Build Diary
Wednesday 18th February, 2004
The engine is looking quite bare now, the head is still complete but the block has been completely stripped. The majority of the components have now been stored in either black bin liners or cling film and nearly all of the parts have retained a protective layer of engine oil. The only parts that have been introduced to the cleaning process are the pistons and conrods, which have not yet been separated. The reason that they have ventured into the tub alone is that they have to be kept in the order in which they were removed from the block and together they almost fill the bath. I have chosen to use white spirits to clean the parts, partly because this will help reduce rusting once they are clean, but mainly because of the cost of specialist degreasers.
Pistons arranged in the order that they were removed from the block, 1 to 4 from left to right.
I had hoped to avoid having to have the cylinders re-bored, but it's looking increasingly likely that they will have to be. My engine guide, Rebuilding and Tuning Ford's CVH Engine, suggests that the block should be rebored as a matter of course when rebuilding. Initial examinations were hopeful, but there is a degree of wear and I would like to have the engine in an "as new" condition when it goes into the car. I have found a local engine specialist that have quoted £218.00 + VAT to have the job done. This includes having the block rebored, the cost of 4 new pistons and having the old conrods attached to the new pistons.
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