Rebuilding an 821 is EMOTIONAL

[Gmg31]

Looks like that car has a Weber and 4 branch tubular exhaust. They really get in the way of the coolant pipe exiting the swirl pot.  I've had loads of problems with mine because of that, it backs up and overflows and its a struggle to bleed.  I think it might also add heat to your carb which risks warming up the fuel.  I recommend re routing that pipe below the carb.  Its not easy but I noticed an immediate difference when I moved mine.   

[dakazman]

Skippy did you get all the liner seals with the complete gasket set?
I noticed you said gaskets several times with different vendors
I am on the same path enemy with the guides and other prombems with helicoils
Coming out of an a 844 hemi head.
Thanks JB an skippy
Dakazman

[jbcollier]

Usually liner seals are not included in an engine gasket set.  Someone is sealing them old ebay out of Australia and Meca Parts carries them as well.

[dakazman]

 Your the answer man JB
Thanks again
Dakazman

[skippopotamus]

Dakazman, the pistons and liners did come with a set of liner seals.  When I bought lower gasket set it also came with liner seals.
This is what they look like...
https://www.renault16shop.com/7700508016,7700508017,7700509556

[skippopotamus]

I ran into sort of a strange problem.  The grooves for the keepers on my new vales are not in the same place as the groove on my old valves.  So my keepers won't work with my new valves.
My old head was too banged up to reuse so I found another one and I'm hoping it has the right keepers.  If not the search will be back on!  This time for keepers.

[skippopotamus]

Might as well post some more carnage.  Happy Saturday ever-body!
My car has around 16,000 miles on it and I think 14,000 of them were at 6,500 rpm.

[dakazman]

Thanks for the info , I'll be reading your progress on the engine for sure.
Placed an order for some engine / body odds and ends so trying to stay on my wife's budget...
Keep the updates coming.
Dakazman

[skippopotamus]

I'm still out here plugging away on my Lotus.  The main bearings I got were not all STD size so that held me up a bit.  My crank was VERY tight.
Now I'm working on pressing my wrist pins back into my connecting rods and my current snag is there's no number on the big end of the connecting rod.  The shop manual has you put the connecting rod on the piston with arrow pointing down and the number on the operator's right if he or she is facing the piston. (pg.29)
My connecting rods don't have a number on them anymore.  They are marked so I'll have to use that and hope the marks are on the side where the number was.

 

[skippopotamus]

Two steps forward and one step back.
I got the crank and pistons installed but I think I'll be pulling the pistons and liners back out because of a leak.  I put water in the block and let it sit over night and sure enough there was a droplet on the bearing cap where rear main seal is.  Just a droplet but that's without any pressure.  I wiped it all down and watched it today but I didn't get another drop.  I tightened my liner holder downers a little and I'm letting it sit over night again but I'm not optimistic.  I carefully cleaned the block where the paper liners sit and I used a little RTV so this is a real bummer.  I'm trying to look on the bright side and telling myself at least I'm finding the leak now instead of after the engine is back in the car.

[BDA]

I'm trying to look on the bright side and telling myself at least I'm finding the leak now instead of after the engine is back in the car.

That's the only way to look at it! Good luck!

[jbcollier]

Very unlikely that the way you are holding the liners down will result in a proper seal.

First, meticulously clean the liner seat in the block: absolutely spic and span, bare metal.

Next trial fit the liners and measure the liner protrusion.  It needs to be relatively even from side to side and from cylinder to cylinder.  In addition to shimming gaskets, you may have to swap cylinders around to get things right.  Specs are in the manual.

Now coat the liner seats and bottom liner gasket face with a non-hardening sealant like hylomar.  Do not use a silicone sealer.  Assemble and you are ready to fit the head.

Do not rotate the engine until you do assemble the head or you may tear a liner gasket/shim'seal.

[skippopotamus]

Thanks JB.  I'll get some hylomar and try it again. 

[skippopotamus]

I ended up ordering Hylomar from Amazon and it'll be here by the end of the week.  I live in the SF Bay Area but couldn't find it locally.  Another lesson.   
I'm practicing setting my cam timing but I'm looking at possibly two marks.  I think it is mark #1 on my picture and mark #2 is a nick or scratch.
I'll use a brand spankin' new cam chain.  I'm just practicing with my old, grimy one.

[skippopotamus]

I'm thinking now that #2 is the timing mark.  Even though it looks like a scratch everything lines up better when I use it.