Greg,
If your car is smoking, it is likely caused by rings and this won't be
helped by replacing the bearings. If it doesn't give any of the
tell-tale signs of worn bearings (low oil pressure, too much thrust play
or knocking) I'd leave well enough alone and save the money until you
can afford to do a "proper" overhaul.
Regards,
Joe Curry
P.S. Have you registered the car in the Spitfire Database?
http://home1.gte.net/spitlist/index.html
Growe58@aol.com wrote:
>
> Hello to all. Looking for any advice or tales of real world experience on the
> following: (feel free to also question my sanity as appropriate).
>
> My 78 1500's engine suffered the dreaded thrust washer drop out last summer
> and was replaced with a 76 block which is well worn, but has managed to
> transport me and my clouds of oil smoke faithfully to date. Time and finances
> do not presage the needed rebuild in the near future, but I would like to at
> least preserve this block from also suffering total functional destruction.
> To that end, I have purchased rod (big end!) and main bearings and new thrust
> washers. I figure to ramp the car, drop the oil pan, and install them from
> underneath. Cheap and easy.
>
> Is this likely to have the desired effects to increase longevity? What are
> the potential pitfalls? (My apologies to those that have already seen this
> thread on uk.rec.cars.classic, but at the time I was not aware of this FAR
> SUPERIOR mailing list).
>
> Thanks in advance. This is a great group!
>
> -Greg
> 78 Spit -daily driver
> 72 Spit - someday will run again!
--
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
-- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
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