Quote:
Originally posted by Keith Webb
Later that day...
The front shell is off, and the engine is about to come out.
Damage is broken compression and oil rings in 2, 4, and 5 cylinders, badly worn bores and hammered big end bearings. In the head, the valves and guides are also shot.
So by Saturday, the truck will have a totally rebuilt motor (remember it's the 292 "Mexican" Chev engine). Rebore, .30 thou pistons, crankshaft ground, new main and big end bearings, a reconditioned head as well as a new water pump.
Euan reckons the engine must have done quite a bit of work before going into the Blitz. I'd call that an understatement.
Mark currently has the exhaust manifold of the imitation Blue Flame from the ToyDodge in the resurfacing machine.
What an amazing effort.
|
There's never a good time for a "Fail to proceed" event:dh:, but it's certainly better for it to happen on the way to Perth, with it's hospitable natives and workshops, than it to happen out in the desert somewhere. Some of the Aboriginal outback communities have absolutely stunning vehicle graveyards filled with often late model (and usually inappropriate) vehicles that can't be fixed locally and are uneconomic to transport. These are not always owned by unlucky travellers, but sometimes are government funded and provided to communities, and are driven around without maintenance until they fail. (Maybe Euan could replace the Mexican 292 with a diesel engine from an ATSIC LandCruiser thats been run on Avgas?)