VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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Sept 23, 2011 21:21:01 GMT
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So I've just purchased an engine that's been in a shed for two years. How far should I go with getting it back into working fashion?
New fluids and filters are a given, plus new plugs and leads. What about the head gasket? Drop the sump and clean it out?
It's all a bit of a grey area to me...
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fad
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,781
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Sept 23, 2011 21:37:46 GMT
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What is the engine? That makes a HUGE difference to what you would likely need to do.
Generally though, I would check for compression, set timing etc, maybe whip the head(s) off and have a peek inside, clean it out, fill it with oil and see how it runs. That's jsut me thoguh, it would reall depend on your intended application etc.
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Last Edit: Sept 23, 2011 21:38:39 GMT by fad
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Steve
Posted a lot
Making progress in small, easy to handle chunks of awesome
Posts: 2,027
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Sept 23, 2011 21:38:53 GMT
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Dropping the sump and having a nosey is never a bad idea on an "unknown" motor. If there isnt any external signs of head gasket issues(rarely there is) then id just chuck it in the hole and fire it up and go from there. One other thing, check that the thermostat is present and test it before firing it up........had a motor a few years ago where during its state of rest the 'stat decided to give up and the kinda got a bit warm very quick  Steve |
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Sept 23, 2011 21:39:52 GMT
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Depends what you want it for. I've chucked a few pints of diesel down a seized engine before to free it off and chucked it in a car and used it, but if its something you care about you should at least take the head and sump off and have a nose around.
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R.S. Autotech. Servicing/Repairs/Diagnostics.
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fad
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,781
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Sept 23, 2011 21:43:47 GMT
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Oddly enough I have a Moggy Minor gearbox that I was gonna chuck on my Moggy and hope for the best. It was siezed up though, so I beat the hell out of it until it freed up, but then decided to strip it anyway. Glad I did, the main bearings on either side were siezed up and the shaft was just spinning inside the inner race. Would have been interesting at speed! lol!
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Steve
Posted a lot
Making progress in small, easy to handle chunks of awesome
Posts: 2,027
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Sept 23, 2011 21:51:59 GMT
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Oddly enough I have a Moggy Minor gearbox that I was gonna chuck on my Moggy and hope for the best. It was siezed up though, so I beat the hell out of it until it freed up, but then decided to strip it anyway. Glad I did, the main bearings on either side were siezed up and the shaft was just spinning inside the inner race. Would have been interesting at speed! lol! On that note............ I dragged a Series Land-Rover gearbox out of a field where it had sat for nigh on 15odd years, the insides were coated in rust and the transfer box needed to be cut off with a grinder due to being seized and impossible to seperate normally  ......i chucked that in my old landy and at first it howled like a dog for the first 100miles but eventually calmed down and did me proud for several thousand miles more ;D I was lucky i suppose, should have stripped it down properly and assessed it before using but i took a chance and it payed off. If your not certain of how good the motor is, strip it down and do a full bearing and gasket rebuild so you CAN be certain  |
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Sept 23, 2011 22:00:24 GMT
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Well, what engine is it? If they are cheap, just slam it in and see how you get on. It'll probably be fine. I put an engine in my old 106 that had been stood the best part of a decade, with no inspection, just bolted it in. It was spot on.
If its a rare or expensive engine, then it might be worth checking it over, but generally the cost of consumables for stripping an engine to properly inspect it fast approaches rhe cost of just buying another one..
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Sept 24, 2011 6:31:45 GMT
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with any engine its worth a check in the bores just in case of any water damage just save fitting it only to find you gotta remove it again . if its a belt timed engine change the belt other than that just a good check over and fresh fluids and you should be ready to go
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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Sept 24, 2011 7:51:40 GMT
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Thanks folks, it's a 1500 SOHC from a Fiat X1/9, so the intention is not for it to be just an old clunker.
Of course I meant to add cambelt and hardware to my list. Seems little effort in changing the head gasket and having a nose at the bores whilst there, so I'll definitely include that and dropping the sump off.
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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Sept 24, 2011 12:20:13 GMT
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we need a sticky saying if you want info give us some, not a dig it's just recently there seems to be lots of question we cant answer cos there no info in the origional post. In this case fiat SOHC i'd at least take the rocker and sump off whereas a ford Xflow i'd lob it in with new oil and have a go as is, HUGE differance. If the cambely runs on the water pump either change the WP or at least give it a good spin to make sure it's free and easy if that seizes there goes the the belt and valves also check the tensioner for the same reason |
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Last Edit: Sept 24, 2011 12:24:56 GMT by bortaf
R.I.P photobucket
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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Sept 24, 2011 12:57:44 GMT
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we need a sticky saying if you want info give us some, not a dig it's just recently there seems to be lots of question we cant answer cos there no info in the origional post. In this case fiat SOHC i'd at least take the rocker and sump off whereas a ford Xflow i'd lob it in with new oil and have a go as is, HUGE differance. If the cambely runs on the water pump either change the WP or at least give it a good spin to make sure it's free and easy if that seizes there goes the the belt and valves also check the tensioner for the same reason Tensioner will be replaced with the cambelt. I wasn't sure if there was a 'general rule of thumb' regarding things to check. Not knowing about engines - hence the reason for me asking the question in the first place - precluded me from knowing that the type of engine was critical to the answers given... |
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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Sept 24, 2011 13:01:34 GMT
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we need a sticky saying if you want info give us some, not a dig it's just recently there seems to be lots of question we cant answer cos there no info in the origional post. In this case fiat SOHC i'd at least take the rocker and sump off whereas a ford Xflow i'd lob it in with new oil and have a go as is, HUGE differance. If the cambely runs on the water pump either change the WP or at least give it a good spin to make sure it's free and easy if that seizes there goes the the belt and valves also check the tensioner for the same reason Tensioner will be replaced with the cambelt. I wasn't sure if there was a 'general rule of thumb' regarding things to check. Not knowing about engines - hence the reason for me asking the question in the first place - precluded me from knowing that the type of engine was critical to the answers given... Sorry chap that's why i said not a dig, no moaning intended more an observation i should have made a new thread really but then it would really have looked like a moan  |
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R.I.P photobucket
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duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member
Out of retro ownership
Posts: 1,320
Club RR Member Number: 70
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Recommissioning an engineduncanmartin
@duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member 70
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Sept 27, 2011 20:40:18 GMT
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Worth replacing the fan belt as well - it's a real pig to do when the engine is in, and if it goes you'll get real overheating.
Also, the X1/9 is notorious for airlocks in the cooling system, so make sure you bleed it carefully...
Cheers
Duncan
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,837
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Recommissioning an enginestealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
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Sept 28, 2011 7:38:00 GMT
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Might be worth seeing if you can get a spare oil pump drive, then modifying it so it fits in a drill and spinning it up to see if it gets any oil pressure. It's driven off the distributor on these iirc.
Matt
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......i chucked that in my old landy and at first it howled like a dog for the first 100miles but eventually calmed down and did me proud for several thousand miles more ;D
