Classic Alfa Forums

Sorry guys, another appeal for help. After a bit of cam belt misfortune (long story) got the engine rebuilt, and it was ticking over like a wee sweetie. Blipped the throttle, it coughed then sharted fuel and started ticking like a lolly stick in bike spokes. Bugger!!!
Basically a washer somehow got into the inlet manifold on cylinder 1 and was ingested.
Head is snagged, but have spares can rebuild that. Need to double check the block, but may need at the very least a piston, possibly a short engine. I used to have a spare but gave it away ages ago as needed the space. Sods law in action......
Does anybody have either an 87mm piston or a short engine available?
I feel an utter tool.

Ouch. Reminds me of the time the Astra rally car swallowed an M8 nut which snapped an inlet valve off before being imbedded in the head..
Hopefully it's mostly saveable.

What engine are you on about Stesco

I thought the 1.7 engine had 87 mm bore?

I've got a piston, and probably a short motor if its bad enough to need one, - pm me with what you need.
John.

LooLooSud33Spider wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 27, 2020 6:39 pm

What engine are you on about Stesco

justsuds wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 28, 2020 11:52 am

I've got a piston, and probably a short motor if its bad enough to need one, - pm me with what you need.
John.

Thanks gents. It's a 1.7 - a bit of further investigation required first, but will keep in touch.

Use flange nuts.......no more washers needed!

TBH. I’ve seen a hell of a lot worse. I’d remove the piston and give it a gentle fettling on the crown Just to remove all sharp edges on the damaged areas as Long as the lands of the piston haven’t collapsed. I’d Consider using that piston again. it’s called “Patina”
Lou

LooLooSud33Spider wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 29, 2020 9:03 am

TBH. I’ve seen a hell of a lot worse. I’d remove the piston and give it a gentle fettling on the crown Just to remove all sharp edges on the damaged areas as Long as the lands of the piston haven’t collapsed. I’d Consider using that piston again. it’s called “Patina”
Lou

Kind of what I am hoping, however if the bore is scored (and I don't think it is........) then happy days.....

If the block Does have a few small marks. Before writing it off give it a good hone to see if you can clean it up
On the piston don’t remove too much metal your not looking to make all the damage disappear just clean Any rough edges on the crown. You only need to use a small needle file And make sure all the rings still spin freely in the grooves .

LooLooSud33Spider wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:02 pm

If the block Does have a few small marks. Before writing it off give it a good hone to see if you can clean it up
On the piston don’t remove too much metal your not looking to make all the damage disappear just clean Any rough edges on the crown. You only need to use a small needle file And make sure all the rings still spin freely in the grooves .

Cleaned up piston and all seems to spin freely ok. Going to get a cylinder head re done fit up then see what transpires. I will then have two good refurbed heads (the other side was done just before this happened - in fact I had only just finished re-assembling the engine........)

Now if I then need a short engine, at least I will have two known good heads to transplant over......

Alternatively has anybody bored a 1.7 out to 1750? What’s involved and would seem a fitting engine size for an Alfa..........

As an aside, has anybody used 1.7 hydraulic tappet heads on a 1.5?

Late 33 1.5 iE had hydraulic tappets

StescoG66 wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 03, 2020 5:15 pm

LooLooSud33Spider wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:02 pm

If the block Does have a few small marks. Before writing it off give it a good hone to see if you can clean it up
On the piston don’t remove too much metal your not looking to make all the damage disappear just clean Any rough edges on the crown. You only need to use a small needle file And make sure all the rings still spin freely in the grooves .

Cleaned up piston and all seems to spin freely ok. Going to get a cylinder head re done fit up then see what transpires. I will then have two good refurbed heads (the other side was done just before this happened - in fact I had only just finished re-assembling the engine........)

Now if I then need a short engine, at least I will have two known good heads to transplant over......

Alternatively has anybody bored a 1.7 out to 1750? What’s involved and would seem a fitting engine size for an Alfa..........

As an aside, has anybody used 1.7 hydraulic tappet heads on a 1.5?

I bored my engine out from 1.7 to 1.8 and it was quite expensive, but I did not have any good pistons to start with so I would do as suggested and carry on with creating a good 1.5. After all might not be long before we take them out to fit a electric motor.

“ After all might not be long before we take them out to fit a electric motor”

I’ll be honest I’ve actually thought About Doing that .

I seem to think there is a difference in the heads and/or pistons on the 1.5? Wonder what the 40 Webers are like with the 1.5 as it came with 36 Dellortos if I am not mistaken.

It is said that the 1.5 is the sweetest engine in all the line up

That is exactly why I’m building a 1500 for my Ti. It will Also have fast road cams and 40mm carbs Aswell as some head work

LooLooSud33Spider wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:43 pm

“ After all might not be long before we take them out to fit a electric motor”

I’ll be honest I’ve actually thought About Doing that .

It looks to be quite complex and and expensive. More than I imagined. Well that's judging by the EV west site and video's.

https://www.evwest.com/catalog/products ... c08i1srnn6

LooLooSud33Spider wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 03, 2020 10:06 pm

That is exactly why I’m building a 1500 for my Ti. It will Also have fast road cams and 40mm carbs As well as some head work

I'm starting to think that is the path I will take, rather than forced induction. Just started looking for some Weber 40's

...or Dellorto DRLA's perhaps??

Good news. She lives. Phew!!!!

That’s good news.

Excellent news. Well done.

Saw your vid on FB.

AlfaNut wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 12, 2020 9:34 pm

...or Dellorto DRLA's perhaps??

Chris from what I understand the Dellortos are less temperamental than the Webers?

Why?

Not sure about the temperamental bit, but I've always thought the Dellorto DRLA as a better engineered carb than the Weber IDF.
Little examples are the pump jets on the Dellorto engage into machined recesses, whereas on the Weber the pump beaks just push in with a sealing ring, and you hope they stay there.
Also, the whole fuel inlet/filter arrangement is removable for cleaning.

Given the choice, I would choose Dellorto anytime.

Dave. Whilst The IDF beaks do indeed just Push in they are actually held in place when the lid is secured . The Weber also has a removable / cleanable filter underneath a brass cap below the fuel inlet boss. That said I would agree that we felt Quality control and fit an finish to be slightly better on Dellortos. I’m using 40mm Weber’s on the sud as I had them on the shelf and there’s nothing actually wrong with them. but when we wanted some 45s for the racer a few years ago we fitted Dellortos .
Lou

She doesn't live on...... compression down somewhere so short engine or new piston(s) needed.......

John will drop you a PM in next few days if that is ok.

NEG wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 05, 2020 3:29 am

Why?

Don't go out of tune as often?
No expert though-just what I've heard over the years

Well, it’s fucked. Crankcase back pressure evident yet compressions are reading 180-190 so can’t work out what has happened.
New block needed methinks