Big Ends & Mains

[wizzo337]

Bit of an odd one.
Has anyone on here ever attempted to change the Big End & Main Bearings with the engine still in the car, (1.8T 1.8 K Series). (I used to do this, back in the day, on fords and vauxhalls in my youth.
I know the head and sump will have to come off and the crankcase will have to be split.
I just wondered if anyone on here has ever attempted it before I "have a go", I will also get some photos of my progress if / when I go for it. I've got a couple of spare engines I can "dry run" on which I have had in bits before, so I think I have a reasonable idea what to take off.
At least if I do have a shot the engine will be lighter if I do have to remove it.
Thanks in advance for any info.

[Lovel]

Originally Posted by wizzo337

Bit of an odd one.
Has anyone on here ever attempted to change the Big End & Main Bearings with the engine still in the car, (1.8T 1.8 K Series). (I used to do this, back in the day, on fords and vauxhalls in my youth.
I know the head and sump will have to come off and the crankcase will have to be split.
I just wondered if anyone on here has ever attempted it before I "have a go", I will also get some photos of my progress if / when I go for it. I've got a couple of spare engines I can "dry run" on which I have had in bits before, so I think I have a reasonable idea what to take off.
At least if I do have a shot the engine will be lighter if I do have to remove it.
Thanks in advance for any info.

With the engine in situ all you can do is replace the big ends. The lower halves of the engine need to be split to access the mains, basically it’s a complete strip down if you want to change the mains.

[Lovel]

If you have limited resource to lift the engine, I have done it once by removing all the ancillaries in situ such as head etc, helps minimise the final lift from the car, and remaining lower crankcase can be removed from the gearbox by just one person. The best technique to remove is removal of the front end, bumper, radiator, condenser etc and drive shafts,lower ball joints, then refit lower ball joints and then roll the car backwards when you take the weight of the complete engine. Easy job tbh.

[Mike Noc]

Originally Posted by Lovel

With the engine in situ all you can do is replace the big ends. The lower halves of the engine need to be split to access the mains, basically it’s a complete strip down if you want to change the mains.

Can't you use the old dodge of removing the ladder rail and then spin the main bearing shells above the crank out by using a pin in the crankshaft oilway hole and turning the crank Gary?

[wizzo337]

Originally Posted by Mike Noc

Can't you use the old dodge of removing the ladder rail and then spin the main bearing shells above the crank out by using a pin in the crankshaft oilway hole and turning the crank Gary?

That's very similar to what I used to do on older engines, Ford Escorts and Cortinas. Sump off unbolt the mains and spin the upper shells over, reversing the process to fit the new ones. Unfortunately on the K Series you have to split the crankcase, very similar to many motorcycles, I just wondered if anyone had ever managed to split the crankcase on a K with the engine fitted to the car. Being an aircraft technician, I'm quite accustomed to doing, "the impossible".

[COLVERT]

If you need to change those bearings due to a lack of oil then the crankshaft will probably need a re-grind too.--

Closely followed by the pistons, rings and bores.----With, maybe the same lack of oil.---


If none of the above why do you think you need to change those bearings ??

[wizzo337]

Originally Posted by COLVERT

If you need to change those bearings due to a lack of oil then the crankshaft will probably need a re-grind too.--

Closely followed by the pistons, rings and bores.----With, maybe the same lack of oil.---


If none of the above why do you think you need to change those bearings ??

When I bought the car, it had HGF and had been run with the mayo mix for a few days, consequently the bottom end is rumbling a bit, it still drives ok, it just rumbles a bit.
I'm a bit stuck for space at the moment, got 3 MGs and a truck so not stuck for transport and am able to take my time with this car. I may well end up doing a rebuild, I'm semi retired so have loads of time to experiment.

[COLVERT]

Originally Posted by wizzo337

When I bought the car, it had HGF and had been run with the mayo mix for a few days, consequently the bottom end is rumbling a bit, it still drives ok, it just rumbles a bit.
I'm a bit stuck for space at the moment, got 3 MGs and a truck so not stuck for transport and am able to take my time with this car. I may well end up doing a rebuild, I'm semi retired so have loads of time to experiment.

I'm 85 and totally retired and seem not to have any spare time at all these days.-----Too busy to die.---