easiest engines to work on

[Gawri20]

over the summer holidays i want to learn more about cars and engines in general, last summer i worked for two months at a garage and that helped a lot but i want to do an independent project, so me and group of friends were thinking of going to a junk yard and working on tired engines to learn more.

what cars do u recommend on looking at? i know a fair bit, but have never really gone past helping with changing head gasket and timing belt.

thanks

[MrOrange]

Any old 1980 two-stroke engine would be a good start.

[rrusston]

It depends on what you want to learn.

As a general rule the older the simpler, but that is just a general rule.

Out of the car, the VW aircooled engine is simple. Any North American or Swedish pushrod inline engine would come next. Many British engines of old as well, the BMC A or B Series, are stone simple as well.

OHC engines are worse, especially with chain or gear cam drives.

[Tunku]

I would start out on a 2 stroke single, then a 4 stroke single, followed by a 4 pot 4 stroke like an Austin A series, then a Volvo B230 lump and finish with a 5 cylinder vvt lump. Just like I did

[davepoth]

Engines aren't especially difficult if you've already done a head gasket. I'd go on a different "tack", if you'll excuse the pun, and learn how to weld. If you and your friends want to own a litany of crap but interesting cars it'll pay you back many times over.

[Marquis Rex]

Ive found V8 and V6 pushrod engines in large cavernous engine bays easy to work on.

Generally the older the easier although my 2004 Dodge Ram had been easy to work on (changed out the water pump, PAS, alternator, tensioner, plugs etc) once I climb up in there by virtue of the space.

Some of the 32 valve DOHC V8s are not that easy to work on-especially when crammed into small engine bays, W124 Mercedes 400E is a case in point.

So extrapolating from all Ive said- a small old pushrod 4 or 6 cylinder in an over sized bonnet would be easier to work on- so how about a Ford Capri- 1.3, 1.6, 2 litre or V6?

[PoleDriver]

Start with an 'A' or 'B' series, then try a Rover V8!


All very simple to work on and you will easily learn about the basic mechanics of an engine.

[smack]

Bikes engines. And you can even remove them from the bike and work on them in the kitchen (mum went a bit mental when she found out that for some unknown reason... Women!)

[Zad]

An old Mini 850 engine. Small enough that you can lift it with a mate and don't need heavy duty gear. Also carburettor fed rather than injection, and no exotic electronics. At the end of it all, if it is in reasonable shape you may even make a modest profit.

[Wafflesmk2]

I started on the Z22se Vectra engine.

Suprisingly easy, and for my very first project i managed to take it apart and put back together again. It pretty much worked too!

[Dave Hedgehog]

PoleDriver said:

Start with an 'A' or 'B' series, then try a Rover V8!


All very simple to work on and you will easily learn about the basic mechanics of an engine.

this

worked on both, very very easy

about the limits of my abilities

[IceBoy]

As already highlighted, the older engines are easy and simplier.

From my experience the 1970's & 1980's Ford engines !

When I was younger, I was able to change the complete engine, gearbox and cluth on a Mk1 Fiesta 1.1 & Mk2 Escort 1.3.

The engine bays have loads of room and the engine is light enough to lift out with the help of 4 mates !!

IceBoy

PS. These days.....you sometimes have to take car to a main dealer to change a bulb, I'm not joking !!!!

[softtop]

out of necessity rather than for fun I bought another Land rover engine and they are extremely heavy. So based on the fact that it is easy to work on, available for about £30 then you are good to go if you have equipment to lift it. If not, get an old beetle engine for the best of both worlds. Since you may as well get some money back on it afterwards, see what they sell for in whatever respective marque you choose and then you have a goal to achieve as well.

[bamberwell]

for learning the basics, and if for nothing else than the fact you can pick it up and move it round yourself, you can't beat a bike engine (preferably two stroke).

[Mikey G]

I learnt on A series and Pinto's, good for the basics but times move on and I would now consider something like a VW 1.8 8v GTi engine with Jetronic or an alloy blocked Pug 1.6 8v engine to get the experience with a linered engine under your belt.

[RizzoTheRat]

smack said:

Bikes engines. And you can even remove them from the bike and work on them in the kitchen (mum went a bit mental when she found out that for some unknown reason... Women!)

This! Start with a single or twin and they're absolutely piss easy to work on as you can lift the entire engine yourself rather than needing lifting gear like a car engine.

[ESOG]

This is an easy one to answer: spare any muscle car pre 1979 and AFAIK, but more importantly AFA my personal experience has taught me, it would have to be Mustang 5.0's and 4.6's modular from 1983 to 1998.

There was VERY little if nothing at all you couldn't do yourself so long as you had a small bit of previous know-how and were inclined to learn.

[furrywoolyhatuk]

My 1990 Suzuki vitara has a carb fed 1.6 8v. Great base to start from and cheap and easy to buy and maintain.

[SEE YA]

Beetle engine four bolts and out it comes. Flat four easy, to work on even in a small area.