Want to rebuild my first engine
Discussion
Hi im Dan im 23 i love cars and engines. Im not sure if this is the right place for this topic so if its not please let me know as im new here
Recently i have seriously been thinking about buying a non running or a worn out engine and rebuilding it. The thing im struggling with is what engine, i need something relatively cheap which i can rebuild and sell on without to much hassle whilst breaking even or make a small margin of profit.
This is purely an interest i have. Any reccomendations on where to start? Nothing to expensive/complicated please
Open to all suggestions be it car or bike engines.
Dan
Recently i have seriously been thinking about buying a non running or a worn out engine and rebuilding it. The thing im struggling with is what engine, i need something relatively cheap which i can rebuild and sell on without to much hassle whilst breaking even or make a small margin of profit.
This is purely an interest i have. Any reccomendations on where to start? Nothing to expensive/complicated please
Open to all suggestions be it car or bike engines.
Dan
PositronicRay said:
No idea, but would you pay good money for an engine a novice had been practising on?
This. Your plan is massively flawed, have you ever heard of somewhere where you can get an education and get paid for it? Mention where you live and go find a place that will take you on part time helping out around engines perhaps.Buy an engine, spend hundreds on parts, tools, measuring equipment, time and outsourcing machining jobs and then rebuild it.
Most likely you will find the completed article to be worth less to the general buying public than it was before you touched it and you've got a garage full of expensive equipment you won't use again.
There's more sensible ways to start learning a subject that don't involve such a demoralising and financially disastrous ending.
Most likely you will find the completed article to be worth less to the general buying public than it was before you touched it and you've got a garage full of expensive equipment you won't use again.
There's more sensible ways to start learning a subject that don't involve such a demoralising and financially disastrous ending.
Years ago I got a 1600 Pinto engine for nothing took it apart, ported the head and threw it away as no one wanted it.
Many years later I can build a passable 2.0L Pinto.
Just taking an engine apart and bolting it back together so it runs will cost £100 in gaskets and fluids, start replacing things like water pumps and bearings and costs skyrocket, at this stage it's still only putting out standard horse power.
By all means buy an engine that fits your car and modify it then with receipts and a Dyno plot you'll get back about 50 percent of what you've spent
Many years later I can build a passable 2.0L Pinto.
Just taking an engine apart and bolting it back together so it runs will cost £100 in gaskets and fluids, start replacing things like water pumps and bearings and costs skyrocket, at this stage it's still only putting out standard horse power.
By all means buy an engine that fits your car and modify it then with receipts and a Dyno plot you'll get back about 50 percent of what you've spent
227bhp said:
This. Your plan is massively flawed, have you ever heard of somewhere where you can get an education and get paid for it? Mention where you live and go find a place that will take you on part time helping out around engines perhaps.
Yeah I do agree this is a problem however engines such as an old 60's/70's 1300 air cooled run with carbs, distributor etc etc there is no covering up a bad job. Buying a seized motor like this re building what is required, keeping all receipts and test running it for a potential buyer... if there are any problems with the engine they will be noticeable. I agree it would be better if I could go help out somewhere but truth is that I don't have time for that. I have access to a fully equipped machine shop (lathes, milling machines, grinders, pillar drills, lapping machine, sand blaster etc) Truthfully with the bug engine all I can see me needing is an engine stand, and a decent torque wrench (plus any spares it may need) for at home.
DJS1994 said:
there is no covering up a bad job
What experience is that based on?What you're trying to achieve is great - how you're trying to achieve it is not.
If you want to learn how engines work and how to diagnose, fix and tune them, I suggest you buy a cheap car and try to keep it on the road. Before long you will get experience of dealing with electrical repairs, cooling system problems, electrical problems, bodywork repairs, taking worn out engines and transmissions out for repair, maybe even doing some of those repairs for yourself. But don't do it thinking you're adding any value to what you're working on or that you'll save a significant amount of money doing it. Do it because you want to and are willing to put in a lot of time and effort and deal with your mistakes as a learning experience.
GreenV8S said:
What experience is that based on?
What you're trying to achieve is great - how you're trying to achieve it is not.
If you want to learn how engines work and how to diagnose, fix and tune them, I suggest you buy a cheap car and try to keep it on the road. Before long you will get experience of dealing with electrical repairs, cooling system problems, electrical problems, bodywork repairs, taking worn out engines and transmissions out for repair, maybe even doing some of those repairs for yourself. But don't do it thinking you're adding any value to what you're working on or that you'll save a significant amount of money doing it. Do it because you want to and are willing to put in a lot of time and effort and deal with your mistakes as a learning experience.
OK agree with that, perhaps I will keep my eye out for an old run down car. I am motivated by what others have achieved with a quick search on youtube. I really fancy it.What you're trying to achieve is great - how you're trying to achieve it is not.
If you want to learn how engines work and how to diagnose, fix and tune them, I suggest you buy a cheap car and try to keep it on the road. Before long you will get experience of dealing with electrical repairs, cooling system problems, electrical problems, bodywork repairs, taking worn out engines and transmissions out for repair, maybe even doing some of those repairs for yourself. But don't do it thinking you're adding any value to what you're working on or that you'll save a significant amount of money doing it. Do it because you want to and are willing to put in a lot of time and effort and deal with your mistakes as a learning experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNv0fI-qzP8
Those were the days Arnold, I started with a cox 0.49 cc glow plug at 8, then progressed to DC engines ( I couldn't afford posher ones)
http://www.modelenginenews.org/people/dc_ltd.html
I guess it must have been in my blood!
