Seized S Series

[H48HPE]

I'm back to thinking about this now....

the Alternator definitely wasn't causing a problem I took it off the car.

its almost certainly the crankshaft. Question now is after the engines out what will I likely need to do?

if the main bearings are seized what are the implications? i.e. is the crankshaft likely to be ruined, or just the bearings?

Advice appreciated.

If the crankshafts had it, I suppose it'd be easier to just get another engine, trouble is that spoils originality....

[Guest]

Seperate it from the gearbox and see if its still too tight to turn over

If the bottom end it tight then the only way to inspect the damage is to strip it down

[H48HPE]

right, I think I've got all the stuff I need to pull the engine out of the car... I've got an RSJ in my garage roof that I'm suspending a block and tackle off with a load leveler and some nylon slings to put round the engine...

Might get to do the work next weekend.

I'm just wondering is it easier to pull out the engine and gearbox in 1 - or would i be better separating the gearbox from the engine in the car and just pulling the engine out? I suppose I'm asking - what will give me least stress!


supposing the crankshaft is damaged, what are the options? will any second hand one go in - or can you get them machined good again? what sort of price to sort a crakshaft out as a rough guide? against buying a good second hand one?

Thanks for all the advice so far!

Andy

[digital efi]

From my experience of both methods, I would recommend lifting the whole lot out together, then separating it all on the ground. That is with the proviso that your RSJ and lifting tackle can cope with the weight of the whole unit.

Lifting the engine alone means having to remove all the gearbox securing bolts and somehow separating the engine and gearbox enough to let the flywheel clear its housing as you lift the engine upwards.

All you will have saved is the labour of disconnecting the gearchange, undoing two mountings and 12 driveshaft bolts!

In any case, as you are clearly going to be doing more than a quick 'tart up and sell' of the car, you can take the opportunity to fully clean the gearbox, engine bay, crossmember, etc etc.

Regarding the crankshaft, I would imagine that any S-series would fit, but there may be somebody else who will know of any possible changes during the brief production run of the engine. It may well be possible to have the original reground, unless you find deep grooves in any of the journals.
Not sure on cost of regrinding, but you ought to allow for that in your budget even if you end up sourcing a secondhand one.

[H48HPE]

From my experience of both methods, I would recommend lifting the whole lot out together, then separating it all on the ground. That is with the proviso that your RSJ and lifting tackle can cope with the weight of the whole unit.

Lifting the engine alone means having to remove all the gearbox securing bolts and somehow separating the engine and gearbox enough to let the flywheel clear its housing as you lift the engine upwards.

All you will have saved is the labour of disconnecting the gearchange, undoing two mountings and 12 driveshaft bolts!

In any case, as you are clearly going to be doing more than a quick 'tart up and sell' of the car, you can take the opportunity to fully clean the gearbox, engine bay, crossmember, etc etc.

Regarding the crankshaft, I would imagine that any S-series would fit, but there may be somebody else who will know of any possible changes during the brief production run of the engine. It may well be possible to have the original reground, unless you find deep grooves in any of the journals.
Not sure on cost of regrinding, but you ought to allow for that in your budget even if you end up sourcing a secondhand one.

Engine and box out in 1 then sounds like a plan. Points noted on crankshaft too!


Next question is: I think my block and tackle will lift half a ton... the slings are 1 Ton rated and the RSJ is a big one - no idea what it takes but it looks like you could hang a hell of a lot off it!

Roughly how much would an S series with VW box weigh? I can check Haynes later to see there, but if its not in I could do with knowing....

Thanks again

Andy

[H48HPE]

have done a bit of reading on the net and whilst I cant find the weight of the engine/box individually - it seems I should be ok with half ton lifting gear, - well I'm going to try it anyway!

Andy

[E_T_V]

That'll be plenty. I'd guess at 250kg but if you have 500kg capacity then thats ample to lift the whole front end of the car.

[H48HPE]

That'll be plenty. I'd guess at 250kg but if you have 500kg capacity then thats ample to lift the whole front end of the car.

Thanks Dan... Surprisingly its not a weight that I can find in any book, I'd have thought it would have been something people would have needed to know. I suppose it can only be an indication that all but the worst possible lifting kit can be used!

Andy

[Guest]

Its way under 250kg and just as easy to drop out the bottom and slide out through a wheel arch, done this many times with just a jack

[E_T_V]

Engine and box???

[Simon]

My 250KG rated chains coped well with my recent engine/box removal/replacement. Agree with keeping it all as one unit, much less bother.

[H48HPE]

some 5 months after I planned to do it I've finally got the engine out... more photos etc here:


http://maestro.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=16389


Because the bores lloked so shiny and clean when i took the head off I had been obsessed with the idea the crankshaft was stuck, in the end it seems several people who posted above were right, and it was definitely the pistons/cylinders that were at fault. they were really hard to get free and once free the crankshaft would move freely. I've took a picture of the pistons and bores below, The bores have tarnished a little, when they were first exposed they were really shiny, which I thought would be an indication that all was well:







I'm wondering now how to proceed with this? I've got the pistons soaking in Diesel to try and free off the rings. Bearing in mind i'm on a really tight budget, could I get away with freeing them up/ cleaning everything and re-fitting?

Andy

[PIRTEKMAN]

some 5 months after I planned to do it I've finally got the engine out... more photos etc here:


http://maestro.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=16389


Because the bores lloked so shiny and clean when i took the head off I had been obsessed with the idea the crankshaft was stuck, in the end it seems several people who posted above were right, and it was definitely the pistons/cylinders that were at fault. they were really hard to get free and once free the crankshaft would move freely. I've took a picture of the pistons and bores below, The bores have tarnished a little, when they were first exposed they were really shiny, which I thought would be an indication that all was well:







I'm wondering now how to proceed with this? I've got the pistons soaking in Diesel to try and free off the rings. Bearing in mind i'm on a really tight budget, could I get away with freeing them up/ cleaning everything and re-fitting?

Andy

I would think honing the bores and a new set of rings as a minimum.Cheers Alan

[H48HPE]

I've bought a new set of rings, so I just need to free the old ones out of the pistons - which is a problem as they are all stuck solid, I've had one piston soaking in Diesel for 24 hours and one ring has sprung out at one end, but the other end and all the other rings are solid still.

I'm going to soak another in coke and I'm going to boil another (seen on the net it might work) - then I'll see what works...

[G51 NAV]

daft question maybe but how difficult would it be to just source another engine?