Artie's Engine

[Artie]

Well, I don't have pics yet, but all of the major assemblies and parts have finally come in and all I can say is WOOHOO!!!! The shop called me today to inform me that they installed the piston rings on the pistons, rods and wrist pins are installed and the pistons are in the liners. he was going to put the crankshaft in today, but I forgot to order the thrust washers and the front and rear main seals so I had those overnighted from JAE< Thank God for Jeff! You rock man!!!! and I will get some snapshots of that tomorrow along with the pistons etc! We may finally have a working engine before too long my friends!!!! Pics to come, stay tuned! I know it's been a long wait!

Artie

[silverfrost]

Hi Art,

Glad to see such a great looking esprit will be hitting the road again soon,

Seems ages mate since the engine came out but at least its nearly done,

Good luck with the remainder of the build and hope it all goes well

Regards danny

[Artie]

Danny,

Thanks Mate! The progress had been slowed by sending the engine off to Michael's Motorsports which the motor sat untouched for the better part of 3 months! Anyway, I have some pictures but the X has the SD card reader so I'll need to go get a new one today. I'll have more pics tonight and will post what I've got!

Artie

[Artie]

Well, Okay, here are some photos of the build so far. The last two days have been fever pitch. Dan(my builder) got the crank with new .0010 shells for the mains. Crank thrust set and main bearing/girdle torqued and set. He also assembled the piston/rod assy's and degreased and cleaned the freshly re-Nikasiled liners for installation.

i

Today Dan, got a huge amount done! He got the pistons and liners in(although I was working so I missed the installation), head gasket and head on and torqued. Front pulley and water pump on and some accessory brackets for the A/C and Vacuum pump. I need a new oil pump shaft, oil pump pickup tube and basket and a new olive to install the pickup with and we should be able to bolt the rest of the engine together by next week! Hopefully Jeff gets these other bits in the next few days after the Holiday! WOOHOO!

Hopefully I'll have the beast back up and running by XMAS!!!!!

[mike_sekinger]

Good stuff Artie.

Great that you

[Artie]

Mike,

Thanks mate! The progress is still too slow for me, wish I had more detailed pictures like yours but someone's got to work to pay for all of this stuff! Hopefully we'll both be motoring soon! I've been watching your rebuild, just wish mine had 4 more cylinders like yours!!!!

Artie

[fjmuurling]

Artie,

just build another engine for your car then you have 8 cylinders. (just kidding). Nice to see the project is finally coming together.

Freek.

[Artie]

Freek! Thanks dude! Yeah right! I'm hoping to have the remaining parts by the end of next week and have the engine done by the following week! I'm very excited to get it all back together!

Artie

[t70]

Great to see the progress man!!!!! :thumbup:

[lotus4s]

Looks good Artie!

You did rebuild the water pump right? (or new)

[Artie]

No, should I get a new one? Jeff didn't mention the need to do this. Crap!

[t70]

Jeff rebuilds them for fairly cheap... or you can buy the rebuild kit.. but be careful, there are two different kinds of water pumps for the engine (it's a matter of a slight change in bearing size)

[Artie]

Cheap is relative at this point! I'll check with him tomorrow to see if I should replace it before I put the motor back in. Shouldn't be long now!

Artie

[talon]

Any more progress on this Artie?

[Artie]

Yes Russ,

The new cam is installed and all exhaust and intake valves are shimmed and specked. We are waiting on the oil pump basket and the oil pump shaft from JAE, which according to Jeff at JAE we should get them by Wednesday of this next week. If that is the case, then we should have the engine back home by Friday!!!!! Fingers crossed!

Artie

[Artie]

Okay,

The cam boxes are on, new inlet cam installed and everything shimmed and set. We are waiting on the oil pump pickup tube and basket, and the oil pump jack shaft and she'll be back together! Hopefully by end of this week. Here's some of the latest pics.

Artie

[fjmuurling]

Yes finally the finishline is in sight, i'm happy for you.

Freek

[Artie]

Yay, Yay! Yes indeed! I'm like a kid in the candy store!

[Artie]

Okay! Well, the oil pump shaft and the oil pump pickup tube and basket have arrived. My builder will put the oil pump together monday and should have the engine done! Tuesday seems the day my babies engine will be ready to bring home! I will post lots of pics on the joyous occassion. Then be prepared for an in depth reinstall documentation!

Artie

[Artie]

She's Home! Sorry it's blurry, it's 7 degrees F. today! BRRr

Here she is ready for pickup! All done, finally-6months for this!

Chassis all clean and engine bay awaiting the new arrival!

Okay, putting some of the sensors on, knock sensor, oil pressure sending unit and the turbo oil feed line installed.

Exhaust manifold, 2200degree satin black powdercoating-ready to install!

More pics to follow!

Artie

[aerobat]

Looking great, and very happy for you Artie !

[mike_sekinger]

Excellent stuff Artie.

You

[Artie]

John,

Thanks! I'm now slowed up waiting for a new set of hoses from JAE. I will replace all the old rubber hoses with molded silicone reinforces hoses. I am hopeful I'll have her sitting in the chassis before xmas!

Mike,

Wish I could have done the build myself, don't have the know how or expertise like you do! Would have been nice to know how to build the engines! I can do anything but build the engines and trans', I leave that to the experts!!!!

Artie

Ceramic coated high lustre aluminum intake manifold with air fittings and IAC installed and Water temp sensor.

Vacuum Pump installed

New Lightweight flywheel S4s style, ready for my S4s clutch! Stretched a bolt so that's why one is missing. New one is on it's way! This is the JAE flywheel-Very nice piece!

Close up of the timing markings on the flywheel, I painted the lines and numbers to show up better later on for easier reading when changing the timing belt.

That's all for today. I plan on putting the thermostat housing on tomorrow, along with some other odds and ends. I'm kind of slowed while waiting for the new JAE silicone hose kit for the engine coolant hoses and the new flywheel bolt. I will get these things Thursday. More pics to follow! Thanks for your patience fellas!! WooHoo!

Artie

...and I'll be compiling all of my receipts and parts needed to do a 4 cylinder build writeup. To do these engines right, it's not cheap! At this point I have well over 10K US in the parts and engine labor. Not including the shipping charges! Although I wasn't planning on such an extensive or expensive build, I think it will be well worth it.

I will video the maiden start and voyage for the whole Esprit community to see!

You guys have been a huge inspiration to me! Many of you may not know but, this last year has been wrought with pain and heartache for me and my family as my wife of 12 years left me and my kids! Mainly because of my car ADDICTION! I have tried to immerse myself in other things and almost sold both of my cars for her. Once I realized she was gone for real, I acquiesed to MY desires and kept my cars, and decided to start the engine build in earnest. Thank you guys, you've been a tremendous group of friends and I am endebted to you all for your dedication to these wonderful cars! Thanks!

Artie

[t70]

YAY ARTIE!!!! Great to see such progress after such a year!

[esp88]

Nice Pictures and great progress Artie !

Nice flywheel etc.. I woud like to do such nice work on my Epsirt !

Y.Hotta