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Engine rebuild Q's

Posted By : Dan Owen, 30-Mar-2006, 09:02pm

Well the block is away being rebored & the crank is being reground. Now the major bits I am OK with but I do have a couple of questions.

1)I was thinking of giving it a lick of paint before it goes back in, what colour were these originally?

2)how do you change core plugs, with what tools, and should I use a sealant? Couple of them are weeping and I would like to change the
lot, for peace of mind and so I can shift the crap in the water spaces-when I took the drain plug out of the block I thought at first the hole didn't go through there was so much silt behind it.

3) does anyone know of a souce of diz advance springs? Someone did tell me (forget who, sorry!) but I have lost the bit of paper I wrote it down on...

Well that's all I can think of at the moment, thanks in advance!

Followups :

Engine rebuild Q's

Posted By : John Davies, 30-Mar-2006, 10:23pm

Dan,
Original engine colour? Don't know, don't care! But a match to the body colour would be nice, if you can keep it clean. If not, black. Engine paint comes in all colours.

Core plugs. Drive a screwdriver through and wrench it out, using a wood block to protect the edge of the seat. Clean up the seat carefully, avoiding scratches. There are two sorts of plug: dish, like a saucer, that goes in convex side out; and cup, that are like a frying pan with a flat bottom, upright sides, goes convex side IN. The first is, I think, now obsolete and needs more skill to fit.

Both are a push fit into the hole. Both are seated with a hammer blow. The first onto the crown of the dish; the second onto as big a socket, or similar, that will fit into the plug. The use of sealant is contraversial. The old sealant was shellac! (Literally, beetlejuice!) Today, some say none, some use Hylomar, I favour Araldite.

Moss used to sell dizzie springs, don't know if they still do.

Hope that helps you!

joHN
- Engine rebuild Q's
  
  Posted By : James Carruthers, 30-Mar-2006, 10:34pm
  
  I like cast iron grey for engine colour
  
  Nice and dark grey with a hint of bronze colour.
  - Engine rebuild Q's
    
    Posted By : Vin Poonwassie, 30-Mar-2006, 11:51pm
    
    yellow for engine........and anything else you care to mention........
    - Engine rebuild Q's
      
      Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 31-Mar-2006, 01:15pm
      
      Bright red is the best... with a black for the head and a shiney crome rocker cover... Oooo, Hmmm, luvverly!
Engine rebuild Q's

Posted By : Chris Taylor, 31-Mar-2006, 09:45am

Pretty sure engine block and head were black. Not sure if it is still made, but Hermetite used to make several gloss colours of engine enamel which look pretty good.
On a 1200, the rocker cover is metallic bronze/copper colour. A suitable aerosol of a body colour should be suitable. 13/60 rocker covers were metallic silver.
- Engine rebuild Q's
  
  Posted By : Aaron Tucker, 31-Mar-2006, 10:31am
  
  Block in black and the head as red as you can get it !!, with a shiney silver rocket cover and silver carbs bling it up and keep it nice and clean
  - Engine rebuild Q's
    
    Posted By : Dan Owen, 31-Mar-2006, 01:15pm
    
    Opened a can of worms here I think...
    
    The general idea was if the block is painted up in a bright(ish) colour it might be easier to work on in future ie things would stand out against the block also would be easier to spot oil leaks etc.
    
    I did have a feeling black was original but thought I would ask you guys, I do have some black engine paint but may go for red or something.
    
    Thanks guys! PS if anyone has bought diz springs recently do let me know.
    - Engine rebuild Q's
      
      Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 31-Mar-2006, 08:50pm
      
      Best engine I ever had was my first Spitfire, which was painted a lovely shade of metallic gold.
      Colin
- Engine rebuild Q's
  
  Posted By : David Powell, 31-Mar-2006, 08:51pm
  
  Bling.
  
  Engine rebuild Q's
  - Engine rebuild Q's
    
    Posted By : David Powell, 31-Mar-2006, 08:53pm
    
    Bling.
    
    Engine rebuild Q's
    - Engine rebuild Q's
      
      Posted By : Dan Owen, 01-Apr-2006, 03:01pm
      
      Actually quite like that... What was it called on the tin?
      
      Also have another Q, just can't think what it is... only think of it at awkward times and promptly forget it!
      - Engine rebuild Q's
        
        Posted By : Dan Owen, 02-Apr-2006, 04:32pm
        
        Just thought of the other Q...
        
        I currently have an agreed value on the insurance of &163;1100, how much extra should I be looking for with a rebuilt engine rather than a tired, rattly old one?