Opinions and costs on engine rebuild

stable

stable

0
Hi Guys,

I'm thinking the long game - is it time to bite the bullet and just get Charlies engine rebuilt?

Pressures a little low and he's using water, might just be the water pump leaking.. but might now be.

There's a lot of gaps in my knowledge of available parts and pricing so just wanting to learn from anyone who has gone down this route. I'm sure I have the ability but not the time so most of it I will have to farm out... or is it worth sending the lot off to someone - but who and how much for a ground up rebuild?

So if I was to remove engine. Send the head off for a rebuild, i.e. new seats then bolt onto a new bottom end (cheapest option? @ £500) anyone any idea the cost on the head rebuild?

And what ancillaries are worth renewing and what's available...

oil pump?
water pump?
hoses?

Oh and what's the difference between the low and high compression - are all heads interchangeable?

anyone got any bright ideas?

Tom
 
Hi Tom, I recon the best way is to go for the new short engine as you suggest, that has got to be a bargain. The high compression engine is fitted with the ally head so the head, cam and rocker gear are different - possibly the positioning of the holes for the push rods too, so you would need to source these if you wanted to upgrade.
I'd fit a new oil pump as it's false economy not to and they are not that expensive - less than £40 when I bought one a couple of years ago. Water pumps are more expensive so if it's not leaking and the impeller looks OK then I'd re-use it, not a difficult thing to replace in future should you need to - and re-build kits are available too. Hoses - yes change them(martin or Speedies have them) and keep your old ones as emergency spares if they are not too bad.
The head is easy enough to do yourself if it's only a clean up and valve grind, I really wouldn't bother with hardened seats and valves unless you are planning mega mileage or towing a big caravan all day that will stress the engine - I've even stopped using additive as a normally driven van with standard seats will last for many miles on standard petrol and I know of one van in particular that suffered with serious valve seat recession even using the additive meticulously:eek: I recently replaced the valve guides on my Minor and it really was a straight forward job so, if there is a lot of play in them, don't discount doing it yourself all you need is a new set of guides (£2.50 each from Speedy Spares), a hammer and one of these:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171964533...61&var=470834523870&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Not sure what size the Commer one is but there's a choice on that listing to pick from.
Sorry this hasn't answered your question on the cost of a re-build but you are already doing the bulk of the work in removing, stripping - doing the head is a few hours work more. Easy for me to say I guess (being a gentleman of leisure;)) but I really would urge you to consider it.
 
Thanks Panky,

It seems it's either all or nothing really. And once you have bought the bottom end you're half way there anyway!

Good to know the water pump rebuild kits are available.

I guess I'll have to look at the head to know what, if anything needs doing.

So long as I have everything I need I guess a week turn around should be achievable.

Tom
 
Exactly, you'll have a lovely clean short engine to work on (white overall job:)) why pay someone to have the pleasure of putting it all back together;)
Water pump bearing are £14 and the seal £5 from Speedies.
 
6 speed is great, but not cheap. I had mine done. Also did dynamo to alternator and that changed polarity of battery... That in turn burnt out loom (doubt related just time and being used...) . That created a complete rewire top to bottom. Throw in replacing parts on dash to make work, a leccy dizzy and solving some running problems. And all in all a tidy sum!

So don't dispair but unless your seven numbers came up on Saturday stagger a route through any mods... . Good luck. Sounds amazing!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top