Second Bus and First Engine Drop. Need guidance!

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

It feels like the mysteries of the universe are unveiled when you lift the case off... Then you wonder how you are going to clean it.

Center crank journal shiny with wear.

Cam bearing shiny with wear.

Cam bearings worn greater to right than left of photo.

_________________
Orange 1973 Campervan. Rebuilt 1700cc with dual Solex carbs. Pertronix electronic points on stock distributor. Engine rebuild in progress (fall 2023).

[Wildthings]

How tight are the valve stems in the guides? Is there anything extra added to the engine such as rocker vents? or a windage tray that could affect how the oil moves around inside the case? Not sure what's with the one valve but overall it doesn't look like the valves have been seating well, What cam and pushrods are your running and at what lash?

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

@wildthings

The valve stems have a little jiggle. I do not know how to assess tolerance. The guides were replaced along with the valves by a machinist. One of the guides is pushed into the head further than all the others.

Nothing extra (other than stock parts) added to this engine that I am aware of. I aimed for a "stock" 1700cc with a CR of around 7.3:1

Cam is an aftermarket CWC that came in the engine I used as a core. I do not know what the cam specs are.

Pushrods are 27 cm long tip to tip.

Solid lifters.

When I adjusted valves, I always set the lash to 0.006"

Unless there is a good reason to not, I can get new cam, lifters, pushrods to go along with the new cylinders, pistons, rings, valves I already plan on swapping into this engine.
_________________
Orange 1973 Campervan. Rebuilt 1700cc with dual Solex carbs. Pertronix electronic points on stock distributor. Engine rebuild in progress (fall 2023).

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

I am having trouble getting the connecting rods apart... Any tips?

_________________
Orange 1973 Campervan. Rebuilt 1700cc with dual Solex carbs. Pertronix electronic points on stock distributor. Engine rebuild in progress (fall 2023).

[Abscate]

Take the nuts off, first.




Tap tap tap tap , then use a wood drift to ease the apart
_________________
.ssS!

[Wildthings]

I use a small hammer and a brass drift and alternated taps between the two rod bolts. You want to make sure the bearing insert on the rod itself stays in contact with the journal so as to prevent steel against steel contact between the rod and the journal.

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

Thanks very much I will give those tips a go. It's good to hear they are commonly tight; Bentley instructed to just take them apart.

I've got half the nuts off and each were incredibly tight and hard to get moving. To separate the rod, after the nuts were loosened way off, I was alternately striking the studs end-on with a rawhide hammer and only managed to budge the rod stamped 483.

If I read the spec right, side clearance was acceptable with a feeler, at 0.010-0.011 inch
_________________
Orange 1973 Campervan. Rebuilt 1700cc with dual Solex carbs. Pertronix electronic points on stock distributor. Engine rebuild in progress (fall 2023).

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

Measuring parts.

Cam has wear on lobes in area Wilson says is fail. Will replace along with all bearings, gear, solid lifters and pushrods.


Crankshaft main journals 1,2,3: 2.361" all around. Measured 6 points on each journal. No taper. Widest reading was 2.3615" (new part 2.3610 - 2.3618") No wear limit is listed in Bentley, so assume its 2.361"

Crankshaft journal 4: 1.574" (new part 1.5740 -1.5748").

I do not have ability to measure runout/whip

Connecting Rod journals: Also remarkably consistent diameter of 2.165" (new part 2.1645 - 2.1653")

Connecting rod weights: 792-793g (with bolts/nuts). Weight difference limit 6-10 g

Glad to have opinions on pros and cons of polishing/running this crankshaft vs machining to next undersize (0.01" down from new)?
_________________
Orange 1973 Campervan. Rebuilt 1700cc with dual Solex carbs. Pertronix electronic points on stock distributor. Engine rebuild in progress (fall 2023).

[Abscate]

It doesn’t look like those rod bolts were staked. Ergo, you have had a monkey inside this engine, previously.
_________________
.ssS!

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

Got a little home cleaning set-up set up. Simple green in a tote followed by a water rinse. Break clean for the thickest oil sludge at the bottom of the case. Then a misting of WD40 and into the clean tote. Things will then get another once over to remove all old gasket material and clean mating surfaces.

_________________
Orange 1973 Campervan. Rebuilt 1700cc with dual Solex carbs. Pertronix electronic points on stock distributor. Engine rebuild in progress (fall 2023).

[Clatter]

Maybe have a look at the build in my sig?

No need to stake rod bolts anymore.
_________________
Bus Motor Build

What’s That Noise?!?

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

Thanks Clatter ill give it a read. I'm getting close to ordering parts then finding a machinist.

In the meantime I upgraded my parts washing capabilities with a 20 gallon solvent tank that really stinks up my workshop. It's overall less cumbersome and less messy than the driveway technique though. I'm using mineral spirits and it works great. I restore old woodworking hand tools and the tank is proving its worth for cleaning off 8 decades of 3 in 1 oil from wrenches and hand planes.

_________________
Orange 1973 Campervan. Rebuilt 1700cc with dual Solex carbs. Pertronix electronic points on stock distributor. Engine rebuild in progress (fall 2023).

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

The bearing wear in the rods kind of looks weird to me with the gap along the centre where it didn't wear. Is this a thing?

@clatter I have read through your build post a few times. It is both informative and daunting. But it's just the level of step by step I need at this point so thanks! That said im going into this build with waaaay less experience under my belt. Do I have to do so much tapping of the oil galley plugs, though? Guaranteed I'd mess a couple of those up heh heh... heh.

Oh from Clatter's post I got the idea to do a little cleanup of the casting ridges that want to lacerate me or make nice clear pathways for oil. See the white on those bits.

_________________
Orange 1973 Campervan. Rebuilt 1700cc with dual Solex carbs. Pertronix electronic points on stock distributor. Engine rebuild in progress (fall 2023).

[Wildthings]

Your bearings look fine, just a minor amount of manufacturing variance between the center and edges of the bearing insert. Its not really wear, just the polishing of the high spots.

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

Round two on the case. I used a file and 600 grit. Wet dry paper whisper to take down and smooth off the interior casting flaws.Then it's been a tedious attack on the layers of red rtv, case sealer, and black tarry stuff the last shop used. Contractor solvent, mineral spirits, and acetone in combination with brass brushes, tooth brushes, bottle brushes, wood picks, q tips, razor blades, ab4asive pads and a lot of shop towels have worked.... marginally well.

_________________
Orange 1973 Campervan. Rebuilt 1700cc with dual Solex carbs. Pertronix electronic points on stock distributor. Engine rebuild in progress (fall 2023).

[Wildthings]

In the past I just paid my local automotive machine shop to soak my engine in their tank. They would also use their special brushes to clean out the oil drillings.