309 Now Has Death Rattle

[pugdamo 111 2 Cars]

I was driving my 309 yesterday when it stalled at a junction,i thought that was odd as it has never cut out before,it started again straight away but sounded odd,i turned the music off gave a little rev and there it was, a lovely bottom end knock,i had just come around a very long left hand bend at a bit of pace,nothing mad but im pretty sure this is whats finished it off. I nusred the car home(which wasnt far) pulled the sump off, number 1 shell is quite badly scored and pitted it has also VERY VERY slightly caught the crank,you cant feel it but you can see it. The other three shells look a little blue and have little spots in them,i guess thats down to lack of oil and overheating the bearing. Now what i want to know is does anyone reckon ill get away with another set of shells or is that a big NO NO? Im going to uprate the oil pump spring and replace the relief valve as it never had great oil pressure,always been just above quarter when cold and drops just below quarter when warm. Iv never done any bottom end work like this as if i get anything like this in at work itll get binned and a new engine fitted,thats the downside of a dealership i suppose.Any advice appreciated.

Edited October 17, 2010 by pugdamo

[jord294 94]

to do a proper job, a rebuild is my recommendation

[Anthony 1,003]

At the very least the crank will need to be checked, and I'd be surprised if it doesn't need regrinding at the very least - just putting new shells in and hoping for the best is chucking good money after bad.

[CosKev 16]

Time to XU10J4RS it

 

Edited October 17, 2010 by CosKev

[pugdamo 111 2 Cars]

Thanks for the replies,not what i wanted to hear but i do only want to do it once. Im rather limited for space,my garage is 309 sized plus an inch at the sides,which is the main reason why i dont want to take the engine out and rebuild it. I guess it will be back on the road with the trusty old 205 and a bit of a sleep in the garage for the 309 while i try to find somewhere that i can leave it for a bit and do the work. Im pretty sure the bottom end has been apart before as the big end caps are numbered so im guessing its been a problem in the past.

[pugdamo 111 2 Cars]

Time to XU10J4RS it

 

 

I was going to gti6 the 205 but this 309 turned up,im kind of wishing i did the engine conversion on my 205 now. Havnt really got the time or money to do an engine conversion now.

[Tom Fenton 1,548]

If you want to waste £100-odd then fit new shells and see what happens!

 

Otherwise the crank needs to come out and be checked and probably ground, plus really I would also take the rods out and have the bearing housings checked for round.