LD32 Engine build

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
The engine mounts are done, and the engine fits under the strut brace with about the same clearance it has before.
I need to lower the gearbox too, but I need to do some measuring first to work out how much, so I'll do that 'later'.
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jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Hooray, the engine is in and the bell housing has enough clearance for the clutch. It even cranks over nicely and pumps oil out of the cam.

Next problem: because the bottom of the engine and gearbox are 15mm further away from the exhaust ports, the exhaust is fouling on this bolt boss on the bottom of the gearbox. It'll have to be cut off. Maybe I'll even have to make that bit concave.
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jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Today's fun was the water inlet. The mounting holes on the timing cover are rotated 45° anti-clockwise, meaning the petrol engine water inlet doesn't fit. This home made jobbie came off one of the diesel engines and fits well enough for now.
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Only the radiator and the crank case ventilation pipe to go. Surely everything from now on will fit?

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jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Jon, I think you should have a Perspex bonnet so the marvel of your engine bay is on display for all to admire.
Its certainly a counterpoint to everyone's beautiful minimalist/hidden wiring engine bays. But not sure about the perspex bonnet!
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Yesterday, I fitted the crankcase breather and filled it with water, ready for the first start.
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Then I found I had a small water leak between head and block at the front right corner. This is where I'd tapped and plugged the coolant bypass hole in the head, so I think the 1/4 bsp plug isn't quite big enough, so the head is coming off today and we'll find something a little bigger to plug it with.
 

jonbills

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Site Administrator
DSC_0005.JPG :unsure: The plug in the head isn't the problem.
I didn't look closely enough at the gasket.
The gasket bead is borderline off the edge of the block, which means water from any of the coolant channels in the vicinity can get out there. Needs some thought! :conf2:
 

Turn & Burn

Club Member
View attachment 45408 :unsure: The plug in the head isn't the problem.
I didn't look closely enough at the gasket.
The gasket bead is borderline off the edge of the block, which means water from any of the coolant channels in the vicinity can get out there. Needs some thought! :conf2:
Can u build a pad of chemical metal and set it flush with the top of the block? I’ve long term repaired a hole in the block on a Landrover with it, also used araldite with good results too.
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Can u build a pad of chemical metal and set it flush with the top of the block? I’ve long term repaired a hole in the block on a Landrover with it, also used araldite with good results too.
like this Andrew?
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Thanks for the idea. I'm going to try it coupled with plugging the gasket with a washer and silicone.
meanwhile, I'm investigating a custom made gasket.
 

Woody928

Events Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Awesome job! :coolgleam:

That's always got to be a heart in mouth moment starting up a fresh engine for the first time, I'm dreading that moment as much as I'm excited by it! Very much looking forward to seeing this back on the road.
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Awesome job! :coolgleam:

That's always got to be a heart in mouth moment starting up a fresh engine for the first time, I'm dreading that moment as much as I'm excited by it! Very much looking forward to seeing this back on the road.
yeah, it is very nerve wracking. I almost packed it up for the day when it was ready to fire, so I could enjoy another night of not knowing it didn't work :p
 
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