Engine Rebuild

[Fraze]

I am planning to rebuild the original (92,000 mile) engine in my '58 FC. Being a "newbie" I need a bit of info.
1. Where (in Melbourne) is a good source of parts such as pistons, rings, bearings, valves, oil pump etc?
2. Is it usual to replace the cam bearings on these engines?
Advice greatly appreciated!
Thanks, Frazer.

[ardiesse]

Fraze,

Two car enthusiasts, three opinions . . . but my two cents' worth -

You normally don't need to replace the cam bearings when you do an engine rebuild.

I'm a firm advocate of a "minimum rebuild" - ring-ridge removal, hone the bores, rings and bearings, new timing gear set, cylinder head overhaul.  Unless your engine has broken piston rings that is.  When I put my FX back on the road, it smoked and fouled spark plugs, and I wanted to drive it to Perth and back.  So I pulled the motor apart, got the head reconditioned with exhaust valve seat inserts, replaced the rings, and expected it only to last a couple of years, given the amount of wear in the bores.

Ten years and 65000 miles later, my stop-gap piston ring job is still just fine.

Your engine shop will be able to source the parts you need.

Rob

[collecta]

 Totally agree Rob have done plenty of re rings over the years.

[Fraze]

Thanks for that advice, more or less what I planned to do. I am equipped to do the engine rebuild myself, contract out the machining. It is probably more than 40 years since I have seen inside a grey motor so I am very rusty there, but I regularly rebuild early Porsche engines so not exactly a stranger. What I would really like to know is the best source for parts in Melbourne. I Know Rare Spares and Auto Surplus - are there any others?

[GreyFC]

What ever you do make sure you replace the cam gear with a steel or alloy one.  The fiber ones are junk.  The cause of spun cam bearings due to fiber gettign stuck in oil galleries.

If possible do a hone, rings and big ends but pistons can be obtained.  If you want a builder to do it for you there is a bloke in Cheltenham that does cheap work aswell.  Let me know I can get his number.

[Fraze]

Thanks for your advice "GreyFC". I really want to do the engine myself. Yes, I have already bought a steel timing gear. My engine has done 92,000 original miles but I don't expect too much from it. Sometime over the next 6 weeks I will strip it and measure and what I find will dictate the extent of the rebuild. The car will probably do less than 3000 miles a year so I am not going to go to the "n" th degree with it. It is going quite well at the moment, a little smoky but the main reason I will do it now is that it is leaking oil from behind the front plate (not timing cover) and it is getting worse.

[GreyFC]

Where in.Melb are you?

[ardiesse]

Fraze,

If the motor's leaking oil from behind the front engine mount plate, it's most likely because the attaching screws are a little loose.  You'd have to pull the camshaft out to tighten them, which means extracting the (sludged-up) cam followers.  None of this is terribly straightforward in an FC with the motor in place.

A few minor things to watch for, all of which have bitten me in the rear in previous engine jobs:

- Soak the rear main bearing oil seal in oil for a couple of days before installing it.
- Reface the rocker arms, de-sludge the rocker shafts, and grind off the little "wear nipple" from the adjuster ball studs.
- You may have to put a self-tapping screw in the rocker gear oil fitting's relief hole to get enough flow to lubricate No. 1 exhaust valve.
- After stripping the block and head, remove the welch plugs and go nuts with a Gerni to get rid of the mud and scale in the water jackets.
- File a keyway in the crankshaft oil slinger so that you can remove it next time without first removing the key in the crank.
- It may help to replace the camshaft thrust washer attaching screws with Phillips or socket head cap equivalents for ease of installation.

Rob

[Fraze]

Ardiesse, thanks for the advice, I will certainly take that on board.

GreyFC, I am in Wheelers Hill, Melb.

Cheers, Frazer

[hsv-001]

Just be careful if you have to replace any pistons ,that you match the weight as this can cause engine roll at idle . Haydn

[Fraze]

Engine rebuild update.
After making the decision to spruce up my original engine an FB engine sort of fell into my lap so I decided to rebuild it instead. It was in fairly good shape but I decided that the old adage "do it once - do it right" is still true so I went all the way- rebore, shaft grind, hardened seat inserts ,balance etc. etc. The machinist rang me last night to say that it is all done so I won't be sitting around wondering what to do with myself next week.
I must single out Auto Surplus in Melbourne for a special mention - they had every part I needed and their service is fantastic. The guys behind the counter are a pleasure to deal with.
I will post again after I have screwed it all back together and if I can figure out how to post a photo I will put in a few progress photos. Cheers, Frazer

[GreyFC]

Thast great.  If you need a hand with the pics I can help you can email or SMS them to me and I can put them up.

[fe350chev]

Keep the updates going. I'm bored at the in laws place atm.

[GreyFC]

Haha I am on the way right now.  I brought my Eldred Norman supercharged book to entertain me