Getting Back On The Road

[5rightovercrest 0]

After removing the sump and inspecting the shells on my 1.9 8v and endevouring to replace them, I have managed to lose a cap for one of the mains. After doing a little research I have learned that the block is line bored so every engine has a slight variance and to match one up would be a nightmare in fact nigh on impossible.

 

I believe this means the only way to resolve the problem and get my car back on the road is to replace the entire bottom end. I had some work done on the head a few years back so would like to mate that to a replacement block, so is it literraly a new engine or just a case of mating it my worked head onto any bottom end?

 

Thank you

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

I would first search high and low, turn your garage shed house upside down to try and find the missing cap.

Otherwise as you say it's new bottom end time.

It is theoretically possible to get another cap and have it machined and line bored to repair what you have. But the cost of that will be massive versus getting a second hand block.

[5rightovercrest 0]

Thanks Tom, the short story is that a scrap man came into the mechanics garage next door to where I work and was working on the car. The parts I'd removed were in a box at the side of the ramp and he swiped the lot. The garage has since changed hands and has been cleared out so I know it's nowhere to be seen but can't prove he took it so it's definitely gone.

 

Will a 1.6 block be usable with the internals of my 1.9?

[welshpug 1,661]

yes it will be, you'll just need to swap everything inside it bar the mains caps, and check the liner protrusion.

[5rightovercrest 0]

Cheers, hopefully sourced a 1.6 for sensible money, going to collect next week. Anything I should look out for on the new block?

[mikeyd 13]

crack/ damage near water pump from missed spacer -- also horizontal cracks on block from frost damage + head stud thread damage if head is off

[koti 7]

If its just a bare block check where the liners sit- if there's corrosion around the liner seats you'll never get them to seal.

[5rightovercrest 0]

It's a complete engine and was apparently running prior to removal. Asked for some close up pictures last night which he said he didn't have time for which is slightly off putting. Never the less, I'm off to see it tomorrow night with my brother...the blind leading the blind!

[welshpug 1,661]

if its complete and unknown I wouldnt want to pay much,

the last engine that I saw running sounded ok, taking it apart pretty much everything was shot, 2mm end float on the crank, shiny liners and scuffed pistons.

 

I did end up using the block actually, was the only bit usable despite about 3" of orange silt around the linrrs!