UK Speedbird

Hi Guys,

Ok well if you remember I was spending this winter pulling my engine to change the dreaded Freeze plugs. Well after not too much hassle I’ve managed to pull the engine and sit it on a stand at the side of the car! I’m glad I did take it out because I found that not only have the two side plugs gone, but one of the rear impossible to get to ones has gone too. Ok well my question is, now I have it out I’m going to change ALL the plugs, but what else should I do while the engines out?
I’m obviously going to clean the engine bay and degrease and paint the engine (I found a leak at the valve cover gasket near the number 6 cylinder) I’m going to change the EGR valve and the knock sensor too seeing how there easy to get to also.
The engine was running fine when I pulled it so I don’t want to do anything too radical so any ideas would be appreciated. I’ve been looking at the MSD-8226 coil to replace my stock one is this any good and is it ok to bolt it straight in?

Speed.

Six_Shooter

iTrader: (2)

There's nothing like the first time you pull an engine, doesn't seem so daunting afterwards, does it?

Mostly just clean up and repair anything that needs it. A re-gasket would be a good idea at this stage, maybe just valve cover and oil pan gaskets, if everything else looks fine. Check the rear cam cover, if there is ANY sign of leakage from here, replace it now.

85projectZ28

man u should do a lil home based tuning! port your heads! they will be easier to get to now that the engine is out. i heard it takes forever and a day to do tho.

UK Speedbird

Yeah I’m pretty pleased with myself but I still have to get it back in and running yet! The biggest problem I had was just getting the engine out, getting a crane long enough (in England we sell only tiny little cranes for tiny little engines!) Then I had to prefabricate a plywood base because my garage entrance is on gravel AND a slope!
I’ve made my own little Haynes manual too taking photos and recording each piece that came off. I’ve already sent for new gaskets for the plenum, valve cover and a new Oil pan and gasket (old pan has hit a speed bump at sometime and has been repaired before I acquired the car) So I think I’m good for those bit’s. A rear cam cover I’ve not sent for though, I’ll get straight on to that one thanks Six Shooter.

Speed.

nixon5

might as well buy a new cam an put it while you have it out then do porting and polishing.

UK Speedbird

Not sure I'll do that Nixon, I'm happy with the way the car is internally. I'm pretty new to all this and the last thing I want to do is mess around with something that I needn't. I only had to get the engine out to change the freeze plugs and just want to change the bits on the outside that are now easy to get to. Course though I haven't started cleaning it yet so who knows what i'll end up doing!

speed.

2.8RS

iTrader: (5)

Deffinatley do some preventative maintenance while it is out. Go ahead and throw a cam in to have some fun. Also if you don't know the LIM gaskets are notorious for going out on these motors. It probably wouldn't hurt to get those replaces and get your injectors cleaned with the intakes as well. If you want an oil pan I have a spare one if you are not comfortable with that one you have.

UK Speedbird

LIM gaskets? Sorry 2.8 I've not heard of them where are they? Yeah would love your spare pan if it's in good condition and will fit my 3.1. Was looking at buying a new one from RockAuto or ebay. I've already managed to get a chrome tranny pan and a better oil pan would be great.

speed.

noahTHEpurdy

iTrader: (1)

LIM = Lower Intake Manifold.

UK Speedbird

Doh, yep course...... Thanks Noah

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

I think you ought to go one step more. If the engine is out, you should replace ALL gaskets and the timing set. If your engine was running good, then you can leave your rings and bearings alone.

I personally would strip the engine completely apart, clean everything, and then put it back together re-using all of your good parts. It won't cost more than a gasket set and a timing set. It is so nice to have everything clean and re-torqued. It will give your engine a new lease on life!

At a minimum, please change the timing set to a quality aftermarket setup. It really does help, and your factory piece really is worn out. Just measure it and see...

forkvoid

iTrader: (1)

Personally, I'd regasket everything from the intake up, leaving the heads and block alone. Timing set for sure.

