A weekends work

This past weekend, I worked on the AA engine- with the great help from my girlfriend!
We started out friday, where Rikke was kind enough to lap the last four valves, which were the worst - especially valve 7 from fore was very corroded in the seat:




But she got to it, and after some hours (and two swollen thumbs!), she finished the valves.

Meanwhile, I polished the crank shaft:

In order to prove to the coming owner, I photographed all cylinders, fore and aft side, to show condition after home honing. That way they them self can evaluate, if they want to take the engine apart again, to have it bored and honed professionally.
First cylinder fore:

First cylinder aft:

Second cylinder fore:

Second cylinder aft:

Third cylinder fore:

Third cylinder aft:

Fourth cylinder fore:

Fourth cylinder aft:

Saturday we started with me getting the block ready for the crankshaft, and Rikke cleaned the pistons and the oil pan of the old A engine, which was in the car, when I bought it.
The reason for the use of this particular oil pan is, that it is an early model oil pan with separate oil pump cover in the bottom, making it easier to change oil pump, if needed - and since I now have a spare oil pump from the B engine, I might want to put that one in, if things seems to need it.

No wonder, the white metal of the old con-rod bearing was missing! It was stuck to the oil pan sides!

Block ready for fitting of crank shaft:

Rikke washing the oil pan for lubricating of the connecting rods:

Crank shaft, first fit:

I then installed the adjustable push rods, the A cam shaft (thought of using the B, nut decided to get it running first, before souping it up), and finally the crank shaft.
Meanwhile Rikke took the front of the car apart:

Rikke then adjusted the push rods down, so we could mount the valves next:


And as the last thing saturday night, we put the first valve in the engine!

Sunday was off to a good start, but turned in to a bad day! We got all the valves mounted, and I then spend one and a half hours adjusting the valves to a correct gap, while Rikke kept washing covers for the engine.
Then idiot me tightened the piston ring compressor to much, so it slided in the cylinder, and as this was a first time for me, I though that the new piston rings just needed a little "nudge", so with the handle of a hammer, I knocked the pistons in - resulting in 2nd and 4th piston broke!
Then we took a time off, calling who might have a piston near by. Simultaniously, I found two four-leaved clovers and Rikke found one, so in order to give the engine good karma, we placed them on it, before spending an hour driving around in the search of a 0.080 oversize piston - but no luck.

One of the two broken pistons, with the clovers for better luck next time!

Idiot me, trying to save the otherwise new piston rings:


When we got home, I called Tommy from GreenFordA.dk, and he made sure to send new pistons monday morning.

So, not to waste to much time, we pulled out the B engine with help from the land lord mafia and their bobcat - which we have done a couple of times now, so this time it only took about 20 minutes.

Monday night is training night, so tuesday night I should be back in the garage, making all ready for the new pistons!

Keep 'em kruzin!
Dannerr

A first time for everything

So, I have now tried to lap my first valves! Done the old way with a rubber suction disc on a wooden handle, with lapping paste between valve seat and valve, and then rotate the handle between my hands.


In order to keep the valve in place, I had to loosely mount the valve guide, so I got the right center of rotation for the valve to adjust to the seat.


After finishing the first, I cleaned the rest of the valves with an electric drill and a steel brush:


The first valve and seat all done! Now 7 more to go!


Keep 'em kruzin!
Dannerr

A long week...

Friday I was on a bicycle cruise with the guys from Dusty Spokes Denmark and Copenhagen Custom Cruisers:

From left: me, Tim and Jesper:



Saturday I was back in the garage.
Started with emptying the block water pockets from rust, which was alot!



Then I spend the rest of the day, washing in one of those "you can almost drink it!" kind of engine cleaners, but to my big supprise it worked, when it had been sitting on the engine for about 10 minutes.



Sunday I went to a swapmeet, where I picked up another head for the AA.
Unfortunately I also broke a bolt in the rear end of the winter racer, so I spend the rest of the day sunday, all of monday, and even some of early thuesday getting it out! Not the plan to waste such a long time on the "new" car...

So tuesday I was back, cleaning up the engine, before honing it.












After cleaning the block, I made myself comfortable and started the long process of honing the cylinders by hand. Man, my shoulders was in for a workout!



Wednesday I took Annabel (the 4door 121) to the sheet metal guy, who will try to get it fixed.









I don't want to mess about with it, as the structural part are rusted through, so in this case, I'm letting a pro go to work. He has made 15 to 20 Amazons in his life, so I hope, he will do a nice job - he is getting paid, so he'd better!






And now I'm on my way home from work, to go back and continue!

Keep 'em kruzin!
Dannerr

New old styled water pump

A little while back I bought a new water pump for a model B head, and I got it (relatively!) cheap, so I thought, I'd better take it apart to see, if it was the old design for grease (most likely), or new sealing design.
It was the old version, but the quality looks really nice, so I'd buy one like it again for that price!






Keep 'em kruzin! Dannerr

Another night in the garage

Yesterday I went to the garage- I had remembered some old headlights, I bought at a swap meet, so I desided to try one of them on.




















And when it started getting dark, the moon came out again.



Keep 'em kruzin!
Dannerr