered.

[swampy42]

Thanks for the replies.
Apart from obvious clanks or rattles, what indications would there be that a strip down is the way to go. Are there any things I should check before putting it back in?

[bmcecosse]

The core plugs being forced out means it MUST be stripped - the block and/or head (and water pump) may well be cracked.......

[swampy42]

OK, well I guess that sheds a whole new light on it. Thanks for the advice.
Hope I’m not showing my ignorance here, but aren’t the core plugs a safety device to prevent that kind of damage?

[les]

They are to a degree, and you may be ok. Not wanting to start a controversy but you may still wish to try it. I only say this because of your previous indication of reluctance to rebuild.

[MarkyB]

Oops! I missed the line about core plugs
The only time I had dealings with pushed out core plugs they had worked and saved the block, I think we just banged them back in and all was fine.

Not really worth running the engine out of the car as it's the integrity of the cooling system that needs checking.

[izzi]

Well worth stripping down for many reasons, You will get plenty of advice on this forum during the procedure.
Great satisfaction will be the final result.

Roy.

[bmcecosse]

The core plugs are there to plug the casting cores! Yes - they may help to relieve pressure when the block freezes - but there is nothing in the head area to relieve any pressure - and when the cores push out (all of them???) the block must have been REALLY solidly iced.......

[swampy42]

Well, I guess that answers that then - a strip down it is.
Many thanks to all who have replied
Russ

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

You could just take the head off and check the ridge at the top of the bores, decoke, top overhaul etc and see if there has been any frost damage.

If there wasn't any knocking upon start-up one would assume the bottom-end is OK.

[swampy42]

OK, so if there was any damage would it always be visible at the top of the block? Would it always be visible by eye or do I need a bit of kit to discern if it’s cracked?

[chesney]

Ideally, it needs to be tested by someone with 'professional' equipment..

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Well if it ran fine before it was removed...