Ian's S4s refurb

[Chillidoggy]

Running out of things to do.

[Escape]

13 hours ago, Chillidoggy said:

Running out of things to do.

You're welcome to come over any time, I'll have no problem finding things for you to do. 😉

Filip

[Chillidoggy]

47 minutes ago, Escape said:

You're welcome to come over any time, I'll have no problem finding things for you to do. 😉

Filip

 

Thanks for the offer, but I meant on the Esprit. The wife never has any problem finding me something to do! 😀

[Dan E]

Any Esprit?? 

[Sparky]

He confided in me that he'd love to do your Dry Sump cambelt & clutch.  For free.

[Dan E]

As you know Mr Lord has always been my favourite 

[Chillidoggy]

I’m getting stitched up, here.

2 hours ago, Dan E said:

As you know Mr Lord has always been my favourite 

I’m not surprised, my sick record is way better than Sparky’s, which is no doubt down to years of debauchery and alcohol abuse. God knows what he’ll be like when he gets to my age, you can’t do cam belts by remote control from a hospital bed.

[Sparky]

Fair cop.  I remain out of action since Christmas Day.  I may have to take up a non-executive position, and resume pointing.

[Chillidoggy]

 Engine removal started today at a snail’s pace due to a large-ish hangover and aching back that’s been plaguing me for weeks. Finally decided to do it now as I’m not getting any younger. And, as I detest the cold with a passion, I see the ambient temperatures are dropping, too. Great.

So, Plan A is a strip down and inspection first, take the cylinder head to Connaught Competition Engines for new guides and any other head work. I’m hoping to get away with the original pistons, but I intend to replace the liners if the originals are at all worn, which after 75,000 miles, I suspect they will be. Then a good clean up, especially the alloy bits so it looks smart, a good measure-up, and then rebuild, replacing whatever needs it. I’m hoping the costs will be manageable, unless of course I find anything dreadful when I get tucked into it.

Beyond that, the gearbox needs splitting and resealing where the supposed gearbox guru Chris Cole used effing RTV to seal it instead of the correct Loctite, hence the thing leaks. There’s no way I’m taking it back to him again, and I haven’t found anyone locally to do this yet. I might also consider an LSD at the time, but depends on how much they are.

[Giniw]

25 minutes ago, Chillidoggy said:

I intend to replace the liners if the originals are at all worn

I believe the original alloy+nikasil ones are no longer available? On the other hand I believe they can be reconditioned with a new nikasil layer, personally I would probably choose this option as apparently a steel liner wouldn't dissipate the heat as well as an alloy one? (it's just something I read, I am not sure of anything ^^)

 

35 minutes ago, Chillidoggy said:

 I might also consider an LSD at the time, but depends on how much they are.

About 1200€ inc VAT I believe? (and about 1000€ for a group buy (5+ ?) apparently)

But maybe the prices are not exactly up to date, it's just what I found with a quick web search

[Escape]

Splitting the gearbox is easy, we did it on my previous SE. I also used some generic liquid gasket I had (probably Liqui Moly) and it was fine, just needs to be applied with some care. Fitting an LSD is easy as well, but you will need to adjust the diff bearing for the correct crown to pinion tolerance.

Filip

[Chillidoggy]

Giniw - As far as I know, the original Nikasil liners are NLA. That is not to say they cannot be manufactured, but the cost would be prohibitive, and they always were expensive items anyway. I had already been in discussions with Westwood Cylinder Liners last year, and there are two options, cast iron, or ductile iron, either will be fine for the kind of power being produced. Cast iron £280 a set, ductile iron £560, both direct replacements for the Nikasil liners.

Thanks Filip. If it was just the gearbox, things would be different, but I already have more then enough to do with the engine, and as I never work quickly, I'd like to be able to drive the car this year! Plus if there is an LSD to be fitted, then I'd rather pay someone who specialises in such matters. Oh, and I just found out an LSD is £729.

[Chillidoggy]

The engine and box are now released, and ready to be lifted. I’m pleased with the lack of coolant on the garage floor and my sleeves this time around, and so far I’ve drained a large black bucket load. This will inevitably mean it’s hiding some more coolant somewhere, but at least the fuel tank balance pipe doesn’t have to be disturbed. I’m planning on getting the lifting done tomorrow, so I can split the engine and box and get the engine on it’s stand.

I still haven’t found anyone locally to do the gearbox, so I might end up having to do it myself.

[pete]

@dsvitesse1 is probably as close as anyone to you. Harry Martens

[Chillidoggy]

22 minutes ago, pete said:

@dsvitesse1 is probably as close as anyone to you. Harry Martens

Thanks Pete, but this isn’t a Citroen box.

[Giniw]

12 hours ago, Chillidoggy said:

I still haven’t found anyone locally to do the gearbox, so I might end up having to do it myself.

I may be wrong but I think I remember you had it rebuilt last year, hadn't you?

Edited January 26, 2020 by Giniw

[Chillidoggy]

6 hours ago, Giniw said:

I may be wrong but I think I remember you had it rebuilt last year, hadn't you?

Yes.

 

Everything ready for the lift out. As predicted, as soon as the angle of the car changed with the hoist just taking the load, the garage floor is awash with coolant.

I’d forgotten how much pipework and electrical string there is to remove.

[Chillidoggy]

Engine and box is now out, with help from my wife, garage bird Shan. Everything came apart with no drama, which of course it should have done given it’s been in the same state twice before. Damn, I wished I’d rebuilt it the first or second time around! The engine is quite a weight with all the ancillaries on it, deceiving for such a small capacity.

Disassembly will start in a few day’s time. The gearbox is still irritating me but I have a few ideas. 

[jonwat]

Great pictures, I can smell the oil 😂

[Sparky]

I can smell the cleaning products.

[tomcattom]

How much overall height is required to get the engine out of the Esprit if you do it in a garage? Looking at the photos it looks like you have used a ceiling mounted leccy hoist rather than a conventional engine crane @Chillidoggy?

Just wondering what the logistics will be like trying to get the engine out of mine when the time comes. My garage ceiling height is probably in the region of 2.25m I reckon.

[eeyoreish]

Is there something wrong with the engine and 'box?

[Bibs]

1 hour ago, eeyoreish said:

Is there something wrong with the engine and 'box?

Dusty?

[Chillidoggy]

9 hours ago, tomcattom said:

How much overall height is required to get the engine out of the Esprit if you do it in a garage? Looking at the photos it looks like you have used a ceiling mounted leccy hoist rather than a conventional engine crane @Chillidoggy?

Just wondering what the logistics will be like trying to get the engine out of mine when the time comes. My garage ceiling height is probably in the region of 2.25m I reckon.

I have an electric winch which is fitted to an RSJ in the garage loft space. I find it less space-hungry than a folding engine crane, and as the hook and slings can pass through the access hole in the ceiling, its more than enough lift to clear the rear wing, even with the car on the scaffold boards. The depth of the engine is about a metre, I think.

[Chillidoggy]

9 hours ago, eeyoreish said:

Is there something wrong with the engine and 'box?

Do keep up, Neil.