The Whole Hog..... :gulp:
Discussion
Good news, the top end rebuild went really well at Autowerke.
Unfortunately, the increased compression etc has unearthed a slight bottom end rattle - I went along to have a listen and have decided to go the whole hog
Its time to get the bottom end done too whilst all the components up top are still fresh.
I foresee a slightly alarming bill heading my way - but it seems like the right thing to do for the long term ownership of the car. I couldnt drive round in her knowing that the top end is great but the bottom is not quite as it should be. (Sounds like a couple of my ex's actually
)
Dom
Unfortunately, the increased compression etc has unearthed a slight bottom end rattle - I went along to have a listen and have decided to go the whole hog
Its time to get the bottom end done too whilst all the components up top are still fresh. I foresee a slightly alarming bill heading my way - but it seems like the right thing to do for the long term ownership of the car. I couldnt drive round in her knowing that the top end is great but the bottom is not quite as it should be. (Sounds like a couple of my ex's actually
) Dom
ICSD said:
Hi Dom
I guess this will come to us all at some stage so please keep posting as it's very interesting.
Also be quite interesting to hear of anyone else who's needed the bottom end doing as my understanding is that a 3.2s bottom end is very strong and that top end only is the norm.
Yep, the bottom end is indeed meant to be very strong. Matt @ Autowerke advised that he sees situations such as this (requiring the whole lot once top done) on a ratio of approx 1 in 20. He has also mooted (sp?) the idea of no longer accepting a top end rebuild only - (As with my case its a bit of a shock to someone who has a top end budget, only to be faced with a full rebuild).
I think most of us would agree that the work is worthwhile for the longevity of the car, but its nice to have some time to get used to the idea of spending the equivalent of a new suzuki/daewoo/citreon etc on your engine maintenence
Whole engine rebuild (taking into account that he's go to take it all to bits again having completed the top end rebuild already) is looking like £5k +vat 
Could be worse...
Edit: It just got worse - ive got to pay an insulting £365 for the bl00dy daewoo MOT!!! Thats just not cricket!!!
Dom
Could be worse...
Edit: It just got worse - ive got to pay an insulting £365 for the bl00dy daewoo MOT!!! Thats just not cricket!!!
Dom
No it isnt!!! 
Well it probably is but I despise spending money on something which is so unpleasant to drive!!! My street cred, if I ever had any, is also completely ruined!
Anyway:
An update on my engine rebuild.
Matt at Autowerke has had it down to pretty much nuts and bolts and although there was wear and tear on the big end bearings etc he was not convinced that it is enough to make the amount of knocking we were hearing. Having also consulted another engine centre and measured all the appropriate parts for correct tolerance etc he has spotted some scoring on two of the pistons.... Yep, new set of pistons and valves is now going in...
The bill is now expected at approx £6200 PLUS VAT (This is also taking into account that Matt is knocking off a load of hours to try and help me out under the unfortunate circumstances).
I wont lie to you, I feel sick!!! This is the absolute last thing I needed at a time when money is short already and many other things have already kicked me in the teeth.
On the positive side - My engine will be like new when I get it back - (and at this rate the weather will be better by then too
)
Dom
Well it probably is but I despise spending money on something which is so unpleasant to drive!!! My street cred, if I ever had any, is also completely ruined! Anyway:
An update on my engine rebuild.
Matt at Autowerke has had it down to pretty much nuts and bolts and although there was wear and tear on the big end bearings etc he was not convinced that it is enough to make the amount of knocking we were hearing. Having also consulted another engine centre and measured all the appropriate parts for correct tolerance etc he has spotted some scoring on two of the pistons.... Yep, new set of pistons and valves is now going in...
The bill is now expected at approx £6200 PLUS VAT
(This is also taking into account that Matt is knocking off a load of hours to try and help me out under the unfortunate circumstances). I wont lie to you, I feel sick!!! This is the absolute last thing I needed at a time when money is short already and many other things have already kicked me in the teeth.
On the positive side - My engine will be like new when I get it back - (and at this rate the weather will be better by then too
) Dom
Cheers Ian,
The bodywork is good (as I have spent a few bob on making sure).
I dont intend to part with her at all - even more so having effectively paid for the engine to be like new. My only concern I suppose is that I am getting made redundant in March and I wont have quite as much money to blow on petrol in the future.
Ive just bought a house with a garage specifically because my car needs to be looked after - so she's not going anywhere yet!
Im trying to find ways to relax about the cost - but it still stings a little I have to say!
The bodywork is good (as I have spent a few bob on making sure).
I dont intend to part with her at all - even more so having effectively paid for the engine to be like new. My only concern I suppose is that I am getting made redundant in March and I wont have quite as much money to blow on petrol in the future.
Ive just bought a house with a garage specifically because my car needs to be looked after - so she's not going anywhere yet!
Im trying to find ways to relax about the cost - but it still stings a little I have to say!
verysideways said:
Dom, you want street cred, try driving a volvo estate :-)
Sorry to hear about your mounting costs, but if it needs doing then get it done and enjoy cheap motoring for the next 100k miles.
Yep, Of course I know youre right here, I am busy trying to drum it into my brain!!!
(I used to drive a volvo estate too
)burriana said:
Could I ask how many miles your 3.2 has done Dom and what prompted you to have the top end done in the first place?
al
Hi Al,
The mileage is around 118,000 at present.
The reason for having top end done intitially was smoke on start up from a bit of oil getting in to cylinder 5 through general wear and tear. I'd had to go and get the plug in pot 5 removed and cleaned on a number of occasions and didnt like the feel of the car running lumpy - I wanted to make sure I wasnt going to do any lasting damage.
I was prepared when I bought the car to have a top end at around 120,000. Needless to say I enjoyed driving it so much the mileage kind of mounted up a little quicker than I expected
ICSD said:
It's a bit worrying when I started looking for a 3.2 with less than 100k on, and then most people go and tell me not to worry, no problems with mileage, they go on for ever!
I think you'd have to consider this quite unusual.
Yep, Matt said this was an unusual degree of work! f
typical... Ultra violent said:
Seriously how do you score a piston. By score, I assume it must be somewhere below the rings, otherwise your mech. would have spotted it whilst doing the topend. Which bring us back to how do you do that. Are you sure a ring didn't break during the top end job?
I wish I knew. Im going to print this thread out and go and have a dig around whilst Im off shift... If my memory serves me right I had new piston rings / valve guides etc when the top end work was done.
Sadly I am not a mechanic so its all a bit gobbledeegook to me.
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