E36 cheap track day toy
Discussion
Another week of evening sessions on the engine. All of the new bolts torqued up for the bottom end.
I sand blasted everything that doesn't have a coating or a bearing in it. It may be over the top, I know no one is ever going to see it. But to me it was just about it being as clean as possible.
While I was waiting for the bolts to turn up I spent a while tidying up other bits and pieces.
Again it's not really important, but I can't help it.
Still some left over black caliper paint. So the pipes and pulleys etc are getting treated.
I didn't have a lot of time on Saturday but I did just get the oil pump and baffle on.
Hopefully this will be the last week on the bottom end. Then I can get it off the stand and make a start on the head.
I sand blasted everything that doesn't have a coating or a bearing in it. It may be over the top, I know no one is ever going to see it. But to me it was just about it being as clean as possible.
While I was waiting for the bolts to turn up I spent a while tidying up other bits and pieces.
Again it's not really important, but I can't help it.
Still some left over black caliper paint. So the pipes and pulleys etc are getting treated.
I didn't have a lot of time on Saturday but I did just get the oil pump and baffle on.
Hopefully this will be the last week on the bottom end. Then I can get it off the stand and make a start on the head.
Edited by Hamster69 on Thursday 11th May 20:38
Thanks Mike, I'm glad someone is reading it. I was hoping to get the bottom end finished tonight, but realised I have bought the timing cover gasket from an M52TU, not the original M52. Annoyingly the water pump seems to be a different shape so I will have to wait until next week.
I have finished off the oil pump with a new nut. This is locktited on and fitted with lock wire. My attempt to combat the infamous loose pump nut.
I did manage to get the rear cover on. Sand blasted and fitted with a new seal.
You can also just see my new spigot bearing, the crank didn't have one as it was out of an auto.
I have finished off the oil pump with a new nut. This is locktited on and fitted with lock wire. My attempt to combat the infamous loose pump nut.
I did manage to get the rear cover on. Sand blasted and fitted with a new seal.
You can also just see my new spigot bearing, the crank didn't have one as it was out of an auto.
Back from holiday and a heavy stag weekend, time to crack on. I have picked up the head and will be starting the strip this week. In the meantime the MOT was due last week, so back on the road and new windscreen time.
It was interesting to see it out. Looking at the frame it looks like this is its first replacement screen. Not bad for 21 years.
The old screen has randomly cracked probably just from the sun a couple of months back.
With the new screen in I set about fitting a new sun strip. Thought I would have another change, just black this time. I am considering going just black on the outside if I ever get round to painting the front bumper and around the window rivets.
It was interesting to see it out. Looking at the frame it looks like this is its first replacement screen. Not bad for 21 years.
The old screen has randomly cracked probably just from the sun a couple of months back.
With the new screen in I set about fitting a new sun strip. Thought I would have another change, just black this time. I am considering going just black on the outside if I ever get round to painting the front bumper and around the window rivets.
Cleaning continued this week.
Once the normal scrub was done I set about it with scotch bright on the important bits and a wire wheel on the not so important bits.
Then the long job of lapping in 24 valves begins. The inlet valves are pretty clean and only take about ten minutes each, but the exhaust are quite black and so far take about half an hour each.
On the upside though I'm not finding anything particularly worrying. The valve guides don't have massive play and the seats are cutting in quite nicely.
Before on the left, after on the right. Just in case you couldn't work it out.
I really want to get it all back together in the next couple of weeks. Starting to feel like I have broken the back of it. But we are also trying to move house and are very busy at work, so who knows. My aim is still to have her on track with new engine run in this year.
Once the normal scrub was done I set about it with scotch bright on the important bits and a wire wheel on the not so important bits.
Then the long job of lapping in 24 valves begins. The inlet valves are pretty clean and only take about ten minutes each, but the exhaust are quite black and so far take about half an hour each.
On the upside though I'm not finding anything particularly worrying. The valve guides don't have massive play and the seats are cutting in quite nicely.
Before on the left, after on the right. Just in case you couldn't work it out.
I really want to get it all back together in the next couple of weeks. Starting to feel like I have broken the back of it. But we are also trying to move house and are very busy at work, so who knows. My aim is still to have her on track with new engine run in this year.
After many many hours a whole lot of valves fitted with new stem seals.
Now I set about checking the followers. I looked at the exhaust ones first. I was surprised to find only one a little stiff. Then I checked the inlets and found only two with any movement.
I pulled the centres aparts but found no real damage or wear, just some dirt build up. Cleaned them out and reassembled.
In that picture, the one at the top is how they came apart and sat naturally. The one at the bottom is how it sat after cleaning out.
