A Photo Diary of a top-end rebuild. Or, The Tale of a one-armed rebuild.
 

Perhaps others will benefit from this thread in the future….

I've decided that now is the time to address the guides on my 3.2. I've pushed my luck enough. Now is the time to rebuild the heads. Better now than after a valve looses a head. Now here's the trick. I'm two months post-op for rotator cuff surgery. I have my MD's clearance to proceed, but dang if the tenderness doesn’t get in the way.

• Day one: A slow start. Wilke3169 in Charleston is nice enough to lend me the yoke, engine stand, and more. On top of that, he delivers the stuff to my door! My shoulder is still pretty sore. I’ve committed myself, but dang I hurt…
• Day two: Nothing interesting for photos. Perform basic analysis:
  • Engine has 98,000 miles.
  • Engine run fine, except,
  • Oil consumption is 1 qt/250 miles.
  • I have a notable amount of "fluff" on the magnet oil drain plugs.
  • Compression numbers (warm) are: 1) 180 2) 190 3) 180 4) 190 5)190 6)180.
  Unhook all connections under the engine lid. The weather is not exactly motivating. t’s a dog-nose day: cold and wet.
• Day three: Got the engine and trans disconnected. I fired up my impact gun to spare my shoulder. Good decision except for one thing. It’s too freakin’ easy to switch from “reverse” to “forward” (more on that in a bit). The Harbor Freight ATV jack? It rocks! I placed a small sheet of plywood on top of it, and the engine/trans removal was a snap. I decide that rather than evicting “The Bride®” and her Jag for a few days, I’ll wait until the coming weekend to remove and separate the engine / trans.

Damage to date:
1) One dead twenty-year-old air ratchet.
2) Three stripped half-shaft bolts, removed via a chisel and BF hammer. (This is what happens when your impact wrench unwittingly slips from “reverse” to “forward”.)
3) One reverse light switch, DOA. (No wonder they never worked before.)

Here's the photo documenting where things are right now...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1201049417.jpg

This is going to be awesome. Don't leave out a step :)

Thanks for sharing this, I'm getting a little intermitten smoke from my 87 3.2 at stop lights so I know the day of addressing valve guides is getting closer, probabaly when the clutch goes. I look forward to reading your progress and seeing what you decide on the "while your in there" delima.

I am in the same position with my SC motor. I am using about just under 1 quart of oil per 250 miles (although I do have some serious valve cover bolt leakage).

I am an obvious noob ... what happens when a valve looses a head? Will it result in a more expensive rebuild?

Also, major props to Wilke3169 (Kevin). He is certainly one of the nicest guys I have met. He has helped me numerous weekends - in fact he helped be install my carrera style oil cooler a couple of months ago. Great guy! It doesn't surprised me that he delivered that stuff to your door.

Best wishes and please continue to keep us updated.

Cheers,
Craig

It will be way more money. When the valve breaks, the head from the valve falls into the compression chamber. By the time you turn the motor off, you'll need at least a head. Probably more.

The exhaust valve sheds heat via the guide. As the clearence increases, the valve gets hotter. Too hot and it fails.

Bear with me on the progress. So far the going is slow. And I too wonder what I'll decide to do "while I'm in there". ;)

Oh goodie:D:D:D:D:DSUBSCRIBED:D:D:D:D

I'm on the brink of this myself. 160K and 1 qt/ 700 miles consumption

I want to subscribe to track the progress. I do believe your major motivation to get done will be the owner operator of that beautiful Jag. Although she is a very nice lady it won't be long before she tires of the sights, sounds, and smells associated with said project.:)
You do know that I would be happy to lend a hand when you reach a point that requires it. You will certainly enjoy this rebuild. Rewarding and educational all wrapped into one...

sub'd

Subscribed!

Subscribed

Subscribed.... Good Luck!

100K valveguides shot is atypical. will follow your rebuild.

Truer words have never been written! My wife continually reminds me that she married a "golfer" and now lives with a "stinky" mechanic. We have two grandkids (boys) that she adores. I consistently remind her that I too am just a boy! Or is it she who reminds me? :confused: Whatever she says;)

Add me to your list of progress... The problem is always. "while I'm there" add ons...

Heck, I wanna see it too. Subscribed

subscribed.

Hah!!!!! As if you could evict “The Bride®” anyway. You're not fooling me.

Good Luck Rob. Let me know if I can help out.

John

For those who have jabbed me in the past for removing the engine without the transmission - on older cars, the CV joint bolts can be easily stripped. I did this on a car once, and it took me about 30 hours to get them off after that (I have better tools for this now).

-Wayne

Subscribed.... Good Luck!