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DB2 engine

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Bruce Bowker

Bruce Bowker

Obi Wan
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I was watching the progrees of an Aston Martin DB2 engine rebuild. An interesting way the crank is placed. There are two halves of removable disks so to speak that hold each of the crank bearings and therefore the crank in place.

Unfortunately some repair shop had previously hammered these into place apparently not knowing they had a specific location and direction.

Not a cheap rebuild but an interesting setup of the crank.

Bruce
 
The latest set up on the process you saw,Bruce, is for the "cheeses" to be solid and line bored.Most engines are rebuit with this option as the old "cheeses" have lost their strength.
I had this done on the 2.6 engine in my DB2/4 MK1 and it made all the difference.
Curtis
 
Aren't there 3 "cheeses" ? How does one fit the midlle one if it is only bored. I can't see how the crank would fit through in that case. Two end ones would be easy but the center one. Maybe I don't remember exactly what I was looking at either. It was back in June.

Bruce
 
Hello Bruce,

the cheeses are split in half and bolted together with the bearings then the whole assembly is slid into the crankcase.
Aston's had terrible problems with the V12 Lagonda engine using that system as the block was aluminium as are the cheeses, unlike the straight six which had a cast iron block which expandes less than the aluminium cheeses, so keeping them tightly in position.

Alec
 
Sorry I wasn't too clear. They are still in two halves but solid (which the originals were not)

Curtis
 
Got it!!

Thanks
 
A few years ago I had the honour of rebuilding one of these engines and found it an interesting design. Twincam crossflow alloy head, dual SU's... Torque enuff to durn-near pretzel the chassis! We contracted to reconstruct the car. It (the WHOLE CAR!) was delivered essentially in bushel baskets of parts... DB 2/4 convertible... not a lot of info available for it at the time, but a members' club was very helpful. IIRC 49 total production, not many left (12 as I recon). Surprisingly, sussin' how the frame assembly for the top was s'posed to work was the biggest challenge. I have "in progress" photos of most of the work and could post a few.
 
Yes,it would be good to see some pics. I have been involved since the mid seventies until recently with these cars,racing and hill climbing.A big part of my life and cash!!
If it is a DB 2/4 MK1 then apprx 102 were made 56 for UK and 46 for export.As a matter of interest the Aston Martin Owners Club lists 82 drophead coupés (convertible) still known,and that is just members.So a good proportion still exist.
Curtis
 
Interesting. Pleased to hear there are more than I was led to believe.

See attached photo(s).
 
Thanks for the pics.I notice that after DB 2/4 there is a 2.
If by chance the car was a DB2/4 MK11 DHC then that would fit in with your figures.
About 15 made 9 for the UK and 6 for export.There are 14 known to the AMOC.
Curtis
 
Love the old Astons, new ones aren’t bad either! I have VERY fond memories of the 9 years I spent working for the company before I came to the States, all that “test” work we did… taking a Lagonda camping etc! Great fun.

I still drool at the mouth when I think about walking through the Service Department at the Newport Pagnell site, there was always something interesting going on – usually in the form of a bag of bits that someone was paying thousands to have restored. Then there was the Bond car from The Living Daylights tucked under a tarp in the corner. Walking through that department on a Saturday morning when no one was working, with the entire centre aisle packed nose to bumper with all the cars that were outside during the week and every bay having a car sitting in it in some form of repair or tune up. Still brings me out in goosebumps.

Happy days!

RG /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
 
My favorite is the 1964 DB5. Bond's car with or without the accessories. Fell in love with that car when I saw the movie and is one of my top favorite cars to this day.

Bruce
 
Curtis: I will have to go through more pix. Someplace inna 'archives' I have a photo of the I.D. plate.

RacingGirl: You reminded me of the experience of "testing" (i.e. driving it thru the "bedding-in" process) a V-12 Ferrari for a week, between hovel and shop after I'd done a complete rebuilt of the engine. A WONDERFUL 110 mile round trip "daily commute"... "Six Webers, NO WAITING!"

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif WOOOHOOO!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
VoilĂ  Bruce! A picture of my DB5 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Curtis
 

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Werry nice, Curtis. Beauty.

Somehow I seem to be of the opinion all "new" styling seems generic (and boringly similar) but the cars of the era of ours are somehow much more distinctive and ~remain~ alluringly contemporary in appearance.

Pro'lly just showing my age an' prejudice tho... I'll go an' take th' med's now: /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thirsty.gif
 
"Fishcars" ROCK, Dude!

It's an *Edsel* on speed!
 
[ QUOTE ]
VoilĂ  Bruce! A picture of my DB5 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Curtis

[/ QUOTE ]

What a great car. I don't know what it is but they are just super looking cars.
Bruce
 
Hello Curtis,

DB5\1379\R, (I noted the AMOC badge) and strictly speaking the 'Bond car' was a DB4 that became the DB5 prototype.
I had DB5\2066|R and did a lot of work on it, quite practical for the home mechanic to work on. I also enjoyed a few visit to the 'works', what a place. I don't have the same affection for the modern Aston's anymore, the spirit is just not there.

Alec
 
piman. You say that "strictly speaking the Bond car was a DB4 that became the DB5 prototype". Yes,that's right a DB4 series V vantage.In the book the Aston was a DB MK111 which Bond chose from the car pool in preference to a Jaguar as the Aston was an inconspicuous colour--battleship grey!!

Curtis
 
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