Engine dissassembly/reassembly

[beebopbogo]

As a kid, I've always loved taking radios and stuff apart and putting them back together to see how they work. If something electronic broke, I'd get permission from the 'rents to dissassemble it, after which I'd put it back together and it would quite often work afterwards (dust or connection problems, I'm assuming).

Anyway, I'm vaguely thinking about taking my MGB engine apart, cleaning it, and putting it back together again. I have tons of time, but very little money. I already have a basic tool set, but nothing to lift the engine. Is there some cheap way to lift the engine out of the compartment?

I've seen those tilt/lift things in the Moss Catalog... What are your suggestions on building some kind of wooden contraption from which I could hang the engine off of?

Adam

 

[Steve_S]

I've seen someone pull an engine with a $30 come-along hanging from his garage roof. He moved the car backward as he lifted the engine.

 

[Bugeye58]

Check with your local rental place. They should have an engine lift, (cherry picker) available for a decent rate. Rent it for a day to remove the engine, and then rent it again to reinstall.
If you are going to tear the engine down, you may want to look into purchasing an inexpensive engine stand. I have one from Harbor Freight that I paid 39 bucks for that has served well.
Before you get into this, make sure you have the appropriate manual to reference.
Jeff

 

[beebopbogo]

Cool. Thanks for the input. Sounds like it's perfectly doable. I'll make it next summer's project /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Salyers890]

set of measuring calipers and feeler gauges is a necessity from what i hear - never did it though. . . . . also murrays and pep boys have a tool loaner program which lets you essentially borrow specialty (EXPENSIVE) tools at no cost to you (just a deposit you get back) some things you will be able to borrow are a piston ring compressor, valve spring compressor etc. now, being limited on your moneys could put you out if you do this, due to the whole 'might as well' syndrome. example (might as well get new piston rings, might as well get new main bearings, etc.) if you can deal with that, all the best to you buddy - and i'm sure you'll have a blast.

have fun,
Mike

 

[V8Blazer]

Thats the truth though. If you figure it will cost you X amount of money to complete a project (cars particularly), multiply it by 3 and that is what it will cost. The nickel and dime, Mickey Mouse purchases add up.

 

[Salyers890]

not to mention if you open it up and find something wrong, you wouldn't want to put that part back in would you? just to take it out again to replace it? then your B is off the road for a while while you're gettin parts. . .. . again, i'm not trying to discourage you - just offering insights - a friend pulled is drivetrain on his midget to find half of one of his synchro gears(literally in half) laying on the bottom of the trans housing. his project? cleaning and painting engine bay and engine. projected cost = 20-30 bucks in paint and a bunch of time. estimated actual costs (haven't dropped oilpan on engine yet) = 150 for trans overhaul kit, then the paint, new Ujoints on the driveshaft, don't forget gear oil and motor oil, and at least a few gaskets. Disassembling the motor would be a GREAT learning process, but I would rather wait til prepared to do a rebuild.

One option would be to junkyard/ebay/classified for an engine like yours and take that one apart and put it together at your leisure without losing your driveable car in the meantime - then after you're done - you have an engine spare!!!! this might not be the best option - but certainly a decent alternative.

cool question and i could definitely see myself doing it though
Mike