Grey Motor teardown

[Orange Betty]

Advice from the machine shop is:
- cylinders need rebore - 40" for available pistons
- crank needs grinding 30" mains and 40" big end (no doubt due to spun bearings)
- close and hone rods
- shave block deck and head surface

Camshaft, head, valves etc otherwise ok.

$4,240 for everything (inclusive of pistons, rings bearings...). Does that sound reasonable?

Cheers

Dave

[Harv]

Feels about right. They are not cheap anymore. Can save a few pennies doing the assembly yourself, though that comes with all the normal warranty risk.

Cheers,
Harv

[Errol62]

For a grey you can expect up to $5k.

FB ute driver, EK van project

[Blacky]

Seems a little high for bottom end only ?

[Orange Betty]

Thanks all. So it appears to be in the ballpark. There are a few things I need to check but will probably bite the bullet and get the work done.

Cheers

Dave

[kermit17]

Hey Dave. A word of warning, if you are reassembling the engine yourself don't use the Permaseal rope rear main seal that comes in the engine reconditioning set. They are rubbish!!! I have recently recond my grey motor and I found that the seal that is provided in the set when installed crushes too easily and will quickly leak oil out the rear of the engine. I found a rope seal from a V8 Oldsmobile or Plymouth that worked a lot better. It is a square shaped seal approximately 8.5 X 8.5mm (see photos). The long fury looking seal is the type provided in the set, the 2 smaller pieces are the cut off ends of the seal I installed. I also put center punch marks in the seal groove to make sure the seal does not spin. This is just my 2 cents worth as an ex motor mechanic for what its worth. Cheers Peter

[FbSTDwagon]

Good thread!
I’m about to start the build of a hotty grey motor myself.

Can’t wait!

[Orange Betty]

Hey Dave. A word of warning, if you are reassembling the engine yourself don't use the Permaseal rope rear main seal that comes in the engine reconditioning set. They are rubbish!!! I have recently recond my grey motor and I found that the seal that is provided in the set when installed crushes too easily and will quickly leak oil out the rear of the engine. I found a rope seal from a V8 Oldsmobile or Plymouth that worked a lot better. It is a square shaped seal approximately 8.5 X 8.5mm (see photos). The long fury looking seal is the type provided in the set, the 2 smaller pieces are the cut off ends of the seal I installed. I also put center punch marks in the seal groove to make sure the seal does not spin. This is just my 2 cents worth as an ex motor mechanic for what its worth. Cheers Peter

Thanks Peter, good advice. I have heard horror stories about the rope rear main seal!

Dave

[ardiesse]

Peter,

Would the better quality rear main bearing oil seal be the Graphtite one?

Rob

[kermit17]

I believe that both rope seals are impregnated with graphite. Its more about the structure of the fibers that makes them different. Mr Gasket in the US seem to have a wide variety of seals similar to the ones I used but the ones I used were leftover stock from another job so not sure what make or model. If you contact them direct and ask for 2 seals approximately 8.5mm squared x 130mm long they should have something that will fit. Hope this helps. Cheers Peter