Technical 4x4 engine bay refurb.

[VmanC]

A little rattle in the engine of my tidy 4x4, since the piece of jubilee clip dropped in the engine while changing the plugs, has had me wanting to change the block for a while. The rattle sounded like it might be a tappet but I knew it wasn't that simple. The only way a tappet would be out would be because a valve got bent, but this would mean that the valve wouldn't close properly. If a valve wasn't closing the engine would be down on compression for that cyl. and, consequently, I'd have a lumpy tickover. The tickover was fine so I felt that the problem was lower down, big end, little end, or maybe a broken piston ring.
Strange that the piece of jubilee clip should cause this as it was such a tiny piece of metal, anyway, I had a spare engine with slightly lower mileage doing nothing so I decided I'd just change the block and be done with it. The head wasn't as good as the original which is why I'm only changing the block.

Now on the 24/09 ( this Saturday ) we have a local car show. The 4x4 and Buick are entered so I thought it would be nice to show off a restored engine bay, so while I'm changing the engine I'm also going over as much of the engine bay as I can in the time available to bring it as close to new as I can.

She will be assuming this position for a little while ..........



Engine and gearbox out, and in the back of Charmania ready to go off for soda blasting......



This is the gearbox now ready to go back in..........



This is the block I'm going to use. Original colour is grey so I will be trying to match this.........



Also started cleaning the bay itself, no rust anywhere is making this pretty straightforward, but messy..........


That's it so far. Phew!

.

 

[Pandarus]

Looking superb Vernon, will be concours by the time you have finished!

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Planning on doing similar with the 750L engine bay at some point, although won't be removing the engine.

Does look mint though Vern!

 

[Dragon Man]

yeah ill say. that looks really tidy.
i still want a panda... lol
some one sell me a fiat panda 4x4 that has good running gear but needs under side body work repair.. i want a project car lol

 

[rele]

Tidy as always

 

[VmanC]

Bit more progress today..................


Block and sump painted, head on, and mated back to gearbox. Also fitted a new clutch, I'd just caught the other one as it started to touch the rivets .

Re-painted a few brackets etc too, but still alot to do over the next couple of days.

 

[Dragon Man]

ha that looks like new.. good that you caught that clutch in time too, saves having to split the two again to fit another one in the future.

its looking really good, just wish i had this kind of project to work on lol

 

[aquamarine]

Vernon, that looks amazing! I've been working on our red 4x4 (now MOT'd - hurray!), but having seen this I'm starting to get tempted to go the extra mile (or several miles). Thought our car looked clean til I saw this - simply stunning! :worship::worship:

 

[panda1408]

Should look fantastic when done:worship:

I am planning on repainting my Sisley next year and after seeing this I might just have to do the engine bay too.

 

[Nathan126]

Wow! That looks amazing! Good job

 

[VmanC]

A couple more pics of todays progress........





Apart from cleaning the wiring and cables that's the engine bay ready to recieve the engine and gearbox. I didn't realise how long all this would take doing it the hard way, so now I have a little shopping list of equipment that will make things much easier next time .
Thanks for all your comments, I'm pleased to hear some of you will be doing the same .

 

[Dragon Man]

I'm pleased to hear some of you will be doing the same .

one day mate.. one day heh

 

[VmanC]

Vernon, that looks amazing! I've been working on our red 4x4 (now MOT'd - hurray!), but having seen this I'm starting to get tempted to go the extra mile (or several miles). Thought our car looked clean til I saw this - simply stunning! :worship::worship:

Congrats on the mot David . If your red 4x4 is basically sound I'd say go for it! This is made an enjoyable job by the basic condition of the car as it was. I'm finding that someone was very liberal with the body was at some early stage in its life and it's really paid off.

one day mate.. one day heh

Keep looking, they do come up from time to time .

 

[VmanC]

Well, no go but still show.

Really cracked (literally) on yesterday hoping to drive her home for the show today. Engine and box in, started connecting and fitting everything, but when I tightened up the inlet manifold bolts I heard a crack! only to find that the manifold had cracked at the end where the waterway is situated .
I have no idea why this should happen as both mating surfaces were clean. I didn't bother investigating there and then as it was going to be a late night anyway, but I wasn't going to spend any more time on a car that I couldn't now show. The blue CLX took it's place today and did a fine job, but there were so many quality cars there that it tended to shrink into the shadows .

Part of the fun of car shows for me is the drive to and from, but it was still nice to only have to go less than a mile down the road .

I'll post pics of the highlights for any one who's interested soon.

 

[Dragon Man]

sorry to hear about the inlet manifold. look on the good side, maybe it was about to go anyway. so at least you will be reassured with a new part.

ill look forward to seeing the pictures

 

[VmanC]

Some pics as promised, starting with my favourite, no not my Panda, a 1934 Nash that was stunning .......





















Last, but by no means least ...........

 

[rele]

Very nice cars,not many in Serbia in that condition.

 

[VmanC]

Very nice cars,not many in Serbia in that condition

.

Just your Pandas Rele .

 

[rele]

Now is just one panda.

.

Just your Pandas Rele .

 

[purple haze]

Jeez Vern, you really can't be trusted!.....I go away for two weeks and this is what you get up to...

Looks amazing........problem is I'm now tempted to do the same which our STD Bianca before she is resprayed....why oh why do you do this to me!?...