Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Off Topic Subjects => Topic started by: dakazman on Friday,April 04, 2025, 05:53:29 PM
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How deep should I go into an engine that has 185k miles on it? I pulled the engine for overheating and oil leaks from the backside of the engine. No burning oil or smoke.
I noticed I can buy an overhaul kit which includes piston rings bearing gaskets timing gears and guides and tensioner for $469. Available std 10- 20 or 30 over. 2.4L 16 valve 2014 engine.
Do you think it’s overkill to do the pistons and rings? There is no ridge in the liners. I’ll pull the valves and check them .
Pulling the head was a learning process having T55 torx bit bolts down 2” into head so I had to purchase a 6”. 1/2 drive to break the heavily torqued bolts.
Dakazman
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Just Hone and re-ring?
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Cazman, ( great name btw)
That’s what I was thinking 👍👍. New bearings too.
Dakazman
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LOL
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I found out it’s better to order an overhaul kit than buying separate pieces, unfortunately it’s more work than I expected. The kit come with pistons, rings, all bearings and seals, and gaskets . Even the valve seals . 24 valves 😵💫. The Renault valve spring tool I made worked like a charm. I noticed the keepers are all the same.
I may have gotten the wrong valve stem seals in the kit installed ones are only on stem guides, new ones are cup like.
So I’m off to the races in tear down mode. Pistons out , valves out .
Dakazman
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Probably should do a valve job too now.
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Yep,
Then I need to see how to press out these wrist pins. Luckily, I have four new pistons.
Dakazman
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Finished lapping in 16 valves and honing cylinder walls and cleaning crank. Now the hard part, installing the wrist pins in the new pistons. Using a rig I built for the Renault pistons now modifying it to these pistons.
Everything on a slight hold because the gasket kit that is sealed and not returnable if opened has the incorrect rear crankshaft seal. So all my valve seals and valve cover are being held hostage until I get someone on the phone at Amazon.
Dakazman
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I worked on the wrist pin installer today. How do you press fit a pin thru a piston and center the rod perfectly with a .066" gap inside a piston. I halved that dimension to .033" but the inside of the piston is tapered.\
I will be heating the rods cherry red and sliding in the wrist pin that came out of the freezer.
Should I do a test of the process minus the piston to check the force?
I'm just a novice to all this but have new admiration for machinist.
D'man
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What a PIA ,
It could have been worse but my friends here taught me some basics., orientation is / was the key to getting this part of the rebuild completed.
Now just to add some rings and reevaluate using some bolts that the manufacturer recommends replacing. Who would replace the head bolts on a crossflow? Or connecting rod bolts? Is this the throw away society?
166 ft pounds of torque on crank is required!
Just venting
D’man
PS, all valves in and lapped , another PIA!
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Glad a Twink has floating pins and bushed rods!
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Pistons installed, lower crankshaft extension, oil pump and head on😃. Dodge threw in a few gotcha’s when assembling, but worked through them one at a time.
No polishing just paint! 😂 . Hopefully I’ll get it back in the car by this weekend. Temperature expected to be about 97-98 f by Saturday and Sunday . Summer is back!
Dakazman
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After a month and a half , engine and transmission ready to go back in 😃
Very happy it's finally ready to drop back in , it was a very sequence oriented engine, loaded with unequal bolt lengths and dual purpose pieces.
Buying parts was a shock, dealer parts had a shipping fee added in, so simple gaskets had a $12.99 increase on a $13 part.
Other parts were NLA or on back order but eBay had them. Their parts manual didn't show a secondary thermostat and seal on their housing, they were shocked when I showed them the housing and pointed out the discrepancy.
The rear main seal is still under investigation. A 2013 part in a 2014 car , WTF. 😡 supposeably a year end production run error.
No Dodge, Chrysler, or Jeeps for me from now on.
Dakazman
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Just electrical and drive axles intake and cooling system to go 😃
At least I won't have to push it around soon and getting my garage back.
Dakazman
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I need to go back to school on the timing chain setup. with all the indications in their correct position engine locked up. luckily I was able to save the starter from burning up. another wonderful thing I found out is you cannot put the trans in neutral. so I bypssed that at the transmission. these Phaser cams are killing me. Going back in to remove cams and free the engine up.
Dakazman