At 03:37 PM 7/14/98 -0500, Dan Ray wrote:
>I'm interested to know everyone's thoughts on flywheel lightening for the B.
>
Unless, you can do it yourself, or get it done on the cheap, I'd say this is a
small improvement, and would not be worth a lot. Especially so, given the fact
you want to retain an original build cam, with good torque. Sounds like you
want to be able to pull in the lower rpms, so why shave the flywheel, and make
your idle lumpy. I dunno, maybe I'm rambling here.
>I'm going to rebuild the head while I have the engine out, and maybe renew
>the rings too. (Compression reads 135, 117, 137, 135 front to back, wet and
>dry)
You could re-ring, but I always thought if you're compression readings are the
same wet and dry, then your rings aren't in bad shape.
>I'm seriously considering Burgess' suggested porting to increase the
>efficiency of the head. Otherwise, based on what Burgess says, I'll probably
>leave the cam alone.
Well, if you increase the efficiency of the head, you will really see the
improvements at higher rpms, and likely with a hotter cam. Porting and
original style cam might now be a great combo.
The bottom end is behaving quite well other than the
>leak at the rear which has precipitated the demise of the clutch. I don't
>THINK I need to crack the case at this point. Am I right?
>TIA
Dan, since you're already pulling the engine to replace the rear main oil seal,
consider having the whole shebang rebuilt. You're already looking at head
work. Why not add a new timing chain, tensioner, main and rod bearings, oil
seals, and gaskets? The cost of these parts are ridiculously cheap, and you
can at least say you have a full rebuild. I've heard that B engines like to
have rod and main bearings replaced every 40k or so, so why not do it now. If
you like your original cam, then by all means stick with it. I put a Piper 270
cam from Brit-Tek in my ride, and she will almost pull second gear off the
line, so I don't think I lost any or much torque, and she likes to rev just a
bit more. If I had EFI, I bet the extra torque would easily allow me to pull
second gear, but I am a fool dreamer.
Just some thoughts. Good luck with your rebuild. My first rebuild was 8
months ago, and I learned so much. So much, that now I lust for a money-pit
Porsche (spark plugs wires are minimum $60).
Later
Jay
***********************************************
Jurgen Hartwig, Civil Engineering, Georgia Tech
<paraindent><param>left</param>When you were born you cried
and the world rejoiced
Try to live your life so that
when you die you will rejoice
and the world will cry.
</paraindent>
|