| Author |
Message |
Jeffrey Wolfe (86mondial32)
Junior Member
Username: 86mondial32
Post Number: 76
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 3:17 pm: | |
Thanks all.. it's my Merak engine we are talking abut and All of the points you made went through my head. I am going to have to hone the liners and accept doing new rings.. but the mains and rod bearings are in fine shape. I worry that getting new ones for such an old engine I will run into the quality problems you all mentioned.
The appeal of doing it all while the engine is out and stripped is there... but as you said.. so is the risk of creating future problems.
And BTW.. a .10 over set of mains for a Merak SS is about 300.00... OUCH don't even ask about the rod bearings. Good news is just for fun i checked the balance and weight on the rods and pistons... amazingly close |
Rob Schermerhorn (Rexrcr)
Member
Username: Rexrcr
Post Number: 661
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 2:03 pm: | |
The saying in racing and engineering in general is 'the most likely part to fail is a new one.'
Yes, definately reuse the bearings. |
David McAlexander (Stuttgartdavid)
New member
Username: Stuttgartdavid
Post Number: 14
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 1:59 pm: | |
You know that what you have is in spec and working properly. Isn't that why there are specs? Plus, I assume it is a factory installed OEM part - the best type of part and installation.
You take at least two separate but material risks (risks underappreciated by the "newer is better crowd") in replacing a perfectly functional and properly broken-in part with a new part. Risk #1 is that the part will not be the same quality/size/spec as the OEM part. Do you know where all of your parts actually come from? Really? There is rampant counterfeiting in the aftermarket - even for heavily regulated aircraft parts. Lots of legitimate looking auto parts these days are cheap Chinese knock-offs falsely packaged in OEM supplier boxes.
Risk #2 is that of error or problems with installation. Even skilled mechanics make mistakes - you are not immune. Risk #3 is that even a quality part properly installed has a small but very real chance of failure upon break-in.
Add this up, and I hope you see that the more you do to try to "improve" a well-functioning machine, you also introduce a greater chance for problems. The highest chance for catastrophic failure occures during the break-in phase for any machine. Once you are past this critical window, the system's chance of failure, like your chance of dying an early death, actually decreases with every mile (or year). Once properly broken in, only a lack of oil pressure, improper cooling, or detonation kill engines. IMHO, it is better to put you money and time into maintaining these support systems than rebuilding perfectly functional ones.
Bottom line: If it is within spec and working, why "fix" it! |
Mark (Markg)
Member
Username: Markg
Post Number: 509
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 11:27 am: | |
NEW bearings, rings, rod bolts and head bolts if uses bolts (as opposed to studs). Have cylinders honed round with proper cross-hatch for rings and micro-polish crank.... |
Bob Campen (Bob308gts)
Member
Username: Bob308gts
Post Number: 645
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 10:33 am: | |
For the cost of these items on a Chev/Ford, I would replace them |
Jeffrey Wolfe (86mondial32)
Junior Member
Username: 86mondial32
Post Number: 75
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 10:14 am: | |
I am doing a head gasket on one of my non Ferrari cars. It ended up being an engine out job since the deck needed work. My question is this... would the techs here reuse the mains and rod bearings if they were still well in spec or would you just go and do a full replacement while the block is torn down? I am very torn... Part of me wants to just go ahead and do rings and bearings all the way.
BTW... it's funny that I am willing to tear down all of my engines and do any work except for the Ferrari... Don't know why.. |