2013

Monday, 09 December 2013

Vale Martin Hawes

Yesterday my friend Martin was killed while driving his beloved MGTC.

Martin was a kind and gentle man who gave freely of his time and knowledge. He was quick with an anecdote and was always laughing.

He helped me and taught me a lot. Those familiar with this blog will recognise him in many of the photos. He will be sorely missed.

 

Marty

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Saturday, 23 November 2013

Engine and JT5 gearbox installation

Finally the time has come to put the engine back in. The unknown quantity was the JT5 box, and how much this would complicate the installation.

Prior to starting I measured the JT5 and my Moss box. They are both 66cm long, although this is without the slip yoke fitted into the JT5 box, which adds a minimum of 6cm. The installation instructions warn against trying to install the gearbox with this fitted. It is recommended to attach the yoke to the driveshaft and install them in the tunnel before offering up the gearbox. 

I have only ever installed engines from below, and this is how we planned to do it. I am fortunate to have a car hoist which makes the process a good deal easier.

3.8 JT5 01

 With the engine on a trolley positioned under the car we lowered the body. It quickly became apparent that there was not much spare space; with the waterpump pulley a few mm clear of the picture frame the back of the gearbox was only about 10mm clear of the tunnel. Despite this we were able to get the engine in place on the engine mounts with a bit of judicious wiggling.

3.8 JT5 02

 It quickly became apparent however that there was not going to be enough room to get the slip yoke into the gearbox. Detaching the driveshaft from the differential didn't provide enough leeway either. Whether installing the engine from above using an engine crane and angling it down would have made it possible to install the yoke is an interesting question.

3.8 JT5 03

After some discussion we decided to remove the IRS to give us enough room to manipulate the driveshaft into place. Even  having done this it was still very difficult to get the splines to mesh and in the end we disconnected the slip yoke from the driveshaft and installed it by putting an arm up the tunnel much like a vet in calving season. Then the driveshaft was bolted back onto the yoke and the IRS reinstalled. Although it sounds complicated the removal and replacement of the IRS took about 20 minutes and was unavoidable.

3.8 JT5 04

When we fitted the engine steady bar it was not vertical. After some measurment it seems that the engine is actually fitted in the correct place and that the mounting holes drilled in the bell housing are about 10mm too far back. Given the heavy duty gearbox mount that comes with the JT5 box this shouldn't pose a problem but it is disapointing.

3.8 JT5 05

 With the engine and gearbox installed it became apparent just how tight a fit the JT5 is. In many areas the clearance from the bodywork is only a couple of mm. "Some peening of the tunnel may be required" says the manual...

3.8 JT5 06

 The supplied cables for the reversing light switch are jammed up hard against the tunnel. There is very little room to access the gearbox filler plug; around 25mm clearance will make removing the plug and filling the box tricky.

3.8 JT5 07

 

3.8 JT5 08

 I am concerned at the lack of clearance particualrly around the bulkhead corners and the sides of the top plate. It will be quite hard to relieve these areas without changes that will make fitting the tunnel cover difficult. Depending on the amount of movement allowed by the gearbox mount it may be necessary to pack these tight gaps with some sort of rubber cushioning to stop rattles.

3.8 JT5 09

 

 In summary then the JT5 box will go in but not without removing the IRS if you want to put it in from below. It might be possible to get it in from above by tilting the gearbox down and manipulating it back on the slip yoke but this would be hard with a gearbox filled with oil as it will spill out of the unsealed hole around the output shaft.

In comparison we installed a Driven Man box in a 3.8 coupe 2 weeks ago. This has the same fixed yoke as the standard box and while it is also a tight fit it was a much easier installation. 

 

 

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Saturday, 16 November 2013

Engine delivery

Don't worry about those dirty old cam covers; the newly polished ones are just waiting until the engine is safely installed.

 

3.8 engine ute1

 

 

3.8 engine ute 2

 

3.8 engine ute

 

3.8 engine ute 5

 

3.8 engine ute 4

 

There's always something else to buy...

 

3.8 engine lifter

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Saturday, 26 October 2013

Shimming the tappets

Setting the valve clearances on the XK head is a time consuming process that requires patience. I have finished mine. It took me about 4 hours, never having done this before. Each side had to be pulled down about 4 times. I'm pretty satisfied though and the inlets are all 4 or 5 thou, and the exhausts 6 or 7. Once the Cometic head gasket arrives the head can go on, and it's done!

Rather than taking photographs of this process, instead have a look at what you get for $50 for an XK head. This is off a 420, and seems to have been stored in a dam.

 

4.2 rusty head1 

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Saturday, 19 October 2013

Engine building 3: timing

Time for the timing chains.

