the engine thing ... putting the thread to bed

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 11:34 pm

Would wire wool do it, or something like that? It's not a massive ridge (or whatever it might be) - just detectable by a gloved finger or thru a scrapers handle, and only covers something like 45 to 60 degrees. Don't think its worth getting hold of a special tool or an experienced mechanic for something so small that may well scrape off if i use a metal knife and redex instead of a plastic thingummy and detergent wet-wipes.

PS The fact that i have pressed the "ORDER" button on the website after adding a set of rings to the basket and confirmed my details is no guarantee they'll actually deliver them or even take my money... (besides, the PC crashed H-A-R-D right after the "complete" screen came up, so i couldnt get a copy of the ref number - surely a bad omen).

They are still available elsewhere, but as previously detailed, the prices are exhorbitant.

LogIK · Post by **LogIK** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:55 pm

I had a ridge at the top of my bores, but it was just built up carbon. Remove all the carbon deposites and then check if there is a ridge there, making sure the bores are still within wear tollerances.

You must get your bores properly honed, as this will ensure the rings bed in properly and that oil sticks to the cylinder walls. Honing also removes the glaze from the bores. You can buy a tool that looks a bit like a toilet brush and do it yourself, as it's not a specialist job, but I decided to take mine into the machine shop and get them to do it, as it didn't cost much more than the tool would.

hardhitter · Post by **hardhitter** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 11:19 pm

I wouldn't bother with non-genuine engine pars myself. Because they are a few quid cheaper from GSF doesnt always mean its the better option.

Anyway, are you sure you know what your doing Tahrey ? No offence to you, but I don't hink you should be doing such a task if you need every single thing explaining. I'm presuming this from the very long posts that I glazed over.

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:03 am

bit late to stop now dude

lets put it that it may be my first time but im a perfectionist. not familiar with a lot of the terms or procedures but willing to learn - rather have something over explained than to miss some small but otherwise obvious thing that would be caught by someone whose been troubled by it previous e.g. the clutch cover plate.

anyway the parts have arrived, they look generic but good enough quality, much as im any judge. Seem to be totally interchangable types of thing in fact - "suitable for polo / golf / jetta 1.0 to 1.4".

all the favour i do need to ask here is to borrow your ring compressor, groovy, IF i cant find one cheaper than postage x2 +pint. god willing the rest of the job (minus honing) will be as simple as "fitting is reverse of removal". been making and remaking a list of what has been done and needs to be (re-)done and crossed off over the last few days so nothing gets missed. (of course, i might decide to do the water pump, hopefully just a bolt off/bolt on?)

cheers

bstardchild · Post by **bstardchild** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:43 am

hardhitter wrote:Anyway, are you sure you know what your doing Tahrey ? No offence to you, but I don't hink you should be doing such a task if you need every single thing explaining. I'm presuming this from the very long posts that I glazed over.

I'm sure he doesn't

but........

He is asking first before diving in (always helps to stop breakages) and whilst I haven't felt the need to chip in yet as others have done a good job explaining things (G.C etc)

He has another car as a daily driver so doesn't need to rush

He couldn't give the car away anyway - so nothing ventured nothing gained - He'll know at the end if it was a good idea or not.

It will be very good experience if he tackles anything else

First engine I ever took apart (few years ago mind) I paid a tenner for (condition unknown and unwarrentied) from a scrap dealer and he delivered it - I had no intention of using it but wanted to understand how it all went together before I took my own apart to rebuild it....

I ended up doing a complete nut and bolt rebuild and no-one was more amzed than my dad (it had taken up a big section of his garage for nearly 3 months - specially when it was all in bits) when I took the original engine out of my car and dropped the rebuilt one in - ran as sweet as sweet can be.

As result of the experience and others since I never feel worried about stripping and rebuilding any engine - a nut and bolt rebuild of a 3.6 litre 24V bi-turbo lump the most complicated done to date.... Although I'd think twice about tackling a VTEC or similar but as I have never owned or will ever own a rice burner the chance of that are slim

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:59 pm

Tahrey1043 wrote: here is to borrow your ring compressor, groovy, IF i cant find one cheaper than postage x2 +pint. god willing the rest of the job (minus honing) will be as simple as "fitting is reverse of removal". been making and remaking a list of what has been done and needs to be (re-)done and crossed off over the last few days so nothing gets missed. (of course, i might decide to do the water pump, hopefully just a bolt off/bolt on?)

cheers

Yeah, no problem

They cost about a tenner, so 2x postage + pint would probably work out a couple of quid cheaper

I have to agree with the above, if you don't do things like this then you'll never learn how to.. knowledge doesn't materialise from nowhere. Plus, if you're going to learn on something, what better to learn on than a car that's laid up, unused and barely worth anything anyway.. can't exactly go wrong. Dismantling the engine of my ownly form of transport and then screwing it up wasn't the best of ideas I will freely admit, but it's certainly something I'd do again if I had another set of wheels to get me about in the mean time.

