115/3067 bought back from France

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Kevin Birch
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

Post by Kevin Birch »

Hit a snag tonight, on fitting the rings and pistons, found one piston which the oil control ring was tight. Closely inspected the piston to find it has a a small crack from the bottom groove down, which is forcing the aluminium into the groove. New piston required, but I doubt I can buy one, so a full set will need to be bought. Really annoyingly I've fitted 4 pistons in the block, which will now have to come out again, and was hoping to have it all rebuilt tomorrow.
My Toys: Lotus Cortina MK2.RangeRover P38, Yam inflatable, Saab 9-3 Convertible.
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Grant
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

Post by Grant »

Thats a real bummer Kev ain it.. how about ringing people like Jeff Houser or John Sleath? they have done plenty of rebuilds and rebores for people so no doubt they must have one from a standard bore 383 "E" series engine, or as they would know it as a Mopar 383 HC :wink: .. Give it a whirl sport :P
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Kevin Birch
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

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As I'm finding it difficult to get a piston, or even a set at a reasonable price, that is readily available in the UK at the moment, I have taken the decision to re-assemble the engine with the damaged piston. The thought is that it was damaged before I stripped it down, and I only did that to inspect it, not because I had any real issues with the engine, and a local retired mechanic has inspected it, saying the damage is not in a particularly critical area. I've dressed the damage so the bottom ring is free, and it is quite difficult to actually see the problem. This will at least get the car back on the road, and I can look out for a piston, or a full set, and replace at a later date, it only needs the sump and heads off to swap them, and can be done in a weekend.
That said I have a new lead which may be helpful, and I won't be putting the heads on until next weekend, so still have a week for something to crop up.
My Toys: Lotus Cortina MK2.RangeRover P38, Yam inflatable, Saab 9-3 Convertible.
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Grant
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

Post by Grant »

The problem is when you know it .. it then troubles your mind Kev doesn't itImage I am sure the piston will be fine.. but it will play on your mind that the issue!! .. have you asked Duncan Kev? Image
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Kevin Birch
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

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Good news have located a set, and are on their way to me as I type this. A company called Real Steel hab a set on the shelf for a reasonable £365 including VAT.
Really helpful on the phone, worth making a note of for engine bits. :D
My Toys: Lotus Cortina MK2.RangeRover P38, Yam inflatable, Saab 9-3 Convertible.
Mk1 Interceptor, 115/3067
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Grant
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

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Kevin Birch wrote:Good news have located a set, and are on their way to me as I type this. A company called Real Steel hab a set on the shelf for a reasonable £365 including VAT.
Really helpful on the phone, worth making a note of for engine bits. :D
Good news Kev.. I'm pleased for you, they do have fairly good stock and I have bought quite alot from them before actually.. I didn't even think to mention them to you though as I thought you may be able to pick a single 2nd hand one up from somewhere... You can crack on now son :P
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Kevin Birch
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

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Spent a good day today reassembling the engine having got the pistons back from the engineers yesterday after they sweated the conrods on the new pistons.
All back together and painted, almost ready to go back in a few more things to attach,so not far off now :) I'll see how many bolts I have left once its all back in, have replaced loads with new, so will have a good stock of spares for the future.
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My Toys: Lotus Cortina MK2.RangeRover P38, Yam inflatable, Saab 9-3 Convertible.
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Mark1Stu
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

Post by Mark1Stu »

You've been a busy man Kev. Good luck with the final push.
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garyc
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

Post by garyc »

Looks good Kev
Have you painted everything Brown or is it my monitor the engine frame still looks Black
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Kevin Birch
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

Post by Kevin Birch »

It says satin black on the tin, but it does have a brown tinge to it. I'm hoping it's just the fluorescent lighting and the fact that it is enamel paint giving it a weird colour.
My Toys: Lotus Cortina MK2.RangeRover P38, Yam inflatable, Saab 9-3 Convertible.
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Kevin Birch
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

