|
| Top end rebuild- P55 (advice and ques... |
| Author |
Message |
    
Hans Poutsma
Advanced Member
Username: hansp77
Post Number: 46
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, December 14, 2008 - 07:36 am: | 
|
Hello again,
I want to do a top end rebuild on the p55 in my boat and would welcome any basic advice.
Not quite sure where to start with my questions...
I have recently bought a few boxes of P55 parts (about an engine and a half)- I have a decent block with nice clean looking cylinders, a couple of usable heads, 3 pistons, and a hell of a lot more (2 complete gearboxes, whole crankcase, parted crankcase, 2 carbs, 1 magneto, old bearings, new bearings, water pump, chains, original ST petcock, and lots of other random bits and pieces)...
I didn't want to tear into my engine without having parts at hand if I need them, and now I have a few.
Compression in my engine isn't so great, and as I have long been having trouble with it, this is the reason for the top-end rebuild- hopefully this is what finally improves things.
What I don't have is a full set of rings. I have 5 used ones in slightly varying condition (I have yet to check the gaps properly on them- but by eye in the cylinder they must be close to too worn if not over) a couple from a jar of loose parts with a little surface rust on them and three from the good piston out of a seized and cracked block (after cutting it apart, the other piston and rings had done the seizing and were stuffed).
So, first question, can I actually get new rings from somewhere? If so, details would be appreciated.
Do I try to contact http://www.stuartturnermarine.co.uk/ and see if they are selling parts yet- are there any other standard rings that fit it?
Other question, is it possible (or advisable) to rebore cylinders, get oversize rings, etc?
Also, gaskets. I have a couple of pretty roughed up copper ones I got off the two blocks in the spare parts but would hope that the ones on my engine are in better condition. Do I just re-use the best of them, and cut cardboard ones for the non-copper ones? Is the gasket forming compound any good for any of these joins?
my basic plan at the moment is to thoroughly clean up the parts that I MAY swap onto my engine, the block, the head, pistons, exhaust outlet, etc.
Then I want to pull off the top end of my engine, take it home (off the boat) clean it all up, and pick the best parts out of the lot of them to put it back together. At the very least I hope that my original expansion chamber cover is in good condition because the two spares I have are both cracked from expanding rust.
Then I hope to put it all back together... and have the thing start and run with ease... PLEASE!
anyway, theres a ramble and some questions,
advice as always, much appreciated (Especially about the rings)
Hans. |
Matthew Balkwell
Senior Member
Username: matt
Post Number: 80
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2008 - 04:28 am: |
|
Hans my dad and i sourced some rings from a supplier in Melbourne, we gave the business card to a friend and will try and get the address and forward it on to you.
I hope you have some room around the engine as lowering the block back on to the cases as well as fitting the pistons and new rings in can be quite a character building exercise.
We had a new copper sandwich head gasket made up by a company in Hornsby, Sydney, we use Hylomar gasket sealing compound.
Any probs dont hesitate to email.
Ps are any of your spare carbies a Solex with two bolts holding the float chamber on?
Matt and Ron |
Hans Poutsma
Advanced Member
Username: hansp77
Post Number: 47
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2008 - 05:09 am: |
|
awesome Matt, that would be great if you can track down that address for the rings.
Space around the engine- I have a little, but it has always been a bugger working on it in the boat. If this engine builds anymore of my character I think the boat will start to sink from the weight
Both my carbies are the cast bronze ones, both with one bolt in the top of the float chamber, both a little different to each other, and both a little different to the cast bronze one on my boat- but they both look like they will work fine (I think I am going to try to swap one of the spares on as I did a float repair to mine which added a little weight and I am not quite happy with it)
The gaskets- I am not sure what I will do. I am hoping that the ones on my engine are re-usable.
Do you mind me asking how much it cost to get the copper ones made up? Did you provide them the template?
Also, while your at it, how much did the rings cost you?
When I get a little time I will try to take and upload some photos of all these spares. Unfortunately a bit of it was junk. One block cracked, two expansion chamber covers cracked, one exhaust port cracked, one head dubious, etc...
However, if you or anyone else in oz needs any spares or strange little parts let me know- I might have something, there are lots of bits and pieces here. To buy all this stuff (and I had to buy it all at once), I had to justify it by saying (to the long suffering girl friend) that I would pass on/sell some of the stuff that I didn't need. ( )
Thanks for the reply,
Hans.
P.S this was my favourite score out of the lot, and something we were missing,
an original (and now polished up from black and skungy) gear control handle
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t304/hansp77/DSC00182-1.jpg |
Matthew Balkwell
Senior Member
Username: matt
Post Number: 81
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 04:29 pm: |
|
Hans, the rings were about one hundred dollars for a full set and the head gasket was forty dollars. When we put new rings on our n01 engine, compression improved to a extent that it would bounce start, but alas we have had another water leak some where in the engine as water is again appearing in the crankcases.
I will endeavor to find the rings suppliers details, as i have given this task to my dad who has a memory that has been impaired by the stress of owning a couple of Stuarts.
Matt and Ron. |
|
|
|
|