Peter
http://www.modelenginenews.org/people/dc_ltd.html
I guess it must have been in my blood!
Peter
Yeah! I've still got them all in the loft - DC Engines ruled! The noise and smell of the ether was awesome!
Cox 0.049, Cox 0.020, Merco 35, OS 46, Webra 61, OS70, etc. Even got a McCoy somewhere.
I fancied a brand new in box DC engine for a bit of nostalgia - there's a few around, but they go for strong money now.
My latest build (not rebuild, just build) is on the "Cam Regrind" thread just below this one....
Cox 0.049, Cox 0.020, Merco 35, OS 46, Webra 61, OS70, etc. Even got a McCoy somewhere.
I fancied a brand new in box DC engine for a bit of nostalgia - there's a few around, but they go for strong money now.
My latest build (not rebuild, just build) is on the "Cam Regrind" thread just below this one....
Edited by Arnold Cunningham on Sunday 15th October 14:55
A few years ago I was really excited to sell some MG parts to the owner of PAW engines, I could only look at those through the model shop window in York when I was a lad and yearn! I was never any good at flying the control line stuff as I got dizzy so I was a race mechanic/pit crew to one of the sixth formers who flew combat whilst we were at Grammar School. It is amazing how we forget the things we used to do 
I never got into marine engines but a few of my customers have.
Peter
I never got into marine engines but a few of my customers have.
Peter
I wouldn't say it's the wrong way to go about doing it, there's no better way to learn than to do. But it will be costly. Everything to do with engines is costly. Depends on the engine of course, but a set of bearings, rings and gaskets can easily run into hundreds. Then there will be tools you've never heard of that you need, you will knacker something putting it together and need to buy replacement bits, etc etc. If money is not a problem, then go for it. If it is, start on something cheap like chainsaw or lawnmower engines. Loads of chainsaws on the bay for spares or repair for peanuts, and you might actually be able to sell it afterwards.
Also, buy the "engine builder's handbook".
Also, buy the "engine builder's handbook".
CrutyRammers said:
I wouldn't say it's the wrong way to go about doing it, there's no better way to learn than to do. But it will be costly. Everything to do with engines is costly. Depends on the engine of course, but a set of bearings, rings and gaskets can easily run into hundreds. Then there will be tools you've never heard of that you need, you will knacker something putting it together and need to buy replacement bits, etc etc. If money is not a problem, then go for it. If it is, start on something cheap like chainsaw or lawnmower engines. Loads of chainsaws on the bay for spares or repair for peanuts, and you might actually be able to sell it afterwards.
Also, buy the "engine builder's handbook".
Great ideas! Perhaps I could look for non running lawnmowers/chainsaws and repair themAlso, buy the "engine builder's handbook".
Hadn't even crossed my mind.
Thanks!
A lot of good replies and advice here, but if you want a "scrap" engine which you might want to pull apart to see how and why it's scrap, as well as get an idea of how it all bolts together then I might be able to get you a busted Impreza WRX engine to play with. It is currently in kit form anyway.
You'll have to pick it up from Ipswich though , but that's how I found my way around an engine, back in the day I brought 3 old crossflows from my mate who ran a scrappie and made a good one out of the three. Back then the average crossflow was pretty much b
ksed after 80k so there was a market for rebuilt heads and engines. Nowadays people tend not to buy rebuilt engines unless it is for something specialised, but then they would be going to someone with a decent reputation for it.
It's a good idea and method to get a working knowledge of an engine , but as for making money out of it then I think it might be a tall order.
You'll have to pick it up from Ipswich though , but that's how I found my way around an engine, back in the day I brought 3 old crossflows from my mate who ran a scrappie and made a good one out of the three. Back then the average crossflow was pretty much b
ksed after 80k so there was a market for rebuilt heads and engines. Nowadays people tend not to buy rebuilt engines unless it is for something specialised, but then they would be going to someone with a decent reputation for it.It's a good idea and method to get a working knowledge of an engine , but as for making money out of it then I think it might be a tall order.
DJS1994 said:
Perhaps I could look for non running lawnmowers/chainsaws and repair them. Hadn't even crossed my mind.
Thanks!
I'd second the Briggs and Stratton / Honda / Tecumseh range of engines (or similar ones fitted to just about any 4-stroke lawnmower these days). Chainsaw engines will be 2-stroke and unless you know what you are doing, are (I think) harder to get going properly.Thanks!
Of the engines above they will be a single cylinder, side valve engine (like an old Model T Ford for example). The Briggs tend to use carbs that can be adjusted but the cheaper Chinese engines tend to use fixed jet carbs so they generally work or they don't. If you want to work on an OHV or OHC engine, you'll need to pay a lot more than the £30 or so you'd pay for an old non-working lawnmower/rotavator/etc. You should also be able to get the engine technical manuals quite easily from the manufacturers website or via a quick search,
I 'cut my teeth' on a Suffolk Punch lawnmower aged about 12 (and still have a small collection of about 8 petrol lawn mowers, most working but nearly all needing some general fettling!). I need to rebuild a combination of 3 B&S 11HP engines to try and get a good one currently!
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