Considering all the time and effort required, I can't help but think that in
a similar situation, I'd be looking for a Rover V8 to install in it's place.
But that's just me, after a Brit car show a few weeks ago, where I drooled
over the amount of ROOM in the engine bay of the TR8s and MGB
conversions.(compared with my old Tiger) Hmmm... don't even have to crawl
under the dash to replace the back spark plug.... nice!
But then again, I spent close to $1800.00 rebuilding a 1725cc engine for my
Sunbeam/Commer camper, so, I can see it either way.
Jon Arzt
Rootesaholic
>From: Eganb@aol.com
>Reply-To: Eganb@aol.com
>To: Triumphs@autox.team.net, british-cars@autox.team.net,
>tr8@mercury.lcs.mit.edu
>Subject: Decision on TR7 Bearings from Hell
>Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2000 23:52:32 EDT
>
>Well, with the posting of this email, half of you will think i have lost my
>mind, and the other half will be saying "go for it!"
>
>After a closer look at the scratches and burr on my TR7s crankshaft, I'm
>going to rely on my trusty Dremel and yards of Crocus cloth to smooth out
>these blemishes caused by my carelessness, instead of pulling the crank
>which
>I have neither appropriate space or cash to do, but would probably end up
>being a heck of a lot quicker.
>
>What I do have is plenty of time and sweat-equity to put into the project,
>and for you who are still interested, a couple of additional questions:
>
>1. I finally got the #1 bearing out by taking the camshaft caps off and
>raising it enough to reduce the chain tension. The upper bearing slid
>right
>out. My question is whether the chain is suppose to be so bloody tight,
>and
>is there an adjustment I should be looking for?
>
>2. My strategy is to clean up all the scratches and burrs, then spray a
>couple of gallons of WD40 over everything to clean out any grit, then put
>in
>some extra new shells on the bearings that were scratched, turn the engine
>over several times by hand, and then take the caps off again to see if any
>scratches appear on the shells. What do you think?
>
>3. After I reassemble everything, including brand new bearing shells, I
>thought I would leave the sparkplugs out, and pull the car in gear to help
>the engine get "broken in" without the heat and pressure of actually
>running.
> Maybe pull it for a couple of miles, then replace the oil and filter.
>But
>then I thought maybe this would cause accelerated wear because the engine
>wouldn't be running at its normal temperature, so the oil might not be as
>fluid. Thoughts?
>
>After re-reading all of the above, I can't believe the effort I am about to
>go through. But there's something about the challenge that is irrestible.
>
>Of course, just to be safe, anybody got a spare crank they don't need?
>
>Again, many thanks for all the comments and advice.
>
>Bruce
>1980 Inca Yellow TR7 5-speed convertible
>Chapel Hill, NC
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