In a message dated 3/8/2010 1:37:14 PM Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 16:06:04 +0000 (UTC) > From: [email protected] > Subject: [alfa] Rebuilding a 1750 Engine (SF Bay area) > > Good Morning, > > I finally got around to tear into the my 69 Duetto to freshen up the > engine. Before doing so, I checked the compression and they were about > 170-180 > Psi. Pouring oil into the cylinder did not improve things. The main reason > for tearing into the engine was excessive oil consumption and the milky > water spots on the underside of the hood after a long drive (no > overheating!). > For the last 5-6 years the car has been in storage! > > Anyways it took me and friends/family about 2 months to pull the head! One > of the head studs had corrosion and somehow it was fused to the head. the > collateral damage known so far has been a broken intake stud and damage to > the casting of the fuel injection distributor (I used it for jack support, > it made sense at the time) > > What I need is as follows: > > 1- Recommendation on a machine shop to do a valve job. SF bay area. > 2- As far as the engine block, I was thinking of changing the rings, rod > bearing and leave it at that given the high compression. Any thought? I have > had the car for over 20 years. Did not put much mileage on the car. When I > bought the car would run strong but I don't remember when/if the engine > was rebuilt. > 3- Any thoughts on how/whether the fuel injection distributor casing could > be fixed ... i know this is a good excuse to switch to webers but I am not > sure if I want to add another $2K to the repair bill! > 4- Any other words of wisdom > > Thanks, David > Hi David, 1- I don't think you can do better that Terry Tinney in Livermore: www. terrytinney.com One of the machines he has is set up to surface the top of the block, going around the studs! How many people would even think to do that, much less have a machine dedicated to it? I'm pretty dang particular and Terry did a GREAT job, redoing just my head after my stock Borgo rings never broke in 30k after a rebuild. I was still putting a quart through the motor every 500 miles after the $5k rebuild! I went to him in the first place because he was able to torque plate hone my cylinders so I knew they were REALLY round. He also chamfered the bottom edge of the liners to make the installation of the new Hastings rings easier. 2- Have him check (measure) the liners for wear and still consider a torque plate hone. That will tell you everything you need to know. You also need to measure the wear in the top ring lands of the pistons. If you don't measure, you don't know. Even if you decide to get brand new cylinders and pistons, I would still get them torque plate honed. You absolutely cannot count on them being perfect from the factory! In my rebuild, new Borgo 10:1 flat top pistons/liners were installed with the Borgo rings. The rings never broke in, my oil consumption was the same before and after the rebuild. When I had the liners torque plate honed and installed Hastings rings, the oil consumption was immediately cut in two. 3- Check with Dennis at Norman Racing in Berkeley. Stevan Thomas 73 Berlina -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected]
