Any data I need to collect for the gurus before dropping?

[howard freeman]

Travis, Do you still have my phone #??? Call me.
Howard

[sobamaflyer]

Picture request - the one on the left is easily compressed by hand. On that tensioner the little disc inside is 4mm lower (at 27mm down from top of the piston) than the one on the right.

[howard freeman]

I see they are 053's. Both are low on oil, look how low the inner disc is. Send them up & I'll fix you up.
Howard

[howard freeman]

Travis, Got your tensioners. Give me a call please.
Howard

[howard freeman]

Repaired, Going out in tomorrows mail.
Howard

[sobamaflyer]

You rock! And thank you so much!

[bigel]

Howard, what's the magic brother? Care to share your techinque?

[howard freeman]

[sobamaflyer]

Glad I asked, seems my tensioners were in pretty sorry shape. Here's the rebuilt one courtesy of Howard:

[sobamaflyer]

I noted early on that some of my exhaust rocker shafts had noticeable "wiggle" in 1 direction. I've found out this is how they tend to wear and noted below an example of what I found.



And closeup of the wear pattern and the condition of the faces.






I believe my cams and rocker faces to be in pretty good shape, plan to leave them alone. But now I have to figure out if I should change out the bushings on the worn ones.

[sobamaflyer]

This weekend saw a great amount of work done (for me anyway) but lord was it a PITA.



I didn't have the p214 tool for the tensioners, in the end it was Bruce's (Flatpac6) screwdriver method that prevailed.


And a variation of the same with a 8mm Allen and my handy 3' iron pipe.


If I have to mess with these again I'm ordering the damn tool or making it out of a strip of steel. I have 930 part number tensioners but couldn't for the life of me find where I could put a pin or a finish nail to keep the piston down.

Timing was also it's own special load of fun for my first time but I managed to keep both sides right in the middle of the 0.9-1.1mm range on my dial guage.


I got all the rockers in and valves adjusted before I wrapped her back up. Trying to stay on a roll and get this damn thing running again.

[NeedSpace]

I have finally completely read through your thread....fantastic...I hope you have resolved the ticking. Couple of things:
1) Very impressed with the rebuild. I have never rebuilt a car engine (only mopeds and lawnmower engines many years ago). While my engine seems to be mostly OK, I know one day it'll happen. I was thinking of purchasing an old bug engine and having that be my first experience as it is cheaper and easier to handle and can probably carry it into my basement. Whaddya think? Did your bug experiences help you out?

2) I notice your little helper is about the same age as my little helper. Seeing him clean up with Gojo fills me with pride!

Cannot wait to hear the final video with the nice purr from this engine.

[sobamaflyer]

thanks!

on 1) no, after reading your own thread I'd say we have similar skill sets and general (if not trade experienced) mechanical aptitudes. Although the 1600's are similar in layout they are vastly different in practice and in tolerance, in retrospect the VW engines I tinkered with were taken down, replaced the (cheap) parts and seals and slapped back together, I didn't take (or I guess need to take?) NEARLY the effort I've put into this.

So I say no, save that $ and put it into yours when it's necessary.

[howard freeman]

Good job T. ! Get it finished so you can come to the yearly get together on March 23.
Howard

[sobamaflyer]

Thanks Howard - That's my goal, plan FI makes it's way back on this weekend.

[Sboxin]

Thanks for the great photos and write up.

A question: did you do anything special to seal the rocker shafts?

Regards,

[sobamaflyer]

I didn't and I hope I don't live to regret it but if I do I'm not skeered to take them out and add the RSR seals. FWIW I had no leaks before I took them out and they had no seals on them.

Howard helped me determine my wear on them was pretty well within spec so I chose to leave them alone all together, but it wouldn't shock me if I'm checking and servicing them 10-15k from now.

[sobamaflyer]

Thank you Gulf Coast's strange fascination with being drunk in the street! (Mardi Gras). They partied in the pouring rain, I got closer to a finished engine.

[NeedSpace]

Looking good. Love the color combo too!

[Smoove1010]

Originally Posted by sobamaflyer

I didn't and I hope I don't live to regret it but if I do I'm not skeered to take them out and add the RSR seals. FWIW I had no leaks before I took them out and they had no seals on them.

Howard helped me determine my wear on them was pretty well within spec so I chose to leave them alone all together, but it wouldn't shock me if I'm checking and servicing them 10-15k from now.

Did you spin the rocker shafts 180 degrees to put a fresh surface in position to bear the most load as I've seen other Pelicans suggest?

I agree with NeedSpace, the engine color combo looks great. The rocker covers look to be a bronze color, or is that the lighting in the photo?

GK