CAPTAIN RATBAG (Mk1 #6) Pt2

Here is a quick before and after of the bottom end getting a dip and a clean.

And after...

I'd like to go forged pistons eventually but these spotless standard ones will do just fine for now.

Here are some of the engine bits, Mahle rings, Autotech Vernier cam wheel, and all the fully cleaned internals.

Heavy duty valve springs, new hydraulic lifters, Autotech 16v sport cam set and a full rebuild kit.

Who wants to spend the afternoon with wire brushes and some kerosene?

Four dirty hours later...

Pistons getting a fuel bath to get rid of any dirty bits.

Next was the crank, intermediate shaft and the block. To clean them up and get off any remaining machining oil from the hot tanking these had a high pressure blast with fuel, a blast with air to dry, then a blast with hot soapy water, another blast with air to dry and a coat of WD40 to hold back the rust. After this we went over every thread in the block and ran a tap in to make sure there was nothing hiding in any of the threads.

Time to assemble the pistons.

All the cleaned engine parts wrapped and dust free.

Mmmmm nothing like a sparkly block...

In go the new bearings and oil squirters ready to... squirt!

And finally the crank and end caps with new seals, all ready for pistons and the sump.

Pistons and welsh plugs in.

All wrapped up nice and cosy.

With the guts of the bottom end done it's time for some colour so the block's degreased and masked up.

A can of high temp paint later...

Oil pump in, along with a new baffle and the old sump.

Sump on.

My head came back from being reconditioned, refaced and polished. Heavy duty springs in, new lifters and hydraulic valve guides, new inlet valves and refaced outlet valves.

Just a little bit of time on a bench grinder with a wire brush head makes all the difference.

On with the head, water pump, crank breather and some pulleys.

Cam time.

And finally my valver is all sealed up with the cam pulley on, a new tension pulley and timing belt.

So the backyard... this is the "guess who has a very patient and understanding girlfriend" photo.

Now I am a tall guy and this is a small car, my head when wearing a helmet is quite close to the roof. A six point cage is the only option to keep me safe if I go for a tumble so my little car is going away for a while.