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Engine assembly tips and tricks

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 5:00 am
by tpond
Hello all,

I am about to put my Mk1 engine back together after freshening up all the bits. I have a couple of specific questions, but would also love to hear any general tips you all have to share.

First question: Please look at this picture of the spacer in between the cam drive gear and the distributor drive. I just noticed that it is not sitting flush, as it is hitting the woodruff key under the cam drive. I can only assume that this needs to be remedied, any ideas how?

Image

Second question: What is the trick with installing the camshaft? Both the oil pump housing and the rear " bearing block" :? (not sure what it is called), need to be sealed and installed once the case halves are together. How do you hold the camshaft in position until then?

Sorry for the dumb questions, but I only want to do this once!

Re: Engine assembly tips and tricks

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 5:13 pm
by tpond
Ok, I solved the spacer problem. I put the wrong key in the slot under the cam drive gear. Now it is all fixed, and the crank is squarely mounted into the cases. If anyone has tips on mounting the cam, I am all ears!

Thanks!

Re: Engine assembly tips and tricks

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 7:07 pm
by Goatwerks
Common sense answer is to use the pump housing and front cam support cap/bearing to hold in place. After case is mated and case bolts torqued, slide the pump housing off, install gasket and sealer where required(Permatex Aviation Sealant or equivalent), fasten pump, repeat for bearing cap, remember the shim in bearing bore.

Re: Engine assembly tips and tricks

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 1:24 am
by tpond
Thanks Jim!

This shim?

Image

Re: Engine assembly tips and tricks

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 4:50 am
by Goatwerks
Yep!

Re: Engine assembly tips and tricks

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 5:15 am
by tpond
Goatwerks wrote:Yep!
You are a gentleman and a scholar! Your help is appreciated!

Re: Engine assembly tips and tricks

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 1:50 pm
by kerry460
i hope you read my comments regarding the main bearings .

fit the bearings in the crankcase , without the crankshaft . scribe small alignment marks on the bearing .
then you know they are correctly placed when assembling .
also it is best to remove the welch plugs from the crankshaft . so you can totally clean the crap out of the inside .
not the easiest to fit new plugs .
kerry

Re: Engine assembly tips and tricks

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 5:07 pm
by tpond
Kerry,

Thanks for the tips! I used a felt tip marker to give reference marks on the main bearing. Regarding the plugs, ii had a machine shop remove the plugs from the crank and clean it out properly, they also installed new plugs...

Now I have the everything mounted up in the cases, and plan to get it all together today.