Bill -
Until I rebuilt my old motor I kept having valves, springs, and various
parts break from time to time. It was a hassle and didn't make driving the
Healey fun.
I did a complete rebuild on the BJ8 motor and used all new parts eventhough
I didn't really have the money. 17 years later and 80K miles later....
haven't had a thing go wrong with it. In fact, it doesn't even burn a drop
of oil. Knock on wood. Don't know if I'd want 50 year old parts in a
rebuilt motor, no matter how well made they are.... but that's the risk
isn't it... if you are willing to roll the dice, then go for it.
Cheers,
Alan
On 2/10/07, WILLIAM B LAWRENCE <ynotink@msn.com> wrote:
>
> Well, for one thing the cost of a new set of pistons from Moss is between
> $350 and $425 (Perhaps you can do better than that.) while most machinists
> will perform the measurements for nothing and the balancing for about $125
> (static and dynamic). The cost of parts for these engines is not trivial,
> so
> if the used pieces are not damaged or worn beyond spec. why replace them?
> I
> realize that money is not an object for some, but I am not among that
> fortunate group. I consider it a waste to replace parts just to be able to
> say they are new. With some exceptions, I have as much confidence in a
> good
> used part (It's survived over 50 years already.) as I do in a new one that
> may be crap out of the box.
>
> I know that the common wisdom is that all parts need to be replaced
> whenever
> you rebuild an engine, but I've never really been convinced whether that
> is
> best practice or just good marketing.
>
> Pulling on my asbestos drawers,
> Bill Lawrence
>
>
> >From: David Nock <healeydoc@sbcglobal.net>
> >To: WILLIAM B LAWRENCE <ynotink@msn.com>
> >CC: genski434@comcast.net, healeys@autox.team.net
> >Subject: Re: Need some help
> >Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 08:25:21 -0800
> >
> >If you are going to go tho the effort to have all the pistons out and
> >inspect and weight them all to match them all up to the used piston why
> >not just do it right and install a new set. After all the other used
> >pistons in the engine have been there just as long as the one that went
> >bad.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >David Nock
> >British Car Specialists
> >Stockton Ca 95205
> >209-948-8767
> >
> >www.britishcarspecialists.com
> >.
> >.
> >
> >On Feb 8, 2007, at 6:01 PM, WILLIAM B LAWRENCE wrote:
> >
> >>I guess I'm just not up for absolutes. And with due respect to David's
> >>knowledge and experience on the topic, I think the answer is that it's
> a
> >>bad idea to mix used pistons unless you can be sure that they are all
> in
> >>the same condition (within specification) and that they are matched in
> >>weight.
> >>
> >>If you are going to install used parts (for whatever reason)
> they should
> >>be inspected and measured to assure they are within the manufacturer's
> >>specifications and that they are not damaged in any other way (you
> know,
> >>like being cracked) The weight question will be addressed by the
> >>machinist when he statically balances the reciprocating assemblies. A
> >>step that should not be left out.
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