The 280i rebuilding is about to commence !!

[Sireatalot]

Evening all.

Well, after approx 8 years (can't remember the actual date) of my 280i being garage'a'lised , I'm finally in the mood to get my fingers dirty and start the work getting it back on the road..

After a great day at Castle Coombe yesterday, I've no 'important' car dates in my diary - untill BBWF 2017 . As a result, shipping the 350i off to my brother's driveway for a while whilst I pull the 280 out of the garage to start the work.

This is how it looks at the moment !!






Now, will probably have a load of questions to ask you all in the coming months but the first one is..

Can anyone recommend me a suitable sturdy engine stand for the V6 ? as I wish to dismantle and replace gaskets / seals etc, also just tart it up a bit..
Dont want to spend huge money as it will be a one time use..

Cheers
Dom

[mrzigazaga]

Sireatalot said:

Can anyone recommend me a suitable sturdy engine stand for the V6

A 280i Chassis...

Might of been easier to whip the body off...Good to see you making a start..

Talking of which i better make a start on those interior parts....

[Grady]

Last time I did it (to a MG-B so some years ago), I rented a stand for a week on the teardown side and then for another week on the rebuild side. At the time it was about the same as buying one but I didn't have to store it, trip over it or pile things on it and I haven't needed one since.

But I just looked and new ones are listed at such very low prices I doubt anyone still rents them.

[Searider]

Sireatalot said:

Can anyone recommend me a suitable sturdy engine stand for the V6 ? as I wish to dismantle and replace gaskets / seals etc, also just tart it up a bit..

Buy one then ebay when you are done?

[Brentyboy]

Good on ya Dom, looks a fairly substantial task but you know what they say. Where there is a will, there is a way.

[adam quantrill]

I made a trolley out of some 2x4" wood, bolted together in a rectangle, and at each cornet a 6" trolley wheel. One pair of wheels swivel, the other pair is fixed.

I use it to put engines on, move heavy loads, all sorts of stuff.

[Grady]

I've use a heavy duty furniture dolly which worked as long as the floor was reasonably smooth. But it was too low for more than storage and of course you couldn't rotate the engine block.

[Sireatalot]

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys..

I have contemplated making a stand for it but ideally, I was after something that I could rotate the block with.

I've looked at my local tool hire place and they only do an engine crane, not stand, so I'll prob pop into my local machine mart on Friday and see what they have in stock.

From what I've seen on the net, I'll be looking for a 2 leg, 4 castor version and not a 1 leg , 3 castor cheaper version... if that makes sense.

Watch this space

[Sireatalot]

Morning all.

Do you think this stand would be ok ? or would you go for a known make ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FDS-Transmission-Support-...

[Yatesy350i]

Hi Mate

Can't recommend this company enough. I've had a 2t engine crane, a set of four wheel dollies and a chainsaw from them. All free next day post. The engine crane was a particularly good deal at the time. Cheaper than I could find a used one on the bay at the time.

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/en...

Karl.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Dom.

There was a thread as regards to engine stands and the one from SGS looks good but may be out of stock so best to call them.....

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...

However i do believe that the V6 is heavier than the V8!

Edited by mrzigazaga on Wednesday 27th July 09:25

[Sireatalot]

mrzigazaga said:

However i do believe that the V6 is heavier than the V8!

Ive heard that.. but it's not going to be over the SGS stand 680kg capacity is it ? the whole car comes in at just over 1080kg's .....

Yatesy350i said:

Hi Mate

Can't recommend this company enough. I've had a 2t engine crane, a set of four wheel dollies and a chainsaw from them. All free next day post. The engine crane was a particularly good deal at the time. Cheaper than I could find a used one on the bay at the time.

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/en...

Karl.

Thanks Karl, that looks alot better than the Amazon one for sure.. just phoned them and they have a 2 week lead time for the stand..

anyway, cheers guys.

[mrzigazaga]

V6 without ancillaries = 380 lb - 172.365 kg....Then think about down forces for taking the lump apart...i:e Your weight pushing down on stubborn bolts to get a twist on...Or any bald eagles deciding to use it as a perch, Or even greedy cat sized fruit bats...You never know matey...

[Grady]

They are generally pretty stable but if in doubt you can bolt a wood/pipe leg to the front of the block for balance.

I still remember asking my poor mother to hold a block of 2x2 while I pounded out the frozen pistons with a sledge hammer. Didn't get her once though.

[adam quantrill]

I'm not familiar with the Ford block but with the V8 how would that attach - if using the engine hoist loop bolts they go through the heads so that means you have to take it off the stand to take the heads off?

The low trolley suggestion isn't too bad, you just sit on a cushion next to the block to work on the low-down bits. If you want to rotate it you can push it over on its side ;^)

[Wedg1e]

Engine stands usually bolt to the bolt holes for the bellhousing. Mine had adjustable arms that you could swing around to get the best support... but you did have to have the engine hanging from a crane while you fannied about with the stand!

[Sireatalot]

Got the 280 out of the garage last night to start to compile the to do list.. its going to be a large one..

Just thought I'd share a few pics.

Cant wait to hear these again... reckon I've got a good chance of being a future noisy git.
Need to get them adjusted slightly - 1 their not straight and 2 they are dis-colouring the bumper.

[Sireatalot]

ok, spent a little time last night attempting to get the engine mounted onto the stand and fell at the first hurdle - the bell housing bolts arent long enough to go through the stand mounts into the block..

anyhow, got the gearbox & bellhousing separated from the engine, clutch and flywheel removed.
This was behind the flywheel.





Now, I think this seal / bearing is the culprit to the massive oil leak I experianced during the last drive out.. when the AA dropped me back home, topped the oil back up and you could see it pour out from the bellhousing area..

[adam quantrill]

with front/rear oil seals the leak is usually also because the crankcase is under positive pressure, so yes it found the path of least resistance, but I would also be looking at:

- sealing of the rocker covers
- breather hoses, flame traps etc aren't blocked
- blow-by past piston rings

If you haven't dismantled too much try blowing into a breather hose it should feel like blowing up a balloon. If its airtight and the breathers aren't clogged then suspect possible blow-by.

[mrzigazaga]

adam quantrill said:

with front/rear oil seals the leak is usually also because the crankcase is under positive pressure, so yes it found the path of least resistance, but I would also be looking at:

- sealing of the rocker covers
- breather hoses, flame traps etc aren't blocked
- blow-by past piston rings

If you haven't dismantled too much try blowing into a breather hose it should feel like blowing up a balloon. If its airtight and the breathers aren't clogged then suspect possible blow-by.

Hi Dom...Agree with Adam..

If the crankcase pressure is too high this can cause this...It was one of the things i was worried about with supercharging Delilah...Unfortunately i had the blow-by....Bit like at Wroxall with the receptionist...Would of been nice to of swapped "BY" for "JOB".....