Engine Rebuild question

[JPSmit]

Will hopefully be starting to rebuild the Vauxhall engine soon. Today I was cleaning parts and got thinking about prep. I know that you need to use a good assembly lube (recommendations welcome BTW) But, should I be soaking them in oil beforehand? I have seen people "pickle" tappets that way - any thoughts?

 

[Guest]

Tappet soak is to prime hydraulic tappets, no need if they are solid. Use assembly lube for assembly lube, be liberal on the cam lobes and tappet faces. I pour 2 stroke over all of the rings after they are seated on the piston before I install it.

I once watched a guy build a 454 with old oil and dirt from the tear down pan the block was sitting on for assembly lube. It started knocking right after he cranked it.


I thought you were selling that thing...

 

[JPSmit]

I thought you were selling that thing...

Likely but, at this point I am putting it together first - gives me something to do, it deserves to be rebuilt before it turns into the neverending project of doom (I am already the third owner of it apart) and, it will be worth more running.

 

[PAUL161]

JP, Any photos of the car? PJ

 

[JPSmit]

JP, Any photos of the car? PJ

The day it came home. BTW they made 4606 GT's between 1968-1970. The figure there are about 65 left. They only came to Canada for a year, never the USA and, were Britain's attempt at a muscle car - 2 liter slant 4 - 110hp instead of 1200 cc 60 horse. I came as an abandoned project - with the body already done

 

[PAUL161]

A slant 4 engine, that's interesting. Only slant engines I knew of were the Chrysler 6s. Some people not in the know, thought because they were laying a little side ways the cylinder walls would wear out fast on the bottom side. Funny how people think. That engine turned out to be one of the best engines Chrysler ever made. Good luck with the car. It shouldn't be hard to sell when done. Unique color combo, nice, but unique. Are they Rostyle wheels? PJ

 

[Mickey Richaud]

A slant 4 engine, that's interesting. Only slant engines I knew of were the Chrysler 6s. PJ

Don't forget the TR7's!

 

[PAUL161]

Never saw a TR7 engine Mickey. Didn't know they were on a slant. A friend had a TR6, but I was not much into Triumphs, only their motor cycles. PJ

 

[bobhustead]

I like STP for the bearing inserts. You can apply it with a squirt type oil can and it is thick enough to be persistent.
Bob

 

[DNK]

Looks like an Opel

 

[JPSmit]

A slant 4 engine, that's interesting. Only slant engines I knew of were the Chrysler 6s. Some people not in the know, thought because they were laying a little side ways the cylinder walls would wear out fast on the bottom side. Funny how people think. That engine turned out to be one of the best engines Chrysler ever made. Good luck with the car. It shouldn't be hard to sell when done. Unique color combo, nice, but unique. Are they Rostyle wheels? PJ

Yes, they are Rostyles - and same bolt pattern and size as my midget though larger studs.

The engine was to have been part of a larger Vauxhall development of a diesel and a V8. Only the slant four came of it but the diesel connection means the block is immensely strong. Blydenstein Racing ( the "cooper" of Vauxhalls got 250 horse out of them) virtually the same engine is the Lotus 907. More info here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Slant-4_engine the 907 was also used in the Jensen Healey.

the colour is Tasmin Orange. The colours were all named after tracks: Monza Red, le Mans Blue, Elkhart Yellow, Monaco White, Sebring Silver Starmist and Goodwood Green. The orange is the rarest and in fact the keeper of the registry was adamant that there were no Tasmin Orange cars till the PO of mine found two here in Canada with original paint. (Mine was originally Monza Red) and, the stripes and bonnet colour were from the factory.

and, yes Opel = Vauxhall = Holden = GM same company and while not the same cars, there is a family resemblance - Torana in Australia too.