Gonzo
you give me way too much credit. this engine will hopefully be built to "run." i think taking this engine to that next level really takes some planning and i am not there yet. this is my first attempt at such a project. i have done a number of other cars to one degree or another but none to this degree. of course i am retired now so i have a lot more time to do more. and i really enjoy doing it.
having said that i am also aware that this car will never be a top end Healey. i would have needed to do a lot more than i am doing and spend a
lot more money than the car would probably ever be worth or i can afford. my goal for this engine, as well as the car, is a nice driver. to me the fun is in the build. if not for the internet i am sure i would not have taken on such a project. hence all my silly questions.
but i will be happy to share all i can. i certainly get enough help from others.
at this point i have gotten my crank, block and head back from the machine shop. my original hope was the engine would be in fine shape and i would just need to do some minor work to get it running. but when checking the main bearings, i knew that was not the case. the crank was turned to 10 over on the main and rod journals. the cylinders looked really good so we just reamed the top and honed them. they are standard bore. originally i thought they had liners in them but discovered they did not. just looked that way from the bottom of the engine.
at this point i have ordered bearings, rings, and a host of other parts to start this rebuild. i ordered them thru Tom's toys in oregon on the end of year sale. with Christmas coming i knew i was going to be very limited on time over the next couple of weeks. So right now i am just trying to get prepared. first thing is i wanted to get some paint on the engine parts before too much rust starts to form. So yesterday and today i have been painting. (some parts i had painted while waiting for the machine work to get done.) i realize i will probably have to hit it all again once assembled but i wanted to get some paint on now.
a couple pics
thats about it for now. i realize there will be some surprises. (see thread on cam bearings) but that is part of the fun. And expect lots of questions to come.... for instance i just read somewhere that the head bolts should not be run down to the manual spec but hand tightened. they could crack the block if torqued. not there yet so i have not worried about it. one step at a time.... ha