Rebuilding the top end - 2.9 Cologne - Advice the S Council

[mk1fan]

Right, other than a 13mm drill bit, centre punches and the weather it looks like I am set for rebuilding to top end up on the Reserve this Friday.

Couple of things concern me though.

1. I was thinking of smearing the outlets ends / tails of the cooling system with some vaseline just to aid construction, sealing and help inhibit some corrossion to exposed bits that are unlikely to benefit from the circulation coolant. Does vaseline and coolant mix 'ok'?

2. I was going to get the engine running up to temp and then doing an oil change. Despite being careful, I cannot gaurantee that no water mixed into the oil during dismantling. If it does emulsify should I add some flush to the car to remove it or just allow to drain and fill with fresh? There is going to be a short service interval as the remote oil fillter needs doing after S Club Tour.

Thoughts?

Cheers.

[phillpot]

mk1fan said:

Right, other than a 13mm drill bit

mk1fan said:

Does vaseline and coolant mix 'ok'?

I very much doubt that small amount will do any harm, however I believe there are water based lubricants available

mk1fan said:

should I add some flush to the car to remove it or just allow to drain and fill with fresh?

Just drain and refill,contamination should be minimal, imho

[GreenV8S]

Water in the oil is not a problem. It's entirely normal - engines naturally collect water in the oil while they are run cold, and engines that are only used for short trips can have pints of the stuff in the crank case and sump. If you think you have got a lot of water in there I would drain and refill the sump before you fire it up, and changing the oil is never a bad idea anyway, but a bit of water is nothing to worry about.

Vaseline / water no problem, but vaseline is a petroleum based product and I wonder whether the coolant hoses will get on OK with it.

[mk1fan]

Cheers guys. Will see if the motorfactors has a water based lube tomorrow.

13mm drill bit to open up the arb mount hole on the wishbones.

Had planned on an oil change once the car has run up to temperature. Going to flush through the cooling system to as a few of the paths were blocked on the block.

[phillpot]

mk1fan said:

Cheers guys. Will see if the motorfactors has a water based lube tomorrow.

Or the Chemist's

mk1fan said:

13mm drill bit to open up the arb mount hole on the wishbones.

Should be 1/2", 13mm will be a bit sloppy? Are they just a bit bunged up with galv?

[magpies]

if you have not started the engine for a while then all of the oil that is going to be in the sump will be there. So just change it before starting it.

[mk1fan]

phillpot said:

mk1fan said:

Cheers guys. Will see if the motorfactors has a water based lube tomorrow.

Or the Chemist's

mk1fan said:

13mm drill bit to open up the arb mount hole on the wishbones.

Should be 1/2", 13mm will be a bit sloppy? Are they just a bit bunged up with galv?

Motorfactors will be less embarrassing.

1/2mm should be fine once the bolt is clamped up. Not fitting the galved wishbones just yet. May well weld a mount to them ahead of fitting.

[GreenV8S]

Galvanised + welding might not be a happy combination.

[greymrj]

Water based lubricant is readily available off the shelf in supermarkets.....or so she tells me

[mk1fan]

GreenV8S said:

Galvanised + welding might not be a happy combination.

I know. Will clean up the tab and then recoat with cold galv IF I decide to do it.

[mk1fan]

magpies said:

if you have not started the engine for a while then all of the oil that is going to be in the sump will be there. So just change it before starting it.

Did consider doing that but need to move the car as it is pointing up hill at the moment.

[Top Gear TVR]

fresh oil, stuff is cheap enough. i change mine twice each year and do 5k ish