Over the years I have received much valuable info on this site that has helped me maintain my ‘74 coupe. Well, I went and bought a ‘78 TVR 3000 S with a Ford v6 3 liter engine which has developed a knock. Having great difficulty locating a rebuilt engine or even someone who wants to work on it. So, I am wondering if I can do the work myself? I have done head jobs and other work so I have some skills and certainly enough to realize what I can/cannot do. If I can get parts from England, can I do a bottom end rebuild myself or is this out of the question without a well-equipped machine shop? TIA!
Not BMW: Rebuilding bottom end
- Thread starter bill
- Start date
You can absolutely do it yourself.
Let me know if you want to use my engine hoist and I have an engine stand you can use too. I will not need either any time soon.
I don’t know about machine shops near you, but I use Stauffers Automotive and Machine in (near) Royorsford PA. They do an excellent job and will be quite capable of helping with any machine work you might need.
I enjoyed rebuilding my m30 and I am sure you would have fun doing your TVR. When is the engine pulling party?
Let me know if you want to use my engine hoist and I have an engine stand you can use too. I will not need either any time soon.
I don’t know about machine shops near you, but I use Stauffers Automotive and Machine in (near) Royorsford PA. They do an excellent job and will be quite capable of helping with any machine work you might need.
I enjoyed rebuilding my m30 and I am sure you would have fun doing your TVR. When is the engine pulling party?
Nah, it's toast. I'll buy the carcass for $500.. (Kidding!) TVRs are very cool.. How did you get that into the country?
jmackro
Well-Known Member
I agree with boonies: you can absolutely do it yourself. As long as you have a competent machine shop doing the crankshaft grinding, valve guides & seats and other specialized work, engine rebuilding is basically "unbolt, measure, re-torque" kind of work. The hardest parts are:
- Installing the gaskets so that they won't leak oil or coolant.
- Un-shoehorning the engine from the engine bay, and re-shoehorning it back in, without dinging up the paint. Having a helper can be useful for these two operations.
You are also going to have to decide what else to do "while you are in there". Re-hone the cylinder walls and replace the rings? Rebuild the head? Replace the oil pump?
- Installing the gaskets so that they won't leak oil or coolant.
- Un-shoehorning the engine from the engine bay, and re-shoehorning it back in, without dinging up the paint. Having a helper can be useful for these two operations.
You are also going to have to decide what else to do "while you are in there". Re-hone the cylinder walls and replace the rings? Rebuild the head? Replace the oil pump?
It came over in ‘78. Bought it from a friend at the New Hope Car show.
Lance, I think “this will be the beginning of a long friendship.”