MGTF1250Dave
Jedi Knight
Offline
Aloha all,
I have completed a rebuild of the original engine of my TR3. It all started with an intermittent and unusual noise. After several weeks of searching for the source and trying to ignore it, I decided in the long run I should take the engine apart instead of waiting for some expensive failure. I received my hints from the forum on possible causes of the noise and it turned out to be failed piston wrist pin bushing. It had started to break apart and bits of it were discovered in the oil pan.
This project was my first major mechanical repair/rebuild. I had the crank shaft professionally checked out and the mains needed to be turned down. The machine shop also balance the rotating parts, checked the pistons and connecting rods. New main, rod bearings, thrust bearings and wrist pins were installed. I replaced the rings, tappets and upgraded to stouter push rods. The oil pump, timing chain, sprockets, cam shaft and cam bearings were inspected, measured and reused. I also installed a new rear main seal, the one developed by Mad Marx that does not require machining the scroll on the crankshaft.
While I was working on this project my son lent me a working TR3 engine from his restoration project so I could continue to drive my car. As always these project take longer than estimated, so it took about 15 months from removal to reinstall.
While doing the last engine transplant, I replaced my leaky and patched exhaust system, replaced a leaking gear box rear seal and inspected the steering box.
The good news is the engine started on the first attempt and all fluids seem to be staying inside. It was a great feeling of accomplishment.
I have completed a rebuild of the original engine of my TR3. It all started with an intermittent and unusual noise. After several weeks of searching for the source and trying to ignore it, I decided in the long run I should take the engine apart instead of waiting for some expensive failure. I received my hints from the forum on possible causes of the noise and it turned out to be failed piston wrist pin bushing. It had started to break apart and bits of it were discovered in the oil pan.
This project was my first major mechanical repair/rebuild. I had the crank shaft professionally checked out and the mains needed to be turned down. The machine shop also balance the rotating parts, checked the pistons and connecting rods. New main, rod bearings, thrust bearings and wrist pins were installed. I replaced the rings, tappets and upgraded to stouter push rods. The oil pump, timing chain, sprockets, cam shaft and cam bearings were inspected, measured and reused. I also installed a new rear main seal, the one developed by Mad Marx that does not require machining the scroll on the crankshaft.
While I was working on this project my son lent me a working TR3 engine from his restoration project so I could continue to drive my car. As always these project take longer than estimated, so it took about 15 months from removal to reinstall.
While doing the last engine transplant, I replaced my leaky and patched exhaust system, replaced a leaking gear box rear seal and inspected the steering box.
The good news is the engine started on the first attempt and all fluids seem to be staying inside. It was a great feeling of accomplishment.