Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site isrnix.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!inuxc!iubugs!isrnix!greg From: greg@isrnix.UUCP (Gregory Travis) Newsgroups: net.auto.tech Subject: Engine Rebuilding Message-ID: <641@isrnix.UUCP> Date: Sun, 8-Dec-85 02:32:37 EST Article-I.D.: isrnix.641 Posted: Sun Dec 8 02:32:37 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 9-Dec-85 03:53:36 EST Distribution: net Organization: Institute for Social Research (Indiana University, Bloomington) Lines: 36 Hello again. I thought I would throw this one out. How sucessful are engine rebuilds (assume they are done as well as possible)? I've heard that a proper engine rebuild can restore an engine to new or better performance. I've also heard that you can never restore an engine 100% with a rebuild - things have stressed, warped, etc. (after 100k miles) and that you cannot expect to get the same amount of mileage out of a rebuilt engine as you got from it when it was new. My car is beginning to show some oil consumption (more than 1qt every 1200 miles) and at first I thought of dedicating this christmas to rebuilding it. Now I'm considering only taking off the head to replace the gasket (it does leak) and having the valves/head machined (new/knurled guides of course). I have a feeling (from looking down into other engines of it's type) that most of the oil loss may be from valve leakdown and not ring wear. All compression specs are at or above the factory specs (I may have some carbon around the rings to help me along). My major objective is to recover oil consumption (or lack thereof) with minimal engine trauma and greatest longevity. If I recondition the head will the added pressure (from well-sealing valves, etc.) simply accelerate the wear in the bottom end? Is it silly to do partial (top end) rebuilds? Am I being penny-wise and pound foolish? The car? Volvo 145. Engine? B20B Miles? 120,000 Well taken care of. Almost no major mechanical work to this point (head has never been off). Will summarize. -- Gregory R. Travis Institute for Social Research - Indiana University - Bloomington, In ihnp4!inuxc!isrnix!greg {pur-ee,allegra,qusavx}!isrnix!greg