The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

So today I decided to strip a spare Sprint engine I have in my garage. Remember the barn Sprints?.....




Well this is the engine that came from the Honeysuckle one...




The idea is to strip it down completely & see if it's worth rebuilding it or scrap it.





One of the bolts holding the timing chain cover in place had seized solid and the bolt sheared as I tried to undo it. The bolt itself had seized to the cover & as I was trying carefully to prize it off, it cracked. I have a few spare so wasn't too upset. Just a shame to ruin a decent cover.

The pistons seem to be seized so I have them soaking & will keep them like that for a day or so.

is the honeysuckle one your next project then
steve

Both the honey suckle one and the yellow one in the pic are no longer with us...Mart did think about the honeysuckle, but luckily did a beautiful mimosa car instead

Hello All,
Mart,don't throw that / those engines in the bin, I too have just stripped a spare sprint engine and might need a few bits. So far it needs a few valves to be ground in,a crank re-grind as it's spun number 4, and new shells, possibly 1 con rod,bores are fine,head is flat jackshaft might need another drive peg fitted (not convinced it had 2 to start with),new timing chain and sprockets and of course gaskets to suit. It's on the back burner a little at the moment as it is after all a spare. It didn't come complete so is without manifolds rocker cover and carbs etc. I've been quoted 120 quid for the re-grind which is something I'll need to do to get it back up and running. The flywheel is in work being lightened and will only cost beer to do. It's a slow time job,but I think I might do it (eventually) with a few mods,starting with the flywheel and maybe cam/carbs etc.
Regards
Jason.

Jason, at the mo the pistons are still not moving. I'll hopefully be able to have another bash at it tomorrow (today).

The Jackshaft only has one peg btw. I have quite a few engine spares as well.

It took a while to get the pistons out but got there eventually (whacked my thumb with the hammer whilst doing so ).

All the bores and the pistons look in good condition & I reckon the engine had recently been fitted with new bearings before it was taken off the road (must be 14-15 years ago now). All the rings were seized in the piston grooves. I got to the third piston before I broke a ring (not that I shall be re-using them mind you).

So I just need to check the crank & hopefully it will be a goer to rebuild.

Crankshaft is ok.

One final bit to take off the block was the brass cage from the water pump, so I made up an extractor...





A few turns of the nut & it was out and no damage to the cage at all.


I then cleaned the block up using a wire brush wheel on my leccy drill, getting rid of all remnants of gaskets & other $h1t. Then washed it over with degreasant before finally hosing it down. I just need to run a tap down all the tapped holes.

you make it look like fun mart

I'm looking at my son's sprint engine, which is out of the car and becoming very motivated to rebuild that.

stu

It is fun Stu. I love stripping & rebuilding Sprint engines.

Now what colour shall I paint the block?

Depends surely on the colour of your next project... Want a shell to go with that engine?

that tool looks just what I need to get the brass cage out of my tolly

tride slide hammer but no good.

will have to nip to b&q now for some threaded rod and find some big ol bits of metal

Hello All,
Mart,you seem to have revealed good news with regard to your crank,whereas mine needs work. That tool you've made up does look very useful for getting the brass cage out,I just wondered what it reveals. My pump is out and block in a very similar condition to yours other than the brass cage,taking brass things in and out of housings inevitably produces a bit of wear,just a thought.
Jason.

The large piece of metal is 40x5 flat which I had lying around. The piece that goes into the cage was a thick washer (about 2-3mm.) which I had & just cut two sides to it and made one end slightly shorter so that it would slide through the bottom of the cage. The studding I had lying in the attic. It could just as well be a large bolt.

Alun wrote:Depends surely on the colour of your next project... Want a shell to go with that engine?

Do you have any spare? No, I'm not doing another.

I am in the process of taking my Castle Combe cruncher out and the damage will be revealed, I reckon the mains bolts let go as maybe 7000 was a bit much
Not to worry I have another engine (well done David )
I will end up with plenty of useable bits though.
Shall I build it standard or tuned?
If you are short of anything give me a nudge Mart (free to you as you have money in the bank )

Jon wrote:If you are short of anything give me a nudge Mart

I seem to be missing a crank ladder! do you have a spare?