Imperial's Dead...

[brotherGood]

Just thinking out loud, but maybe they weren't changed (builder was not the most up and up guy, according to Bryan M).

Kostas

I was thinking the same thing

 

[Bryan M.]

Kostas, I decided against pulling the con rods and the crank for the moment while I wait on the powers-that-be to figure out what they want to do. Personally, this engine was a PITA when it was in the Mirada, it's been overheated (Seattle traffic in July and a dead clutch fan), and that doesn't begin to count the apparent oil consumption. I wouldn't be shocked if the bearings weren't changed, but then the crank becomes suspect, with the wear only on the three center caps.

If I was financially able, I'd just stab in a crate motor at this point. This is already annoying.

 

[Mr C]

I always wanted to do a B/ RB swap on one of these. Not an insane build...just stock, to keep the Imperial dignity but also have the torque and power that befits an Imperial.

 

[brotherGood]

Did you get the cl ad I sent you? Its close enough to me, id be able to get it and store it for you until you can come get it or whatever.

 

[kkritsilas]

Bryan:

Just trying to figure out what happened to the engine, not trying to persuade you on a direction to go.

Since you have the main caps off, you should be able to see the main journals, perhaps not all the way around, but halfway at least. From there, you should be able to get an idea of what shape the crank is in. I'm just wondering out loud here, but the idiot engine builder may have changed the 1 and 5 bearings, and not 2, 3, and 4. He also could have put in bearings for undersized journals in 2, 3, and 4, making tolerances really tight, and killing the 2, 3, and 4 bearings.. All this is just by thinking through what could have happened to those bearings, and it is really a mental exercise at this point, but if the problem was just limited to the main bearings, you may be able to get the engine going just by replaceing the bearings with new ones, for now. If the crank journals are also chewed up, you will probably need a rebuild. I know this isn't the right way to do things, but in a very limited budget situation, it may help you get by for a short while.

Probably won't help with the oil consumption though, as that is usually rings and/or valve guides.

I am personally beginning to suspect that the engine was never actually rebuilt, and that the only thing the engine builder guy did was change out the 1 and 5 main bearings (more than likely to prevent oil leaks, which would have given him away quckly). The lack of crosshatching you mentioned in a previous post is also an indication that would lead me to this conclusion. along with amount of crud on the piston tops. But, as I write this, I noted the extra .030 oversized pistons, so maybe he just rough honed the cylinders, and without a crosshatch or final polish, may have contributed to the oil consumption problem due to the compression rings never breaking in properly.

I wouldn't be concerned so much about the engine being overheated, as this is a cast iron block/heads. It is not advisable to do that, but unless for very long periods of time, cast iron stands up to overheating a lot better than aluminum does. There has been a lot more than one LA engine that has overheated, and lived on for a long time afterwards. Usually, the most that happen on an overheated cast iron engine is head gasket failure. Could the crud o the pistons be oil or anit-freeze residue? This could go a long way to explaining the oil consumption.

Again, only trying to help.

Kostas

 

[Bryan M.]

Did you get the cl ad I sent you? Its close enough to me, id be able to get it and store it for you until you can come get it or whatever.

I got it. Problem is, there's no money to get it yet, and the bosses won't come back online (phone or otherwise) until Monday...it was an agreement that we all would be taking off for some family time and I'm not going to interrupt that.

 

[Bryan M.]

Bryan:

Just trying to figure out what happened to the engine, not trying to persuade you on a direction to go.

Since you have the main caps off, you should be able to see the main journals, perhaps not all the way around, but halfway at least. From there, you should be able to get an idea of what shape the crank is in. I'm just wondering out loud here, but the idiot engine builder may have changed the 1 and 5 bearings, and not 2, 3, and 4. He also could have put in bearings for undersized journals in 2, 3, and 4, making tolerances really tight, and killing the 2, 3, and 4 bearings.. All this is just by thinking through what could have happened to those bearings, and it is really a mental exercise at this point, but if the problem was just limited to the main bearings, you may be able to get the engine going just by replaceing the bearings with new ones, for now. If the crank journals are also chewed up, you will probably need a rebuild. I know this isn't the right way to do things, but in a very limited budget situation, it may help you get by for a short while.

Probably won't help with the oil consumption though, as that is usually rings and/or valve guides.

I am personally beginning to suspect that the engine was never actually rebuilt, and that the only thing the engine builder guy did was change out the 1 and 5 main bearings (more than likely to prevent oil leaks, which would have given him away quckly). The lack of crosshatching you mentioned in a previous post is also an indication that would lead me to this conclusion. along with amount of crud on the piston tops. But, as I write this, I noted the extra .030 oversized pistons, so maybe he just rough honed the cylinders, and without a crosshatch or final polish, may have contributed to the oil consumption problem due to the compression rings never breaking in properly.

I wouldn't be concerned so much about the engine being overheated, as this is a cast iron block/heads. It is not advisable to do that, but unless for very long periods of time, cast iron stands up to overheating a lot better than aluminum does. There has been a lot more than one LA engine that has overheated, and lived on for a long time afterwards. Usually, the most that happen on an overheated cast iron engine is head gasket failure. Could the crud o the pistons be oil or anit-freeze residue? This could go a long way to explaining the oil consumption.

Again, only trying to help.

Kostas

No problem. Always helps to have a different set of eyes on a problem. Technically, the engine was running alright (not as good as when it was first put in the Mirada post-"rebuild" but still enough that it did a nice burnout before starting the teardown) but the power level is inexcusable for a 318 with some building going on. I've talked with a couple other customers of this moron...all are pretty pissed off with him.

Hopefully by the beginning of the year I'll figure out where I'm heading. In the meantime, the under hood wiring needs some major clean-up.

 

[brotherGood]

Understood. Keep me updated..like I said, if its close I'll pick it up for you and hold it until you can pick it up..that way you're not in a rush trying to find a place to keep it.

 

[Bryan M.]

Here's the full horror show. Engine was dropped off at the machine shop, it comes up in the queue next week for a full teardown and check.

http://bangshift.com/general-news/p...n-heart-surgery-part-1-open-imperials-engine/

 

[Jack Meoff]

That's gotta be a major piss off.
Keep us updated on what more goodness you find....