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Re: 1500 Engine Advice

To: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: 1500 Engine Advice
From: Growe58@aol.com
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 07:44:46 EST
I have no doubt that the rings and probably the bores will require some 
attention.  What I'm concerned about is extreme bearing wear ruining    
the crankshaft or worse allowing a piston rod to see what the "world
outside the block" looks like.  I pulled one of the main bearing caps
and the bearing is a solid copper color which according to Hayne is
A Real Bad Thing.  I also have a mild engine vibration over most of             
the rev range.

Besides, tinkering with critical internal engine parts seems to have
an irresistible fatal attraction for me :)

Thanks

-Greg

PS  Yes - registered with the database.  Good job, that!




In a message dated 2/5/99 0:19:02 AM EST, spitlist@gte.net writes:

<< 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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