Finally all assembled and returned to the trays with some more assembly lube on.
Getting there. Although I am moving in a couple of weeks, so also doing a lot of overtime on the restoration. The engine for that is starting to look quite tidy too.
House moving and work has been getting in the way a lot recently, but I did sneak in a little engine building this week.
Inlet cam finally in. Which meant I could give my timing tool a go. Had it sitting in my toolbox for about three years without ever using it.
Yes it is a cheap eBay special, but it seems to work.
So time for some head fitting. Cleaned and painted front pulley back on and set to tdc.
Then there is nothing to do but bolt it on.
Not torqued up yet. I'm aiming to spend a day on it next weekend and get somewhere near finished.
On a separate note, our new house has a garage. Doesn't sound like much I know, but I have never had my own garage before. To have this car I have been working on for five years here and ready to use whenever I want feels great!
Inlet cam finally in. Which meant I could give my timing tool a go. Had it sitting in my toolbox for about three years without ever using it.
Yes it is a cheap eBay special, but it seems to work.
So time for some head fitting. Cleaned and painted front pulley back on and set to tdc.
Then there is nothing to do but bolt it on.
Not torqued up yet. I'm aiming to spend a day on it next weekend and get somewhere near finished.
On a separate note, our new house has a garage. Doesn't sound like much I know, but I have never had my own garage before. To have this car I have been working on for five years here and ready to use whenever I want feels great!
So torquing up the head happened and as lots of people told me would happen, the threads pulled out of the block.
Not my happiest day it has to be said. Anyway a couple of weeks later and I have almost finished Timeserting all of the bolt holes, even the ones that didn't pull.
All drilled by hand. Trying to keep it as tight as possible.
Thankfully we had three old sets of M10x1.5 at work so I managed to piece together a kit of not too worn tools. I bought 15 of the 25mm long serts. Not cheap but definitely preferable to buying a whole kit. Hellicoils are considerably cheaper and I have used them on the car before. But when it comes to holding the head down I thought I would go with the best I can get.
With the holes drilled and reamed they were then tapped. Finally the inserts were fitted with some locktite.
I have a new head gasket and bolts on the way. If it doesn't torque up this time it can all go in the bin!
Not my happiest day it has to be said. Anyway a couple of weeks later and I have almost finished Timeserting all of the bolt holes, even the ones that didn't pull.
All drilled by hand. Trying to keep it as tight as possible.
Thankfully we had three old sets of M10x1.5 at work so I managed to piece together a kit of not too worn tools. I bought 15 of the 25mm long serts. Not cheap but definitely preferable to buying a whole kit. Hellicoils are considerably cheaper and I have used them on the car before. But when it comes to holding the head down I thought I would go with the best I can get.
With the holes drilled and reamed they were then tapped. Finally the inserts were fitted with some locktite.
I have a new head gasket and bolts on the way. If it doesn't torque up this time it can all go in the bin!
I might have a few blisters now but they are all in.
Thankfully it's all looking pretty straight too.
New head gasket has turned up today, should be going on this week.
Meanwhile during my lunches this week I have stripped the Vanos and replaced the seal.
Scrubbed and sandblasted.
Once rebuilt I tested it on compressed air. All good!
Thankfully it's all looking pretty straight too.
New head gasket has turned up today, should be going on this week.
Meanwhile during my lunches this week I have stripped the Vanos and replaced the seal.
Scrubbed and sandblasted.
Once rebuilt I tested it on compressed air. All good!
Day off today so I spent the afternoon in the garage.
Cam cover on and started plumbing everything thing back in, cleaning as I went.
Manifold tidied up, painted a couple of rusty bits. It’s not mint but I’m just so desperate to get it finished now.
And that’s it! It has taken a year but the stroker is done. Good job too as I have rented a workshop in two weeks to fit it.
Cam cover on and started plumbing everything thing back in, cleaning as I went.
Manifold tidied up, painted a couple of rusty bits. It’s not mint but I’m just so desperate to get it finished now.
And that’s it! It has taken a year but the stroker is done. Good job too as I have rented a workshop in two weeks to fit it.
Just a few modifications I need to make to the car before the engine goes in. I have a bigger rad, not an ali race one which was the original plan. But money is tight at the moment. So I have a cheepo aftermarket one. But it is the larger 328 rad which should see me through the running in period then we will see how we get on.
I have bought some additional gauges and sensors. I would like to keep a track on what the new engine is doing. Hopefully this will all go in next Saturday.
I have bought some additional gauges and sensors. I would like to keep a track on what the new engine is doing. Hopefully this will all go in next Saturday.
Edited by Hamster69 on Sunday 8th October 13:32
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