D-FENS
Well-known member
As stated previously, top-end kits on old bottom ends are deffo a false economy. The increased compression and heat will kill a tired crank assy rapido.
The question you have to ask youself is this: Is your original engine really in need of a major overhaul / replacement or do you just fancy a new (larger?) engine!
If you're happy to do the best you can in the short term with the original, consider taking it out and replacing all the easily accessed gaskets and seals
>check the condition of the heads and replace if cracked around the spark plug / valve seat area. I would say the biggest risk you face is from a dropped exhaust valve if they're the 112,000 mile originals so maybe lap in a new set of these.
>retorque the heads correctly (lap the barrels into the heads if you're really keen)
Back together, timing set, valves set blah blah...and see how it goes.
I bought my van nearly 10 years ago with 106,000 miles on the original engine and did the above work with a view to tootling around for a while longer. Since then we've driven it to italy accross the alps and been to cornwall at least a dozen times. It's now got 131,000 miles on it with zero end float and 120ish psi on all cylinders. I'm currently using it as a daily driver and hit 60 mph every morning on the 'road to hell' (A420) uses hardly any oil between changes (unless I drive up lots of steep hills!)
To be honest I sometimes wish it'd just pop so I could fit a brand new engine as we're considering an extended euro road trip in the next couple of years, but It just keeps on going!
A.
The question you have to ask youself is this: Is your original engine really in need of a major overhaul / replacement or do you just fancy a new (larger?) engine!
If you're happy to do the best you can in the short term with the original, consider taking it out and replacing all the easily accessed gaskets and seals
>check the condition of the heads and replace if cracked around the spark plug / valve seat area. I would say the biggest risk you face is from a dropped exhaust valve if they're the 112,000 mile originals so maybe lap in a new set of these.
>retorque the heads correctly (lap the barrels into the heads if you're really keen)
Back together, timing set, valves set blah blah...and see how it goes.
I bought my van nearly 10 years ago with 106,000 miles on the original engine and did the above work with a view to tootling around for a while longer. Since then we've driven it to italy accross the alps and been to cornwall at least a dozen times. It's now got 131,000 miles on it with zero end float and 120ish psi on all cylinders. I'm currently using it as a daily driver and hit 60 mph every morning on the 'road to hell' (A420) uses hardly any oil between changes (unless I drive up lots of steep hills!)
To be honest I sometimes wish it'd just pop so I could fit a brand new engine as we're considering an extended euro road trip in the next couple of years, but It just keeps on going!
A.
