Thread: FFR Refurb

Just got a couple of emails from a mate in the UK. He tracked down 2 sets of +.020" rings both priced about 110pounds per set.

Picked up a '70 Series 2A GS on Saturday (thanks Steve) so need to prioritise which project to work on. I must get the FFR engine back together as soon as the rings arrive then I need to get it undercover to protect the canvas from the weather.

So I now have a shed extension to build, engine to reassemble, rocking horse to finish and a baby due in a couple of weeks......looks like spare time will be a thing of the past.


Colin

Thanks Colin,
Your time or lack thereof sounds familiar! Why do we start so many things at once?
Thanks for the manifold details. I will contact them and put it on the shelf for a rainy day.
The fun will be undoing the old nuts which look more like brown lumps. Then I also need the manifold gasket and a pair of exhaust flanges (with gasket) , since mine is welded through. Is it a 3-bolt jobbie?
Mine dont look at all like John's new shiny ones
Rob.

Rob,

Manifold details :-

Land Rover Series 6CLY MANIFOLD (eBay item 220636219361 end time 08-Jan-11 16:14:21 AEDST) : Cars, Bikes, Boats

Freight is only $11



Colin

Colin,

Thanks a lot, theres lots of other great stuff there too.
Most is cheaper than the other ebay guy I've been using.
I have been looking for a straight bumber and he has new ones!
Looks like more christmas pressies for me.

I see there is a set of +.020 rings for $33.00?......

Rob.

The piston rings arrived from the USA a couple of weeks ago, now fitted and the engine is running without the smoke, more about the fitting to follow.......
I'm changing my phone/internet provider but had to switch to Telstra first if I wanted to port the phone number across so I've been without internet access for a while.

Anyway, while waiting for the rings to arrive I decided to check the brakes. The previous owner had 'spent a bit of money on the brakes'.
Took off the drivers side rear and found the drum full of EP90 & grease mix ! When it was degreased I found that the drum had been skimmed and relined shoes fitted along with a new wheel cylinder. Pulled back a dust cover on the wheel cylinder and found brake fluid had leaked past the seals !! Not sure if the linings can be saved, but degreased them and put them back in for the time being along with a seal kit in the 'new' wheel cylinder. Wheel bearings were OK so fitted a new seal and re-packed the bearings with grease.

Despite all the oil in the hub the stub axle had rust on it, another sign that this vehicle has spent some time sitting in water. I haven't been brave enough to look at the other brakes but I expect the worst.....

Amongst many other issues that need rectifying I now have to remove the steering box to fix a serious leak, replace the front passenger wing, straighten out the brushguard & bumper plus when removing the starter motor a thread stripped in the bell housing (must have been previously damaged).

The shed extension frame is up, I need to order the tin for the roof so I can get the FFR under cover to protect the canopy and the wife goes in to be induced on Tuesday (over a week overdue at the moment). Busy, busy, busy....


Colin

The piston rings arrived early in the New Year, just shoved in a mailbag. The box was a bit squashed but the rings survived OK.

I had to make a spring compressor to check the inlet valves, I have several but nothing with enough reach because of the integral inlet manifold on the 6cyl head. Valves OK, stem seals replaced.

The pistons had been cleaned and just needed the old rings removed and the new ones fitting (after checking the end gap in one of the bores). The second compression ring has an undercut to help reduce oil consumption, not sure whether this was the norm with these motors or because if a set of rings are supplied separately they will be usually fitted into a worn bore ?
Then I had to deal with the 3thou wear ridge at the top of the bore. A friend suggested trying to hire a ridge remover but I'm not sure whether they are suited to an F-head motor. Anyway after a but of hunting I located some scrapers that I last used in the UK (I've been in Australia now for 13 years). Hard work with the motor still in the car but the wear ridge was removed and the bores honed.

Exhaust valves OK so just re-ground them.

Re-assembly was straightforward. Cleaned the carby, reset the timing, fitted the new exhaust manifold and check everything over.
Started second time, smoked briefly (oil used during assembly), then stopped, then started again (oil being sprayed onto the bores and the scraper rings not yet bedded in) then finally stopped again.

Run it for a while and found no leaks (oil or water) but it was a bit tappety so re-adjusted both inlet and (once it was cold) the exhaust tappets. Isn't the 6cyl motor a brilliant design when it comes to getting to the exhaust tappets ! Either remove the exhaust manifold or (as I did) remove the filter to allow removal of the dipstick tube to get the cover out of the way. Then get on top of the motor and hang upside down to complete the adjustments.
My work colleague with the 6cyl Rover recons it's easier to remove the engine to adjust them.

Colin

Back to work after paternity leave, now have internet access....

A couple more images of the engine overhaul are attached.
Over the weekend I cleaned & flushed the cooling system and added some corrosion inhibitor. This is much cheaper than anti-freeze and will be OK while I'm not using it on the road.

It starts easily, there's no smoke at all but the exhaust is a bit noisy. The previous owner had a new full length exhaust system installed but the silencer box has burst open ?! Maybe coasting downhill, in gear then turn on the ignition .... BANG ? Who knows but I'll have to take it off at some point and see if it can be repaired otherwise I'm up for a silencer.
I was thinking of buying a new silencer anyway because I have the original front mounted exhaust but the silencer has rusted out.
Anyone know a supplier for the 6cyl silencer at a reasonable price ?

Now it moves I drove it down the garden and jetwashed it. I was surprised at how much dirt was on chassis rails, under wheel arches etc. The exhaust system looked corroded but it was just layers of red dirt cooked on.

I need to get the other wheels off and investigate the brakes. I found at the weekend that the master cylinder reservoir is damaged from UV exposure so I need a new one before I go much further with the braking system.

I'm also experiencing problems with the gearchange. If you push across to the reverse detent then try to find first gear you cannot get it. Pull back to the right a bit and there it is. Something else to investigate......

Colin

Found a few hours spare time at the weekend (between changing nappies and trying to catch up on sleep) so i decided to remove the other rear wheel to investigate the brakes.

The good news is that apart from surface rust on the drum the linings are new (not even bedded in), wheel cylinder wasn't leaking but I'll put a seal kit in it anyway. My brake specialist, the father-in-law, suggested that the seals on the other side had failed because of the EP90 that had filled the drum.
The bad news is that the wheel bearings are rusted, in fact I got water out with the oil when I removed the hub once again confirming that this vehicle has spend some time sitting in deep water.

I haven't got a nickname for the FFR yet but something involving submarines would be appropriate.......


Colin