Abu Dhabi Off-Road Club Forums

Thanks Dave.
I know Frankie has been a money pit and now it's a case of "here we go again", but at least this is an opportunity to correct the mistakes made with the original stroker build (seemingly excessive rod/main bearing clearances and hence lowish oil pressure from the outset). It seems that when Tobias had the engine built, it was kinda just thrown together without checking proper clearances. Inevitably running a so-so engine hard in the desert was going to eventually take its toll.
Have the crank rod & main journal diameters measured with a micrometer or an accurate vernier gauge. There's a chance that you may need undersize bearings (perhaps 0.0010") on some journals.

UPDATE

The engine is toast and is completely dismantled.

All bearings (crank, rods, cam) are showing copper.

The block requires re-boring (therefore new block or liners - can't overbore this block further).

The Plan.

Purchase:

Block
New +060 rings
New cylinder head bolts
Top gasket set
Bottom gasket set
Crank bearings (size tba)
Rod bearings (size tba)
Cam bearings (size tba)
Cam folders (possibly - because my friends at Motortech did not record position when dismantling)
Spark plugs
Air filter
Oil Filter
Coolant
Oil

Prepare

Clean block (first rough clean)
Crack test block
Bore block (+060)
Test fit crank / bearings / cam and select appropriate bearings
Clean block (detail clean)
Port head (might as well )

Re-Build

Assemble bottom end (7 perfomance)
Assemble top end (7 perfomance)
Return finished engine to Motortech for re-installation

UPDATE

Block purchased and with machine shop to check head face and crack test.

Costs to date:

Top Gasket Set: 360
Bottom Gasket Set: 360
Rings + Head Bolts: 457 (inc del US)
Block: 1000
Conrod Bearings (+10) :120
Crank Bearings (+10): 185
Cam Bearings (stk): 80
Oil Pump : 265
Head Porting: 500
Lifters: 216
Oil Filter: 25
Coolant: 70
Oven Cleaner: 30
Engine Mounts: 220
Machine Shop: 1400
Real bearing seal: 62
Cam bolt/spring/pin: 50
Engine Assembly Lube: 70
Oil pick up pipe: 80
Oil pump (second): 235
Labour: 4000

TOTAL

DesertDawg wrote:UPDATE

Block purchased and with machine shop to check head face and crack test.

Costs to date:

Top Gasket Set: 360
Bottom Gasket Set: 360
Rings + Head Bolts: 457 (inc del US)
Block: 1000
Conrod Bearings (+10) :120
Crank Bearings (+10): 185
Cam Bearings (stk): 80
Oil Pump : 265
Head Porting: 500
Lifters: 216
Oil Filter: 25

US$ or AED, big difference

Man, you should do this yourself at home, i would love to help and am willing to...this is a fun project
If this a timing-chain engine (which i think it is), good to check the chain for stretch and replace chain guides also while you have all apart.
good luck

Hi Latief,

I would like to build it myself (and I have built a few engines in my time), but, alas, there is only so much one can do in an underground parking space.

The chain was new three years ago - it will be ok.

Dave

PS: AED

UPDATE

Block pressure test: OK

That's good news. At least you'll soon have all the building blocks ready to reassemble the stroker for its rebirth.
I'll work on porting the head this weekend, after I've checked the valve stem-to-guide clearances, so it'll be ready for you to collect next weekend. I'll number the valves when I pull them from the head so you'll be able to replace them again in the same order.
Latief, those prices are in AED.

Thanks Dino! Whata Guy!!

I have arranged for the head to be skimmed, just to make sure it is dead flat and the mc shop will also lap the vaqlves before re-assembling.

Went to mc shop tonight and made sure they understand required piston to bore clearance is 3.5 thou.

It will be faced, bored and honed Saturday.

Dave

UPDATE

Picked up my head from Dino today - great porting job. Should be good for another 20bhp.
Just need to clean it up and lap the valves in.

THANKS DINO!!

Having stripped the engine, it would seem Tobias economised on some parts and the engine builder was not to careful.

Different size nuts were found on the conrods (would affect balance) and the cam sprocket / chain looks dodgy. Anyways, the cams sproket is toast.
Going to the machine shop tomorrow to inspect the block.

Dave

DesertDawg wrote:Got some suspension issues too:

Abu Dhabi-20140112-00519.jpg

Any ideas?

What springs do you have on there, Dave? How much lift?

Perhaps the upper or lower control arms are wrong/damaged, allowing the axle to move backwards and forwards.

Dave - a thought on the fans. It's my understanding that pusher fans are less effective than pullers. Would it not be possible to get them mounted behind the radiator rather than in front (or do you still have rear mounted fans a well)?

UPDATE

Hi All.

I think people are generally fed up of hearing about Frankie's woes; so here is some positive news for a change.

The engine re-build is well underway and should be fitted by close of business Sunday.

Couple of pictures - crankshaft re-grind to -10 on main and con rod journals:
Crank installed in block.
Dave

Nice to see the engine reassembly under way Dave.

Frankie is the most beloved car in the club. Way to go Dave (and Francine) LOL.

Thanks for all the updates, which I read, but dont understand too much about!