How hard is it to rebuild your own engine?
Discussion
The head gasket went on my x308 XJR last year.
I got a replacement engine fitted and it's perfectly fine and the car runs well.
I want to rebuild the original engine myself over the next 18 months or so.
I always wanted to build an engine.
So, I've no deadlines, plenty of space, a pretty good set of tools and am fairly ok working on cars.
Is it possible by myself, outsourcing parts like head skimming and porting along the way?
I'm missing an engine crane and a jig to mount the engine on. But apart from that I think I'm in a good place to start.
How would you approach it?
Should I just make a start and get it stripped down?
I got a replacement engine fitted and it's perfectly fine and the car runs well.
I want to rebuild the original engine myself over the next 18 months or so.
I always wanted to build an engine.
So, I've no deadlines, plenty of space, a pretty good set of tools and am fairly ok working on cars.
Is it possible by myself, outsourcing parts like head skimming and porting along the way?
I'm missing an engine crane and a jig to mount the engine on. But apart from that I think I'm in a good place to start.
How would you approach it?
Should I just make a start and get it stripped down?
Plenty of space, and a big sheet of plywood.
Get the engine supported so you can easily access the top and the bottom.
Get stripping, and place your oily bits on the ply with some comments on the ply as required.
Skimming and porting can be done by most engineering shops.
If you can take the engine out, you can rebuild definitely.
Torque wrench is a must though.
Take your time,and you will be fine. (and if you're not, what's the worst that can happen)
Get the engine supported so you can easily access the top and the bottom.
Get stripping, and place your oily bits on the ply with some comments on the ply as required.
Skimming and porting can be done by most engineering shops.
If you can take the engine out, you can rebuild definitely.
Torque wrench is a must though.
Take your time,and you will be fine. (and if you're not, what's the worst that can happen)
Depends what you mean by rebuild. Is it just a strip down, gasket change then put it back together? Or a full rebuild ie new Pistons, shells, bolts, rebore etc?
You will need some fairly specialist tools for the latter. Vernier calipers, feeler gauges, plastiguage, dial gauges etc.
Difficult? Not especially if you are tidy and methodical in your approach. Take plenty of pictures along during the strip down for reference.
You don't have to have an engine stand, there are some things you can't do with it on one, but for the most part it would help.
At the end of day an engine is just an air pump, the engine itself isn't actually that complicated. Plenty of books around that will help plus there will be loads of advise on various forums. The only way you will learn is to do it. As you have no rush for the engine then just crack on with it. It will weigh the same in bits as it would built so if you lose interest or it gets the better of you then the scrappy will give you the same!
You will need some fairly specialist tools for the latter. Vernier calipers, feeler gauges, plastiguage, dial gauges etc.
Difficult? Not especially if you are tidy and methodical in your approach. Take plenty of pictures along during the strip down for reference.
You don't have to have an engine stand, there are some things you can't do with it on one, but for the most part it would help.
At the end of day an engine is just an air pump, the engine itself isn't actually that complicated. Plenty of books around that will help plus there will be loads of advise on various forums. The only way you will learn is to do it. As you have no rush for the engine then just crack on with it. It will weigh the same in bits as it would built so if you lose interest or it gets the better of you then the scrappy will give you the same!
Thanks, some tags with string to tie onto the parts as I strip it down I guess.
Take pictures as I progress..
I have a good torque wrench - got a second hand one off ebay and had it calibrated + crows feet sockets etc..
And an old table..
I'm hoping to rebuild it as cleanly as possible, taking the time to properly clean and where possible replace parts.
Take pictures as I progress..
I have a good torque wrench - got a second hand one off ebay and had it calibrated + crows feet sockets etc..
And an old table..
I'm hoping to rebuild it as cleanly as possible, taking the time to properly clean and where possible replace parts.
It may be worth finding out or understanding why the engine was replaced rather than just having the head gaskets replaced. There may be other factors which may mean it is not repairable rather than not economical. A cracked block would be a possibility and something a 'first timer' may not spot.
Steve
Steve
As above, not hard, you just need to be very methodical, and clean.
You also need to spend a couple of hundred pounds on tools and gauges, but that's a good thing, right?
The gaskets and bearings etc will run to another few hundred.
I'd recommend getting a copy of "The Engine Builder's Handbook" before you start. You'll also really need the manufacturer's manual which will have all of the clearances and torque settings you need in it.
