In the March issue we focussed on assessing a project, and that included some thoughts on how to check on the condition of its engine. This issue we will add some meat to those bones, before moving on next issue to the internal components.
This issue’s instalment will inevitably be short on specifics for individual engines as we cannot possibly hope to cover each and every one in any detail, so please do take it as a starting point and refer to a workshop manual for a focus on your unit. One word of warning on that workshop manual though – don’t take every word in it as gospel! Manufacturers are constantly tinkering with their designs through the production life of a car, and not even the most diligent author of an aftermarket manual will be able to keep up with every nip and tuck. They will also make the occasional error or omit a vital detail, because they are only human after all.
Factory workshop manuals are generally more accurate, but we have seen errors creep into those too. By and large a workshop manual should be your first point of reference and will usually be correct, but if anything does not look or feel quite right, be prepared to talk to specialists and people in the relevant club, and these days to also trawl the internet for additional help and advice – always bearing in mind of course that not everything you read on the internet is true! In this vein, do not rely on the internet as your sole source of information in lieu of a workshop manual – some have tried and come a cropper!
Before stripping the engine in your project, consider carefully whether this is actually necessary. Once you start to take an engine apart, you are committing to a fairly sizeable outlay even if
