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[Webby the Bear]

Hi guys, hope you're well.

Ok, so i've recently had new top end (heads, cam seals, fannymould gaskets etc etc) and i was thinking to myself, ''what can i do to preserve the engine for many many years''.

Now i have two cylinder heads (L and R) that i am refurbing... new valves, new seals and possibly new guides. either way they will be in great condition once i've finished.

SO. i love the idea of having these heads fitted in 4 years time with 3L cams (really wishing i'd have done it this time but money and impatience got in my way) when it needs a new belt and also renewing the components bottom end as well.

my question (or as i prefer to look at it... item for discussion) is this....

would it be better to simply buy just replacement pistons and rings OR with the car then being about 20 years old would a whole new bottom end be the best? so include crank, oil pump etc etc

all this bearing in mind i can buy bits 'n' pieces over the 4 years......

[Kevin Wood]

I think most engines outlast the bodywork they are fitted in, so bodywork is where you need to focus, IMHO.

[tunnie]

Yeah, I need to do similar with my 2.2, at least underneath. "outside" body work is fairly good nick, considering it's miles.

I need to get that thick black tar/paint stuff and coat the underneath at some point

[Webby the Bear]

I think most engines outlast the bodywork they are fitted in, so bodywork is where you need to focus, IMHO.

Yeah the body work is an issue.... but i was considering that a given

is it even worth doing the bottom end? just struggling to see how rings are going to last for years and years bearing in mind what they do 

[martin42]

So long as you do regular oil changes etc should be fine for years to come. But anything unforeseen can happen tho 

[MR MISTER]

Why don't you buy a really cheap omega, whip the engine out and 'play' with it for four years? You'd have time to turn it into a virtually new engine.

[Webby the Bear]

Why don't you buy a really cheap omega, whip the engine out and 'play' with it for four years? You'd have time to turn it into a virtually new engine.

That, my son, is an excellent idea.

Is it possible to just buy the cylinder blocks? to save a bit of dough 9as i have the heads, manifolds etc)

[MR MISTER]

Some of these cars go for next to nowt. If you could get it home you could probably weight it in for virtually what you paid.

[Webby the Bear]

Some of these cars go for next to nowt. If you could get it home you could probably weight it in for virtually what you paid.

......whilst keeping the engine??

[MR MISTER]

Some of these cars go for next to nowt. If you could get it home you could probably weight it in for virtually what you paid.

......whilst keeping the engine??

Well......yeah. That's the whole idea.

[MR MISTER]

You could turn yourself into an old school mechanic by cutting things in half to see how the work.

I did that with the first watch my dad bought me. He was not amused.

[Webby the Bear]

Hahahaha idiot!

i've not really any need to cut things open as i more or less know how stuff works.... its just from the view of having a new engine to in to keep her going as long as possible

[The Red Baron]

it just so happens i have a spare 3.0l block sitting in my back yard. 

[Webby the Bear]

ok RB that sounds interesting.... although i dont have the dosh for it at the mo what with it being almost crimbo 

how much would you want for said block?

[albitz]

I dumped a good 3.0 bottom end earlier this year because no - one wanted it. 
How many miles has your engine done ? If you keep on top of servicing the internals should normally be good for 200,000 + so I wouldn't worry about rebuilding the bottom end, unless you just want to do it for a project / experience.