Engine building

[AlexG40]

I'm going to be building up my engine from scratch pretty soon. I'll be using the Haynes as a guide (it's not let me down before) but I wondered if anyone has any hints and tips before I start. I've got the tools and plenty of clean workspace but anything else I should be looking at?  I'll probably document the build as I do it and it may make a decent FAQ article when it's done. (It will also mean if I miss anything one of you might spot it!)

Cheers

Alex

[Yoof]

List of some helpful tools/bits:

Clean Rags
Fresh engine oil in a small squirter
Plastigauge
Feeler gauges
DTI & base
Good block scraper
Pipe cleaners/brushes to remove debris
Torque Wrench
Paint pens/ stamps for marking bolts when tight
Gasket sealant
Long splined head bolt tool

Just have a good read of Haynes and set aside a few hours, building them isn't hard just be methodical, and don't force anything, if it feels wrong, it generally is.

Yoof

[randombadger69]

Use sealant on your sump gasket. I didn't and its leaking! Grr

[AlexG40]

Cheers for that. Got all that covered except the DTI.

Hit my first snag today. There's something stopping the rods on 3 of the piston assembly's from having full movement. I'm not 100% sure why as theyve been used together before with no issue that I knew of although the engine wasn't actually run.



Looking at the pistons it appears there's a small lug that seems to be fouling the top of the rods.



Have I missed something or is this a minor fault with the pistons that I need to address?

[Yoof]

Finger belt sander is your friend, make sure everything's clean afterwards.

They all stamped with 'EX' ?

[Robin]

Its worth running a tap down the head bolt threads on the block as well Alex to make sure there is no crap down there and the thread are all nice.

[AlexG40]

They all stamped with 'EX' ?

I'm back in the house now, but as far as I can remember they are.

[Fred]

Head bolt thread.

Am i correct by saying Metric Fine 10 x 1mm pitch ?

Fred.

[AlexG40]

^ Sounds right. I'll check when I get to the garage.

[jez1272gt]

be carefull when using a tap to clean the thread, should really use a thread chaser but it will be ok if your gentle/careful. Make sure you get all the crap out of the bottom after too  !