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I bit further forward today, was hoping to get the engine in, but ran out of time. Gearbox in and more bits fitted in the engine bay, looking to Wednesday for engine in, so coming together now.
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My Toys: Lotus Cortina MK2.RangeRover P38, Yam inflatable, Saab 9-3 Convertible.
Mk1 Interceptor, 115/3067
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Kevin Birch
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

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Engine went back in today, have connected most things back up, and have filled both engine and gearbox with oil, so I can wind it over on the starter. Ignition not sorted yet, and a few more bits still to connect, so not ready for a full start up. Connected the battery, turned ignition on, light on the dash, went for the turn over, nothing. :( Made sure things worked when switched, lights and heater etc, but nothing when turning the key to start. 10 mins of wire faulting, and it turns out the the starter relay has gone south, power to it, and earth from the gearbox inhibitor switch, but it refuses to play ball even after trying a bit of impact maintenance :( Bypassed it, turned the key and the engine whizzed around, with lovely chuffing noises from each cylinder as the plugs are out. It took a while for the oil pressure gauge to kick into life, but it gradually crept up to a very healthy 60 PSI, which is brilliant on the starter. :D
Will go for the full start up in the next few days, time allowing.
My Toys: Lotus Cortina MK2.RangeRover P38, Yam inflatable, Saab 9-3 Convertible.
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Grant
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

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Kevin Birch wrote:Engine went back in today, have connected most things back up, and have filled both engine and gearbox with oil, so I can wind it over on the starter. Ignition not sorted yet, and a few more bits still to connect, so not ready for a full start up. Connected the battery, turned ignition on, light on the dash, went for the turn over, nothing. :( Made sure things worked when switched, lights and heater etc, but nothing when turning the key to start. 10 mins of wire faulting, and it turns out the the starter relay has gone south, power to it, and earth from the gearbox inhibitor switch, but it refuses to play ball even after trying a bit of impact maintenance :( Bypassed it, turned the key and the engine whizzed around, with lovely chuffing noises from each cylinder as the plugs are out. It took a while for the oil pressure gauge to kick into life, but it gradually crept up to a very healthy 60 PSI, which is brilliant on the starter. :D
Will go for the full start up in the next few days, time allowing.
That's the exciting bit Kev isn't it.. after all the hard work it then seems so worth all the grimey filthy effort :wink: .. good luck to you sport :P
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Kevin Birch
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

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Had a quick fire up Monday with no water or exhaust connected, just to see if it would fire and run. A bit of fuel down the carb, and she went first time. Did a couple of starts and turned the dizzy to get best running, very loud with no exhaust connected. :D
Connected exhaust, installed fans and filled with water, and went for full start up. a couple of turns and off she went, no knocking waiting for pressure, ran her up to 1800 revs and kept her there. Sounded great, but got very hot, had to shut her down after 15 mins, as temp was in the red. Ran her up again for another 10 mins. and had to shut her down due to the temperature. Did another 10 min stint, so the valve train should now be work hardened. Hopefully the temperature should not be so bad when running, as in traffic it will be on tick over, and one of the radiator fans has gone south, and will need replacing, and afterwards, I realised what a numpty I was as the body protector was draped over the grille, so very little air flow :shock:
Oil pressure at 2000 RPM is a healthy 75 PSI and will now need to tune her up and do the usual fettling. I feel like I'm way ahead of where I should be from experience of past engine rebuilds which have never gone this well, despite being as thorough as you can be.
A few dribbles from hose joints, but no real fluid loss, it sounds great and can't wait to drive her.
A couple of photos about to put the engine in, and link to start uphttps://www.flickr.com/photos/97128267@ ... ed-public/ Lots of smoke from oil and contaminents to burn off, but and really smooth considering no carb tuning or timing set up yet. The timing light was connected but not used, so can't be that far off.
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My Toys: Lotus Cortina MK2.RangeRover P38, Yam inflatable, Saab 9-3 Convertible.
Mk1 Interceptor, 115/3067
Mark1Stu
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Re: 115/3067 bought back from France

Post by Mark1Stu »

Bet the post engine installation beer tasted good. :lol:
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