Crikey...my subscription to this topic obviously expired (damn board) - you guys have been busy!! I found out the fun way that you can fit a redblock in the boot of a 300 without folding the seats down

cheers

James

I love this shot...



"Don't take bloody pictures of me when I'm on my back trying to undo this extremely tight bolt!!"

cheers

James

That was an extremely rusty and seized up clutch cable bolt.

Anyway, I've got all the bits together and have been putting the head together this weekend, so I thought you'd like a few progress pictures:

Head coming together.


From this:


To this:


Tappet buckets and shims ready to go in. Careful with the order there.


Lots of parts.


Even more parts, it sure does take a lot to make an engine.



I'd just got the camshaft in and was checking the valve clearances when, guess what, it rained, so had to abandon hope of getting that sorted this weekend.

The block should be ready from the engineering firm next week, so should be able to put it together next weekend, hopefully, if the weather holds.

Crikey dude, you're really going for it! Good work!

While it's off, can you give me some measurement of the combustion chambers in the head? Just width x height will do fine...I'm trying to assess the viability of a (better flowing) 531 (from a B230ET) swap.

cheers

James

width: Lengthways, 92.3ish mm. Widthways 73ish mm.
Height: 14mm ish.

Excellent work! That confirms what Jani (JTBO) said (he was a little unsure if his was a 530 head from a 2.0 or a 2.3). So B200s have some bore overlap / mushrooming....so a (better flowing) 531 with further overlap - where the CC width is ~94mm - is probably a reasonable swap, doubts regarding compression ratio excepted.

Watch this space for further research on the CR with a B200 530 vs a B230 531.

cheers

James

foggyjames wrote:Watch this space for further research on the CR with a B200 530 vs a B230 531.

Interesting... seeing as I know a cheap source of a B230 531!

Well pull it anyway, as I have a LONG list of Americans who want them...the profit can be all yours

cheers

James

With the warmer weather, the replacement engine is starting to knock at idle, sounds like one of the main bearing shells.

Was quiet up to now, probably held together with rust LOL.

Anyway, the rods are on their way, should have them in a couple of weeks time, hopefully I will have built the engine up in time to fit next May Bank Holiday.

I think, to save damaging the engine, I'm gonna run it in using the OEM setup, and convert to MS when the first oil change gets done, around about 500 miles ish, from running in oil to Castrol semi-synth.

pettaw wrote:With the warmer weather, the replacement engine is starting to knock at idle, sounds like one of the main bearing shells.

Crikey Andy...are you sure you've got this right? I mean B200s are totally bomb-proof, especially in naturally aspirated guise - the engine is just so under-stressed. You say you've had two that need rebuilding without huge mileages on them - are you sure you're not being too fussy? They might eventually (after 150k of short journeys say) give a little piston slap (mine does very slightly) when cold, but they'll run for another 100k before it starts to affect compression, etc to a measurable degree. Griz has a B230FK (turbo) in his 940 with ~230k on it...it smokes a little due to a very hard life, but it doesn't knock noticably.

cheers

James

Nope, this one 100% certain has a main bearing knock. Don't forget it sat in Pete's front garden for 4 years.

Surely bearing knock is due to wear, so a lower mileage engine would be less likely to suffer from it? I can't see how an engine sitting would wear the bearings. Redblocks are famous for lasting hundred of thousands of miles, especially in NA guise, yet you've had two which you think have needed major surgery, which is why I'm suspicious you're making too much of some of the noises they make. I mean a rebuild / freshen up can only be a good thing, but I can't help feeling it's a little premature, especially with this later engine.

My engine makes a few creaks and knocks, especially when cold, but it never uses any oil, and as was proven recently, it can keep up with a B200E surprisingly well. I've not run a compression test, but I'm planning to, and I'll not expect to see a problem - despite 130k of previously short journeys, and latterly some hard driving, albeit intersperced with hundreds of motorway miles.

Don't take this the wrong way BTW...I'm trying to be helpful, not as asshat Which bits did you remove from your old B200E BTW? I'm potentially looking for a piston set...used will do for now.

cheers

James

From my experiance with these engines a very badly serviced engine will start to give trouble at the 120,000 mark but no sooner. My dads 240GLT is now over 250,000 miles and still going strong.
James I have loads of new piston sets for 2.1 and 2.3 and possibly 2ltr £80 and a set is yours.

Dai

Hi Dai,

I'm looking for the high compression 2.0 ones from an 86/87 or earlier B200. Any joy there?

cheers

James

I'll have a look

Dai