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 3:09 am

well it could still go badly wrong and seize up etc. but all in all it's like big metal lego (we were too poor for meccano when i were a lad). comments on my severely lacking ability/knowledge are fair and duly noted but i'll have to nip under the umbrella of "taint worth nuffin ossifer". its similar flack to that which ive had from relatives asking when the wreck will be off the driveway and why the hell am i spending money on trying to fix it? (whilst i see them blowing thousands on really quite badly thought out home "improvements")

but hopefully if it does seize, it'll be very early on, while it's being run in and i should be able to deal with that

(i mean by smacking the clutch to the floor and guiding it into the nearest hedge, rather than fixing it)

wonder if i can have it back together by the end of sunday.... hmm
(got to find some way of taking the alternator pulley thing off without losing my fingers tho)

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:51 am

There's a small hole in the inner wing just opposite the alternator pulley, you can get to the bolts through this hole from inside the wheel arch. You may have to stick a plank of wood under the sump, support it on a jack, remove the engine mount on that side and then jack it up or down to get a decent angle on it, as the hole's pretty small. Seems to be the only way to get to it though. You'll need some allen sockets though, I don't fancy your chances with a normal allen key..

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 3:08 pm

oh ive already loosened a couple off just with a key, but it would be a lot easier with the socket (seeing as my 5mm one fits) - the others seem quite tight and i cant see me getting them out without refitting the drive shaft and doing it in gear (crank just spins when i give em any torque).

bloody hurt though, but at least i didnt perforate my flesh again.

probably cant get bearings/waterpump etc til next week now, if i feel they need replaced, but cant really do them without sorting the pistons anyway, so could i badger you for the compressor please?

it will return by post with a few packets of freeze dried lager or something

guess i'll concentrate on cleaning all the crap up and checking over the head etc this week. maybe examine that ridge a bit more closely.

LogIK · Post by **LogIK** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 11:16 pm

I went to GSF today and they didn't have the piston rings in, or main bearing set. They promised they would have them for monday morning, but I wonder if I'm going to have the same trouble as you have with availability..?

Just have to see, eh.

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Sun Jun 12, 2005 3:24 pm

Compressor is boxed up and ready to go, I'll get it in the post to you tomorrow morning.

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Sun Jun 12, 2005 7:37 pm

sweetness groovemeister

order off the net logik, and see if they arrive. i think theyre holding some back for online customers, like a fine claret or summat. though id rather be able to go in and pick up the bearings in person (my neighbour's getting a bit tired of being the one having to accept parcels for me

)

p'raps we should do a group buy and get everything they have left, then ebay it for three times its worth

nice profit and still half the price of anyone else

btw how vital are those springy things behind the oil scraper and should they stay attached to the piston? stretched one slightly trying (unsuccessfully) to remove it... old ring still goes back on ok

tell ya what tho they shine up a treat with just some fairy liquid, a sponge scourer and a brillo pad

LogIK · Post by **LogIK** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:14 pm

My pistons have been soaking in petrol for ages, as I haven't got round to fitting them back, with the shortage of piston rings. It hasn't made the slightest bit of difference! I thought it would have started to break down the deposites to make it a little easier to scrub.

You don't actually need a piston ring compressor. Jubilee clips are you friend.

What spring do you mean? The one that is on the oil scraper ring?

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:46 pm

those springy things behind the oil scraper

those are the ones, yeah.

white spirit be any good? haynes says something about paraffin

bugger i need to go harass the GSF guys on email to see if they can get the bearings in.... if they can i'll get two sets

LogIK · Post by **LogIK** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:49 pm

Haha, I found my piston ring compressor today. W00p.

Anyway, yeah, white spirit should be fine. Any "suitable solvent." Cleaning that carbon off is an arse though. Soaking it doesn't help either.

I got my dad to go in GSF today to pick up the piston rings that were promised for Monday. No joy. They have ultra promised that they will be here for tomorrow morning

Getting a bit concerned now.