Grey motor rebuild

Brown Bear · Post by **Brown Bear** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:43 am

Hi everyone,

I'm looking at getting the grey in my FB rebuilt, as it has a hollow knock under load / acceleration - my mechanic believed this to be worn gudgeons.

Would anyone be able to recommend an engine builder in the Newcastle / Hunter region to carry out this work?

Cheers,

Matt

FB MAD · Post by **FB MAD** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:01 pm

Hi Matt,

Don't know whether they are still in business or not but try Wilkie Engines ( used to be in Cardiff ) as they have been around since the '70's ( or before ) and would have done some work on the grey's in the early years.
They specialised in performance work as well as standard stuff.Their performance heads were well known around Newcastle in the '70's and '80's

I had them do some machine work done on a XD 6 cyl F#*D engine and a 253 Holden V8 in the early '90's that I assembled myself and didn't have any problems with their machine work quality.

I'll have a look in yellow pages and see if I can find a number for them.

Terry.

Brown Bear · Post by **Brown Bear** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:00 pm

Thanks Terry,

I've looked at a few options out of the yellow pages, but it's all much the same as far as cost / time goes. Just keen to see if anyone had any favourites

Cheers,

Matthew

FB wannabe · Post by **FB wannabe** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:43 pm

How much is it these days to get the old grey reconditioned ? are you going standard or warm ?

Brown Bear · Post by **Brown Bear** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:04 pm

The quotes i've got range from $5000 (balanced, dynoed, leak tested etc) down to $1500, though most seem to settle around the $2500 mark.

My engine was overhauled just over 3 years ago, having a cam, larger valves, balanced bottom end and lightened flywheel included - something just hasn't worked out and hence the low down knock under load. I'm hoping for a strip down to reveal a dodgy gudgeon or something which doesn't neccesiate an entire rebuild.

Facts are - it doesn't leak oil, blow smoke or use fuel excessively, so you'll probably think I'm just whinging and shouldn't complain, but I hear it and it annoys me!

FB MAD · Post by **FB MAD** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:13 pm

If it was a recent reco like you said and was done only three years ago and hasn't done any big miles or overly excessive abuse then I'd do a post mortem and find out whats wrong with it.

Might end up being a lesser cost if you replace just the parts you need.

If its to be off the road for a while in at the doctors then I'd be just whacking a standard grey in to keep you going till it comes home.

Terry.

Brown Bear · Post by **Brown Bear** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 3:18 pm

Precisely what I want done!

Very, very annoying to have spent $3000 + and still have to fix it again so soon. Trouble is, everyone I've called seems to want to replace it all - something I've got to keep an eye on when it's in the shop.
HB Sales at Mayfield (Islington) seem to have been around for some time and are quoting around $1500. Still, it needs to be the right job, not just the cheapest...

I have a spare EK grey with 95,000 miles on it that may get a turn if things don't work out!

FB MAD · Post by **FB MAD** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 3:32 pm

They want to" replace it all " because its not their money thats being spent!!

Terry.

Brown Bear · Post by **Brown Bear** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:02 pm

OK, mid - build update time!

Everythings been stripped own, with the following identified;

* Oil pump gears severely worn
* Crank bearings showing uneven (scratchy) wear
* Crack in cylinder head combustion chamber
* Corrosion wear in one cylinder.

Gratefully the pistons - which were a new set last rebuild - are still ok, as is the best part of the bottom end. Build cost is set to be around the $2000 mark, but it seems that theres been more to fix than expected, and these guys aren't out to do a halfway job. And I don't want to have to pull the motor out, ever, again....