Best place (quality / price) for 1800 engine bits

[ClaytonSpeed]

Hello all,

Who do you use for 1800 engine bits? I'm talking standard parts for rebuild: bearings, rings and or pistons etc. I've priced up bits at brown and gammons, they seem to be reasonable on price, but who else do you trust?

I'm planning my engine build on the '72 TC (Ronnie) but want to do it right first time :-)

Thanks!

[JubileeNut]

Mine went to an MG specialist and he seemed to know all. He got me the pistons and all the bits but he gave me a few options on what I got or had done. I got the good pistons which I think were Hepolite.
The engine was fully balanced top and bottom which keeps the flywheel weight so good for hills but makes it rev better

[Uncle Frank]

Hi Ben, I have used` MGB Hive` in the past and found them to be helpful and reasonable for prices on all `B` bits, Moss are pretty good too

[ClaytonSpeed]

Thanks guys !

Paul, good idea on the balancing :-) i would like it to rev better ;-)

How much did your build up cost, if you don't mind me asking? I'm happy to build the motor back up after the machining work, as this is something I may have to do for my business, so I'm interested in what others charge ;-)

Ben

[JubileeNut]

From Memory I spent £921 on the engine Got the recept some where -
Are --




It shows cost of parts for rebuild - hope it helps.
It gets expensive. I put the engine together the only assembly done by this guy was the con rods on the pistons

[minispeedstar]

Good luck getting the main bearing caps off. They're a bitch without the tool!

[ClaytonSpeed]

Thanks Paul! Helps a lot :-)

Ah, yes saddled caps.. I've seen them removed with a slide hammer adapted, like this:



Looks ok, but I'd be worries about the thread it could damage.. Any thoughts?

[minispeedstar]

Yep the threads can strip in the cap. Getting them back on is a task too without the bearing falling out as u tap it down.

[JubileeNut]

I seem to remember the caps being tight to get off and a bitch to put back but I can't remember how I did it
I have no tool to do it but may have made up something to pull it out and I think it went back with a copper mallet

[ClaytonSpeed]

Yeah I've fitted o series ones with a copper mallet so guessed that was the same. Will have play once I've stripped and cleaned up the engine and its on the stand.

Ben

[Martec]

Gently tap them from side to side until they move, then put a bolt in and mole grips (on the bolt head) and they come out.

Brian

[ClaytonSpeed]

Started the strip down on the engine this afternoon. It's loosing oil from the chest covers and the oil filter stack housing as seen here:





And so the investigation continues..