Author | Topic |
Dirtbiker V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1061 Posts | Posted - 27 Nov 2021 : 20:31:52
| Well, last update was Sep 2020 and it is no coincidence that was the month we moved house - not much on this since then!
However, decided I really wanted to take it to Swedish Day so set about trying to get it running right and doing some test runs. With hindsight it is now clear why it would start ok and drive well until fully warmed up then feel 'not quite right'.
HG leak which turned into catastrophic failure. Limped home looking like an environmental disaster!
Anyway, compression test really good on the three that weren't full of water and engine now looks like this
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I found this interesting as had never seen the actual difference between open and closed deck for myself.
Engine looks to have been rebuilt
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which is good but who knows how well as it had one open and one closed deck head on it...
I was surprised that the HG failure was on the side with the correct head.
I really wanted two closed deck heads and Melle was very kindly able to help me out with a spare. As I was heading up to Wales to collect the 96 engine from Peter Jones I decided to send him the heads for a quick refresh but we have got carried away and they are now having valves from a 2.3 V6 and being ported. This should make it drive nicely on a standard cam but means he still has the heads even though I have been to see him. Had a nice time though and he was happy to spend as much time as I liked giving me advice.
So, jobs for this one will be heads back on then it should be running right. I have new rear lights and would like to tidy up some of the paintwork at the rear without losing the patina. I also want to straighten out the rear bumper then we should be good to get some miles done.
I'll update again once the heads are done.
Cheers | Edited by - Dirtbiker on 27 Nov 2021 20:32:39 | |
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AnttiK V4 Fan
Finland 103 Posts | Posted - 28 Nov 2021 : 08:58:24
| The text in the piston says 91.295C and also +0.50 is mentioned. So those might be Pinto 2.0 OHC pistons, because 90.8mm is standard Pinto bore and 91.3mm is +0.5mm oversize.
If there is a 1.7 crank and pistons are high compression versions with about 41.5mm compression height the compression ratio should be around 1:10.5 at least in closed deck engine. You can check if pistons are little bit over the deck level in TDC position. In the compression test STD should be close to 12bar and 1:10.5 compression closer to 14bar according to my experience. | |
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Derek V4 Guru
United Kingdom 2191 Posts | Posted - 28 Nov 2021 : 14:16:39
| AE 21765 is the part number. AE (Maybe branded Nural) are good pistons often used with Goetze rings. | |
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Dirtbiker V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1061 Posts | Posted - 28 Nov 2021 : 19:44:06
| Antik - thanks for the info. Assumed it had a 1.5 crank in it as that is what early US cars had. However, just been out to the garage and measured stroke at about 67mm so 1.7 which is a bonus.
Pistons are about 1mm below deck at TDC. I assume this is Low Compression as would be common in the US (I think?)
Compression was a very consistent 150psi (10.3bar) which I thought was good!
Any more information based on your experience would be good!
Derek - Yes, AE pistons have a good reputation. Just used 93mm pinto pistons on the 96 engine build
Cheers | |
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melle V4 Guru
United Kingdom 3833 Posts | Posted - 29 Nov 2021 : 19:35:27
| Nice one on the 1.7 crank Gareth. Shame they fitted LC pistons though, unless you want to fit a turbo perhaps!
www.saabv4.com | |
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Dirtbiker V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1061 Posts | Posted - 29 Nov 2021 : 21:36:25
| Already had that thought but I'm thinking supercharger... I had no intention of improving performance on this as it is not that kind of car but actually no harm in having a bit more grunt available and a supercharger running low boost would do just that. I would really like eventually to fit a towbar mounted motorbike carrier so a bit of power up the hills would be good! | |
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melle V4 Guru
United Kingdom 3833 Posts | Posted - 29 Nov 2021 : 21:56:28
| I like where this is going, but not sure if a supercharged open deck engine would be a good idea though... Didn't someone start a thread on supercharging on here a while ago?
www.saabv4.com | |
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Dirtbiker V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1061 Posts | Posted - 29 Nov 2021 : 22:09:15
| I know what you mean about supercharging the open deck engine. Really this isn't a good way to be building a performance engine and that was never the intention though it is creeping that way. I like the idea of a period supercharger like a 'Shorrock' but I think they are very hard to come by. I definitely would keep it sensible, the supercharger would really just be making up for the fact the engine is low compression. I think it might make a good noise too! | |
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Dirtbiker V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1061 Posts | Posted - 14 Mar 2022 : 21:30:50
| Hi All,
Bit of progress with this one.
Heads back on and hoping for a test drive at the weekend.
Picked up some Wilkos BBQ paint so will be banishing the blue rocker covers and maybe even the water pipes.
Then a fairly lengthy list of little jobs and should be ready for Swedish Day.
Cheers | |
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Derek V4 Guru
United Kingdom 2191 Posts | Posted - 15 Mar 2022 : 13:13:21
| BBQ paint will look untidy very quickly. Halfords black engine paint, gloss or matt/satin, works fine. Tins or aerosol. | |
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Dirtbiker V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1061 Posts | Posted - 15 Mar 2022 : 22:28:15
| At least it will be good for cooking sausages! An ex girlfriend of mine once bought me a book called (I think) 'Manifold Destiny'. It was American and had cooking times for different foods (fish, jacket potatoes etc) based on whether you had a four, six or eight cylinder engine! Somewhere I have some engine enamel but for the sake of speed I'll probably spray the BBQ paint and see how long it lasts but thanks for the tip. Cheers | |
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UK_Sub V4 Guru
United Kingdom 2558 Posts | Posted - 16 Mar 2022 : 17:28:03
| Excuse the dumb question - but is there any difference to the heads?
I only ask as I need to refit mine to the engine block and can't see any noticeable difference... | |
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Dirtbiker V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1061 Posts | Posted - 16 Mar 2022 : 18:58:24
| Simon, go back to page 3… Also, sent you an email about gaskets. Cheers | |
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mettersl V4 Fan
United Kingdom 126 Posts | Posted - 17 Mar 2022 : 11:49:07
| Interesting, I have an open deck engine and some spare closed deck heads..I was going to get rid of them, but if they fit, maybe I will get them overhauled and use them...I guess with closed deck head gaskets too? Will that work?
North West Es*ex,Cambs/Suffolk/Herts borders | |
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Dirtbiker V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1061 Posts | Posted - 19 Mar 2022 : 15:45:19
| Hi,
The heads that have gone back on are open deck modified by Peter Jones - I have just had them done.
When the car arrived from the US it was fitted with one of each head. To be fair the closed deck head was holding up with no sign of gasket failure on removal. I still have the remnants of the gaskets that were on there. I could try and establish if they were open or closed gaskets if that would help.
Cheers | |
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