Redtop sprint

[iandollysprint]

Right then.

Head is off, oil pump is off, number 1 piston and conrod are out.

Conrod is toast. Need a new one. Pistons, cams etc are fine.

Time to get ordering those bits

Ian

[JPB]

There doesn't look to be much of a tab on that bearing shell either.

Could the shells have been removed and refitted at some time by any chance?

Yes, by me when I rebuilt it!

Oh dear. Easily done though. I once changed a single piston in a 1600cc Kent OHV for the owner of the Transit to which it belonged. I did question the reuse of the shells and recommended that new ones be fitted at the time since the crank journals were fine, but the guy simply didn't have the cash so back they went at his request and lasted all of a month (1200 miles roughly) before that one ran. In that case, the crank was scrap afterwards since the shells had let go flat out at motorway speed with the load area full of marble for use as kitchen counters. Glad that yours isn't too badly damaged and in any case, the driver of the Transit had no mechanical sympathy whatsoever and admitted that he probably hadn't noticed the noise since he had the music on loudly enough to cover the noise of the van's other - many and varied - audible signs of neglect!

[iandollysprint]

Sorry misread your original note. Shells were changed for NEW by me following crank polish and engine rebuild. I wouldn't re-use shells, that would be daft.

Ian

[sprint95m]

Sorry to hear of your problem with the engine Ian. That is bad luck indeed.

By the way, your brake fluid could do with being topped up .

[Mad Mart]

By the way, your brake fluid could do with being topped up .

I would check the linings first

[Carledo]

That's a very odd short oil filter you have on there Ian, not suggesting it caused the failure, just interested, having cut chunks out of my chassis to clear the standard Mahle OC90. Mind you there was a little method in my madness as I also have an oil cooler and adaptor (from a GM diesel Astra I think) which would drop the filter even lower if and when I ever get around to fitting it, I have currently mislaid the big hollow bolt which secures it to the pump! Steve

[iandollysprint]

[quote="Carledo"]That's a very odd short oil filter you have on there Ian, not suggesting it caused the failure, just interested, having cut chunks out of my chassis to clear the standard Mahle OC90. Mind you there was a little method in my madness as I also have an oil cooler and adaptor (from a GM diesel Astra I think) which would drop the filter even lower if and when I ever get around to fitting it, I have currently mislaid the big hollow bolt which secures it to the pump! Steve

Filter is for an XE in a Caterham. Bought from SBD. Plus a conversion stub.
Ian

[iandollysprint]

Sorry to hear of your problem with the engine Ian. That is bad luck indeed.

By the way, your brake fluid could do with being topped up .

That's last on the to do list...

[iandollysprint]

PLAN B...

No1 bigend journal is out of spec. Below the 48.97 mm limit (actually 48.88mm in places.) It's also out of round exceeding the 0.04 mm limit.

So block is now out, crank is out and off for regrind next week 0.25 undersize. Mains will polish up!

Wish me luck!

Ian

[mahony]

Bad luck mate, but at least your ontop of the problem , good luck

[iandollysprint]

Now with added protection...



Crank was reground, replaced knackered conrod and engine built back up. Now back in the car. I have ran it up on the starter and it shows 4 bar oil pressure whilst cranking.

1st fire next weekend.

Ian

[Carledo]

A healthy engine will show 5 bar (running, not cranking) cold dropping to 4 bar stinking hot at revs and 2-3 bar stinking hot at idle. Good luck with the fireup! Steve
Oh and don't use anything thinner than a 10/40 oil or the hot pressure drop will scare you rigid!

[iandollysprint]

A healthy engine will show 5 bar (running, not cranking) cold dropping to 4 bar stinking hot at revs and 2-3 bar stinking hot at idle. Good luck with the fireup! Steve
Oh and don't use anything thinner than a 10/40 oil or the hot pressure drop will scare you rigid!

Thats exactly what I am getting now it is back on the road.
5 bar cold, 4 bar hot, 2.5 bar idle, crankcase seems to be breathing a bit but apart from that it runs

[Carledo]

The breathing is probably just temporary, give the coke lips time to build up in the bores and she'll be fine! Really good to hear she's back on the road and ready to ruin the Saxo/Corsa/Golf mounted boy racers day! All the best Steve

[iandollysprint]

The breathing is probably just temporary, give the coke lips time to build up in the bores and she'll be fine! Really good to hear she's back on the road and ready to ruin the Saxo/Corsa/Golf mounted boy racers day! All the best Steve

Cheers