Engine rebuild

[cliffordl]

My C6 gearbox failed on the way to Goodwood two weeks ago. The cast iron manifolds remain cracked and the engine is full of sludge.
   
   Given the lengthy process of extracting the gearbox it makes sense to go for an engine rebuild, rebuild the gearbox and sort the manifolds.
   
   I've been recommended to Peter Knight who is clearly among the best but perhaps too specialist for my needs (I'm looking for a straight rebuild rather than huge performance upgrades).
   
   Also been given the name of Adrian Caroll of AC Motors in the West Midlands.
   
   Any advice/recommendation would be welcome.

[jbottini]

As it all has to come out there are two theories here. The first is leave well enough alone. But as you stated engine is heavily sludged up, you might consider taking pan and heads off a cleaning out sludge in galleys and visible sludge as well and regasketing. Good time to check bearings as well. Easy time to exchange headers as well. Not sure of cost for this , but it is a classic car. Going forward high detergent full snuthetic oil. If no oil cooler, you might fit one.

[siegfried]

Hi Clifford ,
   I add somme pics on the forum ( sleeping beauty ) from the complete engine rebuild .

[cliffordl]

   
   In response to Emanuel's plea for some posts here's a pic of my ongoing engine rebuild.
   Hardy Engineering have rebuilt the gearbox.
   Thunder Road are sorting the engine with Edelbrock heads and as a result and I quote 'the original equipment rockers and push rods, will not work with the Edelbrok heads, so we need to go the aftermarket route. Unfortunately the rockers i was planning on using, are no longer in production. Apparently they stopped making the at the beginning of last year.
      I have found a replacement manufacturer in the states, and it looks like they are the only people manufacturing rockers for your engine, I now need to work out the correct push rod length, I also need to source, or have made, some spacer to go between the rockers and rocker posts, for the inlet valves, Edelbrok recommend, that the inlet rockers are off set, because they have move the position of the inlet valves in the head, compared to the original position, in the ford heads.'
   That was back in February. We are now at 'supplier is finding out if we need the spacers for the rockers, recommended by the head manufacturer (Edelbrock). The engine is 85% built, so not much more to complete. Mainly the original parts to be bolted back on, Inlet manifold, water pump etc. The header tank needs repairing, its leaking from the filler neck, and there are some parts that need cleaning up and painting before re-fitting'.
   
   It's been over six months without the car and I'm starting to go cold turkey especially now that spring is here. Can't imagine how hard it is for Emanuel to go through the multi-year restoration process but I guess we all look towards the end result.

[Emmanueld]

Hi Clifford, how is your car going along? Did you finally sort you pus rod and rocker problem?
   
   
   E[:)]

[cliffordl]

All sorted and now running in. Took a long time for some of the parts to be sourced with some delays whilst enough orders were amassed to warrant manufacturing.
   Manifold was repaired but I'd be very interested in one of your newly designed versions.
   Had some initial problems running in as the fuel line was getting so hot that the petrol eengine to cut out even at speed. Some insulation wrap has fixed that.
   Just need to put a couple of hundred miles on it before changing to a heavier oil which should give cooler running.

[Emmanueld]

I am glad to hear. Manifolds are almost done, will post a photo when the are ready. Jeffrey is getting a pair ready as well. Actually, we are doing the complete line all the way to the rear of the car with mufflers and resonators to mute the hot rod sound. The artist doing them here locally does exhausts for Cobra restorations. Both rear and side exhausts.  Original pickup truck manifolds probably rob the car of 60 to 80 HP specially with those nice alloy heads. Even my shorty headers were chocking the car quite a bit.
   
   E[:)]