Engine Swap: Re-Alignment?

[geodon]

This am I fired up the 173 that was attached to my replacement adaptor whilst it was temporarily mounted to my rolling chassis to test it.

It ran, but:

*The tappet noise made my teeth rattle
*It puffed smoke out the oil filler like the Marlboro Man
* I got wet feet from having all the coolant pumped out of the radiator overflow.

NOT A GOOD LOOK. I didn't bother with a compression test.

I have a better 186 that ran OK albeit with compression down about 20% on No.6 pot.

If I swap the adaptor plate onto the 186, will re-alignment be necessary?

[Slunnie]

Doesn't the adaptor do the aligning?

[Lotz-A-Landies]

...
I have a better 186 that ran OK albeit with compression down about 20% on No.6 pot.

If I swap the adaptor plate onto the 186, will re-alignment be necessary?

Did you try the oil into the cylinder trick to check if it is rings or valves?

(If the compress comes up its worn rings, if it doesn't then you have a burned valve, or head gasket problem)

[wrinklearthur]

This am I fired up the 173 that was attached to my replacement adaptor whilst it was temporarily mounted to my rolling chassis to test it.
*The tappet noise made my teeth rattleA motor that has been sitting around for years, the hydraulic lifters do take a while to free up and quieten
*It puffed smoke out the oil filler like the Marlboro Man same for the rings, do a couple of oil changes with some engine flush using some cheap oil
* I got wet feet from having all the coolant pumped out of the radiator overflow. check your bottom hose to see if the wire spring is still intact as the hose will collapse and cause the radiator to over flow as the pump tries to circulate the coolant

NOT A GOOD LOOK. I didn't bother with a compression test. probably crook until the rings free up a bit

I have a better 186 that ran OK albeit with compression down about 20% on No.6 pot. same as above

If I swap the adaptor plate onto the 186, will re-alignment be necessary? just do the checks as suggested else where on this forum.

...

[geodon]

Yes Diana! I know that trick and your suspicions are correct: the compression did NOT rise when I squirted oil down the plughole so the head will come off & I'll have a sticky beak at the valves. I MAY consider a conversion to ULP compatible valve seats dep on $$$.

Agreed Arthur, The bottom hose is spring free as it's made from right angles & metal pipe. I intend to fabricate someting with copper angles & straights then attach via short lengths of rubber hose. PLUS when I took off the rad cap looking for bubbles & the coolant POURED out the rad inlet like it was a blowhole, ergo, something is pushing it out "With Extreme Prejudice". If I'm lucky, it's a head gasket. Do Holden blocks crack into the water jackets? If this was a 4.2 litre Jag XK motor it would be an each-way bet as the metal bet the 2 central holes was so weakened by increasing the bore it split into the water jackets mercilessly if the coolant was lost! The old 3.4's were far more forgiving.

I WILL check the alignment: I have the gear now. At least I know the adaptor is fairly true.

[wrinklearthur]

when I took off the rad cap looking for bubbles & the coolant POURED out the rad inlet like it was a blowhole, something is pushing it out "With Extreme Prejudice". If I'm lucky, it's a head gasket. Do Holden blocks crack into the water jackets?

Yes, I am sorry to say. I gummed mine up with some Bars Leak, but that was a slow leak from the engine block water jacket into the sump, It didn't give any more trouble and we had it for years after that.

If the motor is cold and the coolant is doing that then, I would say that there isn't any restriction between the water pump and the radiator cap, has someone thrown the thermostat ?

Do you have severe frosts where you are?
.

[geodon]

Yes, Arthur, someone HAD tossed the 'stat but I put it back! It beggars belief how many ppl think taking it out improves cooling! That's only true if it's stuck closed.

It was OK cold & only started as it warmed up. It must be one hell of a leak. Funny how there were no bubbles however.

Anyhow, it's off with the 186's head and we'll take it from there!