Decided to cut some costs as the budget was looking at a blowout. Therefore all the resurfacing and honing ive done myself with only the head to go to an actual workshop. The honing went really well good cross hatching as in pics. So now its all oiled and wrapped up waiting for me to come back from Adelaide/Datsport with an arm load of goodies

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Simon,

1978 Stanza, undergoing track spec build.

nothing better than the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself (when it works)

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http://www.healingchambers.com.au

Considering all 4 took less then 30 mins im amazed I considered paying someone It really wasnt that hard just somewhat daunting with the "what if I stuff it" thought in the back of my head but yeh, she's come good.

deck surface needs a good cleanup which ill do while the heads off being cleaned up. Im happy to give most things a go but all the little intricacies of heads scare me off a bit.

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Simon,

1978 Stanza, undergoing track spec build.

with a basic workshop manual on the car, even the gregory's ones are fine, you can do almost anything (if you have the tools) alot of it is easier than thought, cause of all the pedantic engine builders who try brainwashing people into thinking it's life or death sorta stuff, which it isn't

just remember, if you are unsure about something, double check it, even do a list of what you have/haven't done yet, ie tightended bolts etc, last this you want to forget is leaving a rod bolt loose/not torqued properly etc

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http://www.healingchambers.com.au

I completed my pilgrimage to the holy site of Datsport on the weekend.

12 hours there and 13 back (thankyou time changes and weather.) Baz is a genius and the everything there was boggling, wanted to handover my credit card on the spot and fill the boot of the golf but unfortunately, couldnt

So picked up all my new bearings, timing gear, rings etc and will be at work this week and next and hopefully have it into the Stanza shortly.

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Simon,

1978 Stanza, undergoing track spec build.

So i started cleaning up my block visually and giving it a fresh coat of high temp enamel in my favourite colour. Red

After giving it a hit with the pressurised degreaser and the steel brush, a good wipe down with plenty of paper towel. I prepped to spray. Not being a professional painter by any means nor having any masking tape I did what I could, which wasnt much.

Im happy with the result though and the minimal precautions I took whilst not great were sufficient. Results speak for themselves. I havent done the other side yet as wanted to see how first side went. And i managed to use the oil filter I had for the ford I sold on the weekend for something useful.

When asked by the missus, "whats the point of spraying it" I actually had a good answer. "To help my find any leaks when its reassembled. Not to mention itll just look better "

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Simon,

1978 Stanza, undergoing track spec build.

Got stuck in. Knocked the welch plugs in. Got the deck cleaned up, new main bearings in and crank in. Main caps back on. Fitted new piston rings and then realised i dont have a compressor. So yeh, when i get one of those i'll move on

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Simon,

1978 Stanza, undergoing track spec build.

So I had a day off yesterday. I call it a "mental health day" as I was going insane from doing NOTHING whilst something is fixed that prevents me from working. So i got stuck into my engine

When we left our hero he had finished re-installing the crank! So I got to putting the pistons in and this has seriously been the biggest C U Next Tuesday in the whole process so far. Basically you need 4 hands.

One to hold the con rod
One to slip the ring compressor over the piston
One to tighten the compressor
One to stabilise during the whole process

So i managed with two hands because im awesome.

Note to self - Buy 14mm socket to tighten con rod bolts.

So then the next step is head on, noticed a big tag on my head from the workshop saying "FINAL CLEAN NOT DONE" I thought best to inspect closely and sure enough, under the open valves were lovely metal shavings... that wouldve gone well in my bores! With all that crap removed and everthing shiny clean with a metho polish, head gasket on, then the head itself.
TA DA!

Threaded in the head bolts but again note to self - buy 14mm hex socket to tighten head bolts.

Next step, timing chain. Ive already timed the cam so that cylinder one is matched to the power stroke. Should be OK to just fit the chain, do a final check and its all OK. So I put the chain on, the guides on the chain tensioner... **** **** ****!!!! Sheared one of the chain tensioner bolts.

So until i figure out how to get that sucker out and find a replacement bolt... im stuck. So im thinking this weekend might be a good time to start pulling the Stanzas motor out. Mums given me the OK to use a carport space

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Simon,

1978 Stanza, undergoing track spec build.

As you mightve seen in the sheared bolt thread ive been considerably held up.

So i will be pulling the head off and transporting the motor to JP510s place for bolt extraction. Which is a setback but you live and learn.

So i got stuck into the Stanza yesterday, starting to pull the old motor out. Havent done an L series before so going slow, taking pics as i go etc etc. Pretty much all the fuel/air hoses in the bay need replacement from cracking (and me cracking the shits at stubborn old hose and hacking them ) So got up to pulling the carb manifold off and more to be done tonight.

_________________
Simon,

1978 Stanza, undergoing track spec build.

30 years of grime makes it tricky to work. Anyways everythings undone and waiting on a crane to get it out.

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Simon,

1978 Stanza, undergoing track spec build.

is that the gearstick lever/hole?

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http://www.healingchambers.com.au

Sure is. Split pin nut holding it on needed some WD to get her going.

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Simon,

1978 Stanza, undergoing track spec build.

Dropped my 5 speed into a workshop today to get cleaned up and checked out.

2nd and 3rd are worn out and theres rust on the spigot. Spewing. I knew about the rust but 2nd and 3rd will stick apparently.

$400 to reco... thats what my whole engine rebuild is costing

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Simon,

1978 Stanza, undergoing track spec build.

Just readin your topic is inspiring me to rebuild mine, I bet the rings have never been changed, it doesn't blow any smoke but a simple clean up and freshen up couldn't hurt?

You will see that taking the enigne out is one thing then putting the new one in is another, you may have things missing and may or may not forget where things go but that's the fun about it.

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"You stay classy OzDat"

Im taking photos of EVERYTHING before i remove it so I have a reference point to go back to. Most of the hoses are cracked or corroded as you'd expect after 30 years. It hasnt been as hard as i thought it would be but then i wont know if ive done everything right until the first start up i suppose...

Cleaned up the carby last night and found the grime from 30 years caked on, shiny bits of metal hiding underneath black dirt and old fuel. Not 100% clean but at least presentable.

Also painted the air filter box... just for a bit more rice

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Simon,

1978 Stanza, undergoing track spec build.