Engine rebuild recommendations

mbishton
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 7:40 pm

Engine rebuild recommendations

Post by mbishton » Mon Oct 28, 2019 8:39 am

Hi all,

After attempting to get my 1935/6 Rover Fourteen to fire up this weekend, unsuccessfully due to lack of compression on Cylinders 2, 3, 4 & 5, I would like to know if anyone has any recommendations for someone who could rebuild my engine with new rings etc...?

I'm based in London but I am happy to have the car transported nationwide on advice of a reputable pre-war engine specialist, if anyone has any helpful suggestions!


Many thanks in advance
Matt

GOY189
Posts: 557
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2008 5:08 pm

Re: Engine rebuild recommendations

Post by GOY189 » Mon Oct 28, 2019 2:16 pm

Probably your best bet is Chris Whitehead at Chevington garage near Bury St Edmunds tel 01284 850920 email chevingtongarage@gmail.com
Best regards
Mike Maher

mbishton
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 7:40 pm

Re: Engine rebuild recommendations

Post by mbishton » Mon Oct 28, 2019 3:32 pm

Thank you very much, Mike!

TonyG
Posts: 288
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2015 4:38 pm

Re: Engine rebuild recommendations

Post by TonyG » Thu Oct 31, 2019 2:01 pm

Matt,

Before you send off your engine, it would be worth taking the head off. As discussed before the lack of compression may be the valves not seating properly; possibly due to rust of because the engine is due a de-coke. Funny that 1amd 6 are ok but the others aren't. Makes me wonder if those valves may have been closed while the engine was left standing. I'm not familiar with the 6 cylinder though. However, usually bores wear much the same on an engine and I've read that it's No6 that gets hot on the sixes so I'd have expected that one to fail sooner.

These are simple engines and easy enough to work on. Nothing lost by taking the head off if you are thinking of a rebuild anyway. Also, if the bores look ok you could always pour some diesel down them to help free the rings if they are stuck in their grooves. Makes good penetrating fluid.

Of course, if the bores look badly worn and/ or if you didn't get much oil pressure when you cranked it on the starter, a rebuild looks likely anyway.

Just a thought....

Tony.
Tony Gilbert

P1 12 Tourer
P2 12 6 Light Saloon
Discovery 3
Discovery Sport

mbishton
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 7:40 pm

Re: Engine rebuild recommendations

Post by mbishton » Thu Oct 31, 2019 5:36 pm

Thank you Tony, a perfect response as always.

I am going to do a wet compression test and a dry compression test this weekend to try to establish if the leak is more valves or rings but I completely agree, taking the head off might be a good idea. I have a feeling it's rings as I filled all the bores with diesel a while ago and only 1 & 6 held the diesel, whilst the rest let the diesel sink to the sump - but it could be both valves and rings!!

Blue Diamond Services at Bicester Heritage have come highly recommended so I'm thinking of sending it to them for a general going over as it's been stood for so long and I'm sure they'll do the necessary and get me up and running. Fuel wasn't making it to the bores (so we manually put fuel in but still wouldn't fire) so I've bought a carburettor rebuild kit from Burlen Fuel Systems to get that working properly too!

I'll get there in the end!

Thanks again for your support, it's much appreciated!

mbishton
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 7:40 pm

Re: Engine rebuild recommendations

Post by mbishton » Mon Nov 04, 2019 11:58 am

So, having done a wet compression test, only cylinders 5 & 6 registered something like 50 psi which is bad enough but 1, 2, 3 & 4 would barely get to 10 psi, so clearly some serious issues and obviously why we can't get to fire!

Trying to source a set of piston rings, I need to establish the bore, widths, radial depths and quantity of rings (compression and oil control) for a piston in order to see if I can get some made.

Would anyone know where I might be able to find this much detailed information at all as Google hasn't managed to help this time!!


Many thanks
Matt

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luli
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Re: Engine rebuild recommendations

Post by luli » Mon Nov 04, 2019 8:34 pm

F. W. Thornton and sons can always help. https://www.fwthornton.co.uk/ ..
Rover 10 1946 RHD
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mbishton
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 7:40 pm

Re: Engine rebuild recommendations

Post by mbishton » Tue Nov 05, 2019 12:21 pm

Thank you, I tried them and they said they weren't able to offer a set which has left me a bit stumped!

TonyG
Posts: 288
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2015 4:38 pm

Re: Engine rebuild recommendations

Post by TonyG » Tue Nov 05, 2019 1:33 pm

Matt,

Just looked on eBay and there are two new sets for sale; a standard size set @£140 and a 60thou oversize set for £58. Both sets shown as new old stock.

You should be able to see size of existing pistons once head is off and you can make out writing on piston crowns. However, it would certainly be worth buying the oversize ones anyway.

Tony
Tony Gilbert

P1 12 Tourer
P2 12 6 Light Saloon
Discovery 3
Discovery Sport

GOY189
Posts: 557
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2008 5:08 pm

Re: Engine rebuild recommendations

Post by GOY189 » Tue Nov 05, 2019 3:48 pm

Blue Diamond are Riley specialists. There is a firm in Maryport that can make piston rings,Clupet Piston Ring & Gauge Co, Solway Trading Estate, Maryport CA15 8NF Phone: 01900 818361

Regards
Mike

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