A few plastic crates, some for oily bits, some for cleaned bits. Tags are a good idea as mentioned. A stand will make things easier but is not essential if you have a bench. I put most of my v6 together on a workmate.
You also need to spend a couple of hundred pounds on tools and gauges, but that's a good thing, right?
The gaskets and bearings etc will run to another few hundred.
I'd recommend getting a copy of "The Engine Builder's Handbook" before you start. You'll also really need the manufacturer's manual which will have all of the clearances and torque settings you need in it.
A few plastic crates, some for oily bits, some for cleaned bits. Tags are a good idea as mentioned. A stand will make things easier but is not essential if you have a bench. I put most of my v6 together on a workmate.
Take photos as you take apart,
Haynes manual,
Take more photos,
Random comment picked up from one of the kit car builds on here, if you use masking tape and writing to make a note of which wires go where, pen fades, pencil does not fade.
Take more photos.
I enjoyed my slow engine re-build, took me about 2 years!
Enjoy!
Haynes manual,
Take more photos,
Random comment picked up from one of the kit car builds on here, if you use masking tape and writing to make a note of which wires go where, pen fades, pencil does not fade.
Take more photos.
I enjoyed my slow engine re-build, took me about 2 years!
Enjoy!
Cableman said:
The job is easy, no engine stand is needed and I am not dumb. Check for any specialist tools that are needed
Well if you want to f
k about wrestling with an engine block on the ground work away.Engine stands are cheap, and make working around the engine easy. It is just dumb not to use one. If you cannot afford one, then really, you cannot afford to be rebuilding an engine.
Thanks everyone for the tips and advice.
Properly documenting as I go, then labelling and bagging as I progress duly noted.
I have a (nearly) empty stack of shelves to store all the parts along the way, I'll need some plastic boxes to organise everything.
In terms of manuals, I have a copy of Jaguar JTIS, which has detailed step by step guides for all the peripheral jobs I'll need to do dismantling and reassembling.
In terms of specific tools, have vernier calipers, feeler gauges, micrometer, a dial gauge, good torque wrench and the rest of sockets, ratchets and spanners.
On eBay, second hand engine cranes and engine stands are practically free, so I should be able to pick those up easily..
Properly documenting as I go, then labelling and bagging as I progress duly noted.
I have a (nearly) empty stack of shelves to store all the parts along the way, I'll need some plastic boxes to organise everything.
In terms of manuals, I have a copy of Jaguar JTIS, which has detailed step by step guides for all the peripheral jobs I'll need to do dismantling and reassembling.
In terms of specific tools, have vernier calipers, feeler gauges, micrometer, a dial gauge, good torque wrench and the rest of sockets, ratchets and spanners.
On eBay, second hand engine cranes and engine stands are practically free, so I should be able to pick those up easily..
This style is the most versatile
http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/en...
Ones with a single leg only are a little less stable, and stands with 2 legs whilst more stable again...are just too big and awkward.
The single middle leg with cross piece is best all rounder for most engines
http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/en...
Ones with a single leg only are a little less stable, and stands with 2 legs whilst more stable again...are just too big and awkward.
The single middle leg with cross piece is best all rounder for most engines
I started with a simple head gasket change and have worked forward over time to a full rebuild
However it ain't simple
You can't just strip an engine and replace bearings, rings, Pistons etc without nowing what to measure and how.
Then there's the cost, as an exercise over time it's affordable even with the lessons learnt but start simple, read and research, ask basic questions as there are some very very experienced engine builders on here
Just be aware some are very precious about their subject and on many forums there are the engine building equivelants of bar room lawyers
Every things a learning experience go for it
One step at a time
However it ain't simple
You can't just strip an engine and replace bearings, rings, Pistons etc without nowing what to measure and how.
Then there's the cost, as an exercise over time it's affordable even with the lessons learnt but start simple, read and research, ask basic questions as there are some very very experienced engine builders on here
Just be aware some are very precious about their subject and on many forums there are the engine building equivelants of bar room lawyers
Every things a learning experience go for it
One step at a time
stevieturbo said:
This style is the most versatile
http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/en...
Ones with a single leg only are a little less stable, and stands with 2 legs whilst more stable again...are just too big and awkward.
The single middle leg with cross piece is best all rounder for most engines
That is perfect. Thanks Stevie.http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garage-equipment/en...
Ones with a single leg only are a little less stable, and stands with 2 legs whilst more stable again...are just too big and awkward.
The single middle leg with cross piece is best all rounder for most engines
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