Everything has been beadblasted.

 

3.8 Engine build timing001

 

Locktabs. 

  

3.8 Engine build timing003

 

Gaskets for the new chain cover. 

 

3.8 Engine build timing004

 

 Teflon front seal.

  

 3.8 Engine build timing005

 

Cover on. 

 

3.8 Engine build timing006

 

 

 

3.8 Engine build timing007

 

Sump on. 

 

3.8 Engine build timing008

 

Damper on. 

 

3.8 Engine build timing010

 

 

Fuel sender in. 

 

3.8 Engine build timing012

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Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Engine building 2: pistons

Machined, balanced rods.

 

 

3.8 Engine build pistons006

 

New standard pistons. Rings have been checked in the bores by the machine shop.

 

3.8 Engine build pistons007

 

Assembly lube, slide the gudgeon pin in with the piston forward and the rod numbers on the exhaust side. Put the circlips smooth (not sharp cut) side IN. Check for positive seating by rotating clips with the circlip pliers. Leave the circlips pointing down.

 

3.8 Engine build pistons002

 

 

 

3.8 Engine build pistons008

 

 Lay out assembled rods in order.

 

3.8 Engine build pistons009

 

Insert bearings. 

 

 3.8 Engine build pistons010

 

All in. 

 

3.8 Engine build pistons011

 

 

 

3.8 Engine build pistons012

 

 

 

3.8 Engine build pistons014

 

Set the engine at #1 TDC. Set the dizzy drive at 10 to 4 with the big D up. Tap the crank dizzy drive in until it just contacts the brass cog. Rotate the brass cog back 3 teeth (same as the width of the crank drive) and then slowly tap the crank drive home. This will put the dizzy drive properly back to 10 to 4 with the big D up at TDC. EASY!!

 

3.8 Engine build pistons015

 

 

 

3.8 Engine build pistons016

 

 

3.8 Engine build pistons017

 

 

 

 

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Friday, 11 October 2013

Engine building 1

With this car I really wanted to be involved in all aspects of the rebuild, and Chris the engine builder has kindly agreed to supervise me building the engine. Today we got a lot done in 5 hours.

 

Tappet guide hold downs.

 

3.8 Engine build13

 

 

Studs going in.

 

3.8 Engine build15

 

Finished with the studs.

 

3.8 Engine build16

 

Damage from a loose timing chain in the past.

 

3.8 Engine build18

 

Valve spring seat

 

3.8 Engine build19

 

Stem seals for inlet valves

 

3.8 Engine build21

 

Spring

 

3.8 Engine build22

 

Retaining collar

 

3.8 Engine build26

 

Secured

 

3.8 Engine build27

 

Cam bearings

 

3.8 Engine build29

 

Cam bearing caps

 

3.8 Engine build31

 

Welsch plugs fitted with Defcon

 

3.8 Engine build36

 

Crank sludge plugs; tapping the holes out was nervewracking.

 

3.8 Engine build38

 

Plug safely home.

 

3.8 Engine build37

 

A man squirts red stuff on my main bearings.

 

3.8 Engine build39

 

Mmmmmmm. 

 

 3.8 Engine build40

 

 

 

3.8 Engine build42

 

In with the crank.

 

3.8 Engine build43

 

Bald spot close up.

 

3.8 Engine build44

 

 

 

3.8 Engine build46

 

 

Pretty 

 

3.8 Engine build47 

 

Main caps on

 

3.8 Engine build49

 

Torque

 

3.8 Engine build50

 

High tech SnapOn musical torque wrench

 

3.8 Engine build51

 

 

Quality control

 

3.8 Engine build52

 

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Thursday, 10 October 2013

Cleaning the block

Today I tapped out every thread on the head and the block, then degreased and cleaned it all and painted the block.

Tomorrow the crank and pistons go in.

 

3.8 Block1

 

3.8 Block2

 

3.8 Block3

 

3.8 Block4

 

3.8 Block5

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Sunday, 22 September 2013

Got the IRS in.

A hoist, a trolley and a little help is all that's needed.

This time I took advice and filled the diff with oil and pre-bled the calipers before installing the IRS unit.

 

3.8 IRS in1

 

3.8 IRS in2

 

3.8 IRS in3

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Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Picture update

Chrome wrapped up like fish and chips.

 

3.8 chrome paper

 

Chrome unwrapped.

 

3.8 chrome

 New clutch pipe made by moi.

3.8 clutch pipe

 

Martin wiring.

 

3.8 Martin wiring

 

Fuses.

 

3.8 fuses

 

Dash centre in. 

 

3.8 dash centre

 

Brake booster and wiper motor in. 

 

3.8 Brake booster in

 

 

 

 

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