Morris Minor Owners Club

Engine looks really nice now

[quote="biomed32uk"]Well, the block has gone off down to a local engineering place to run through a hot wash process, I didn't make a bad job of it but that will finish it nicely.

what firm did you use? needing same kind of work done. willing to travel for a good job!

Just use the jet wash unit at your local car wash...same result...much less cost and hassle....

my new merc, will get all oily, dirty and wet , guess it will happen at some point!, ,

I did the first clean with some gunk, detergent and my karcher, which did a good job.

The hot wash, and is was hot as when I went to pick it up it had not finished, couldn't pick it up as it was too hot and had to carry it with rags to the car. Gets in all the oilways, it had also got most of the paint off, and had done a great job. All for a tenner.

It was done by Towler engineering, in Oxford Road, Clacton on Sea. Been there years and is a real old fashioned engineering firm, one of those that does not have a grand premises but does a damned good job at a good price. Did my crank for me and fitted my new little end bushes for me. When I worked in town on maintenance at a local firm we used to sub work out there all the time.

Sure there must be some decent little engineering firms near to you, although wouldn't surprise me if they were in decline.

I never did post the finished item, engine done and awaiting re fiting while other work goes on.[frame][/frame]

tim_jnv wrote:my new merc, will get all oily, dirty and wet , guess it will happen at some point!, ,

You use a local car wash for your new merc. That's slumming it a bit isn't it?

Well I spent some time last Sun getting the engine back in the car and getting things re connected.

I filled the oil filter up with oil before fitting it, left the banjo bolt loose, filled the pipe up and the oil outlet from the engine. I actually wound the engine backwards to make sure there was oil in the pump. Assembled everything, no plugs in and with the first wind of the starter the oil pressure gauge had lift off, a few more bursts and the gauge is right up to where it should be and oil can be seen weeping from the rocker shaft.

Plugs in today, connect up the controls, had some faffing arond with the dizzy and timing get the sparks in the right place at the right time. Couple of goes on the starter and with a cough along with a huge cloud of smoke she runs. For the few minutes she ran it sounded very nice, allbeit a little lumpy as the timing needs sorting properly but smooth and quiet on a nice gentle rev up.

Always encouraging to know the work has gone well, now to sort the timing and mixture.

Well done! Be sure to retorque the head after the first proper heat cycle -and then reset the valve gaps.

Yes will do, I have run her right up to temp this evening, timing now sorted out, I can now let her go cold and do the head torque and valves. All looking good with no leaks or weeps so far.

Must have had her running for a good 25 mins so nice and warm, the lowest I saw the oil pressure go at idle was around 50 to 55 psi, free reving it goes up to around the 65 mark, way better than before as once warm it would manage about 25 and after a good run 15 was about it idling. Certainly improved things there.

Its a while since I rebuilt a car engine, the amount of blow by while the rings start to bed is scary, fumes coming out of the breather a plenty, all but gone after that short run. I have put bedding in oil in so that should encourage things to settle in well, and get the rings sealing well.