Author Topic: Engine's in! (Read 10434 times)

tim_s · « **on:** May 14, 2006, 04:36:52 PM »

Have had a busy wknd! Have now fitted the 2.1, its in and running! i'm knackered! have to stop the radiator deciding to drop coolant all over the place for no particulat reason (the rad and all hoses are fine), then its on with the running-in! i had a good mate of mine helping and it still took most of fri, sat and today to get it all sorted, although i did repaint the engine bay + loads of parts, properly bench build and test the new engine etc. which took a long time. The old engine was unsurprisingly in very good condition indeed. Anyway now have the 2.1 in with all new gaskets, timing chain, single mass flywheel etc, and the engine bay is looking very clean. I'm pretty chuffed.

Here's some pics:
The beginning

Painted engine bay

Bench build (before cleaning the head and sparying exh manifold etc)

tim_s · « **Reply #1 on:** May 14, 2006, 04:37:25 PM »

Block in

Head on

BEFORE

AFTER (still needs a good clean)

GrippyDrifty · « **Reply #2 on:** May 14, 2006, 05:45:37 PM »

VERY NICE!!! Can't wait to see dyno and seat-of-the-pants results!!:D

M42boy · « **Reply #3 on:** May 14, 2006, 07:44:21 PM »

Okay, granted, I really want to know more about your 2.1L stroker, but can you tell me what process you used to paint your engine bay? I got all my rust issues sorted and primered those areas with a POR-15 over-rust primer. I have everything taped off and am about to hit it with some generic grey sandable primer and then some of this Dupli-Color "Arctic White" I found at the local parts store in spray cans. Then probably a quick shot of clear enamel to lock it in.

If there's a better paint or method than my white trash one, than I'd love to hear about it. Your engine bay is definately the cleanest I've ever seen!

I love your valve cover and intake manifold too.

Also want to hear about your experiences with the single mass flywheel once you've had some time with it. Did you go with the M20 setup?

e9nine · « **Reply #4 on:** May 14, 2006, 08:45:24 PM »

Looking really good!

Few questions:

-- What's that cylindrical thing @ 3 o'clock in the the 1st pic? Some sort of catch can? I thought you guys didn't get the charcoal canister?

-- What's with your exhuast header looking different (or are my eyes deceiving me) ?

-- Do you guys ever relocate your batteries to the rear?

sheepdog · « **Reply #5 on:** May 14, 2006, 11:10:07 PM »

Quote from: e9nine

-- Do you guys ever relocate your batteries to the rear?

I thought only verts had it up front.

tim_s · « **Reply #6 on:** May 15, 2006, 03:20:14 AM »

Thanks guys!
Answers to questions:
-The engine bay was not done as well as I would have liked - but I'm a perfectionist. Main reason being that the whole engine transplant was done in a weekend - the top pictures are from friday, the last picture sunday. The process was nothing unusual. I used gunk and washing up liquid and household detergent etc to get the engine bay spanking clean, then wire brushed and sanded all the rusty btis and bits with yellowed lacquer off. I put down a few coats of white primer, then a few of the correct alpine white II paint using rattle cans. I haven't used any lacquer as the rattle can only suggests to use lacquer with metallics etc. although in hindsight I'm not sure whether this was the best move and I'm considering giving it a light dusting where i can just to seal it.
-The single mass flywheel is an M40 effort, sadly not lightened any more than standard, but I haven't devoted too much attention to this as I was more concerned with getting the engine spot on, and I potentially intend to have the engine out again after 10k or so to check everything and can revisit this then. If not, I'll have the box off at some point. The flywheel is still 9kgs, so not much lighter than a dual mass.
-The cylindrical thing is the P/S pump
-The exhaust header is different, eagle eyes there! Sadly in the UK we have the manifold shown which is not quite as nice as the LHD ones. The reason is to give clearance for the steering rack U/J. It's not a bad design, but the pipes are unequal length. there are some aftermarket items, and later I may collect some e36 m42/4 manifolds to see whether I can make something fit.
-(Battery is in the front on UK cars sheepdog) Some guys relocate the battery to the rear, I have just under 20kgs of stereo at the front of my boot (I run a spacesaver spare wheel to free 10kgs from further back in the boot), I don't really want to shift any more weight to the rear at the moment, I quite like the cubby hole too!

I can't wait to have her run in. My brother does some serious mileage and is insured on my car so I will get him to help run it in, it will suit him and me as i won't have to spend on petrol and waste time pottering around for no reason and he'll enjoy the car no doubt.

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #7 on:** May 15, 2006, 07:34:47 AM »

CONGRATS man... !!!!

edit: hmmm.... those pistons look suspiciously large!

thumper3ld · « **Reply #8 on:** May 15, 2006, 11:02:46 AM »

Looks good and congrats but, what happened to the ITB's?

tim_s · « **Reply #9 on:** May 15, 2006, 04:17:03 PM »

febi, oh yes, very large indeed. not as big as you're intending though iirc! The 2.1 runs ok-ish on the motronic btw, will obviously be mapped on megasquirt soon though.
the ITBs will be on a bit later, need to get the engine run in, mapped etc and to be on top of the MS stuff before then. Need some cams too. Can't wait for the TBs, will be a while though as the plenum's still at the bodyshop

e9nine · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2006, 04:34:48 PM »

Quote from: tim_s

-The cylindrical thing is the P/S pump

The aluminum thing beneath the PS reservoir is the P/S pump? Maybe you misunderstood my question? I don't recollect seeing that on any of our US spec e30s...anyone with me on this or am I missing something here?

M42boy · « **Reply #11 on:** May 15, 2006, 05:06:50 PM »

Quote from: e9nine

The aluminum thing beneath the PS reservoir is the P/S pump? Maybe you misunderstood my question? I don't recollect seeing that on any of our US spec e30s...anyone with me on this or am I missing something here?

I see it too. Definately not the PS pump. It's right beneath the PS Reservoir. That's exactly the same location as the charcoal canister on our US cars, but this looks different. Hmmm...

Hey Airik... If I remember correctly from some of the schematics I looked at, the UK cars have the fuel filter in the engine bay. That's probably what that is. :cool:

Tim, we have a charcoal canister in that location and our fuel filter is under the car on the driver's side along side the fuel tank. I presume that yours is in the engine bay, and that's what we're looking at.

M42boy · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2006, 05:12:13 PM »

Paint job looks pretty good from here Tim. Did you put a clear over it, or did your Alpenweiss II spray paint have a built-in clear? I heard you can't do that with the enamel unless you mix it right there and add a hardener, but I know JACK SQUAT about body and paint work.

I painted my intake and valve covers with Rust-O-lium silver... I really don't like it, but better than it was. I guess when I have some more time I'll try to recreate the black "winkle coat" finnish on the early M cars. I just don't have time to do all that right now.

tim_s · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2006, 06:22:03 PM »

oops, yeah its the fuel filter. apologies, didn't mean to insult your intelligence guys!

dude8383 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2006, 07:28:09 PM »

Quote from: tim_s

oops, yeah its the fuel filter. apologies, didn't mean to insult your intelligence guys!

is their any advantage to this? i find it strange that they relocated it all the way to engine bay..