UK Speedbird

Timing set, you mean the chain etc? Well my engine has 70,000 on the clock so I guess it would be a good idea to change it. Could i do that without upsetting the timing? I must admit i've not even given a thought to changing the chain.

Speed.

2.8RS

iTrader: (5)

Get a double roller timing chain and gears, also replace all gaskets. It is a good idea since you never know when the old gaskets could go out.

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

Right. At 70,000 you've worn out your stock chain and you are getting ready for the water pump failure that overheats you and gives you the head gasket failure.

Gaskets and timing chains are cheap. Get good gaskets and a double roller timing set for sure. The timing gears are marked so you can change them without wrecking your setup very easily.

2.8RS

iTrader: (5)

A waterpump really isn't necessary but it wouldn't hurt. I still have the stocker at 140K miles but I am going to replace it with the new motor.

UK Speedbird

Oh great! Thanks Kris now I'm worried that my car's gonna blow up when I put it all back together!! Right water pump and timing set it's on my shopping list. Any idea guy's where i can get this double roller type one? I've looked on RockAuto but it says nothing about double roller, and summit don't have them? I gotta go to bed now (postie and up early) so I'll answer any more sugestions tomorrow. Thanks for the ideas guys, something tells me my credit cards gonna take a battering this month!

Speed

zs&tas

hey mate give usautomotive in bedford a call or visit there site, they will get you anything and everything you need. legends.

xbcrguy182x

Might as wel throw in a 350 while its out...lol

forkvoid

iTrader: (1)

...and then have to replace the transmission, crossmember, motor mounts, springs, engine harness, all new pulleys... and that's just the beginning.

If you want to tell us v6 guys to drop in a 350, go to the engine swap forum. This is the v6 forum; I think you've gotten lost.

zs&tas

ScottieB

if your bolts look worn, do NOT put them back in. i had to replace my whole intake and up because .... i had a worn t-stat bolt that i broke off i tried to use the "ease out's" but they broke in it too... they are 2-3$ a piece from the chevy house (and then shipped to you). and order any other bolts that you think you should need

While your engine is out, you can keep the stock exhaust on it, but i would put down $200 for headers if you want your v6 to sound mean if not, just make sure that no bolts are broken off of your stock exhaust manifolds. I recommend replacing the distributor/cap/rotor, spark plugs, and wires if needed too. give your plenum, upper intake and lower intake a thorough cleaning, and your heads. Since it's out, i recommend new head gaskets as well, and you can get any gunk out while you're there too

check that rear cam seal, because mine is leaking too.


anything else you guys think he needs?

-ScottieB

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

You should be worried, hahahaha!!

Seriously, it's MUCH worse to put everything together and then have it crap out. Nothing like taking it out twice to help learn how it goes back together...

My favorite mail order guys are PAW. 1-818-678-3000

Their catalog is over 1000 pages and they usually charge 5 dollars or so for it.

2.8V6 timing chains

Cloyes true roller: CLO-9-3137, $103.95
Cloyes Plus: CLO-9-2137, $80.95

These prices are a few years old because I'm waiting on my new catalog.

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

Also, if you call Summit or Jeg's they can get almost anything you need from somewhere. They both have even gotten me Olds Diesel parts before!

Call before you despair any further!!

bl85c

iTrader: (2)

If you take a look at the second page about 1/2 way down the "aftermarket parts for 60* v6's" stickie you'll find a list of parts for your engine. Good ideas so far. Regasket, new timing set (don't forget the tensioner), freshen up the ignition, oil, filters (duh), and a good cleaning. For good measure throw in a new oil pump. Melling makes a high volume pump that's not much more than a replacement one. If you've got a chrome oil pan why not get chrome valvecovers too?

UK Speedbird

Yeah i've had stuff from USAutomotive zs, i've been sent the wrong parts before and ended up paying more for parts I could have got cheeper from the u.s. To be fair though it's not been all bad, but i find that I do like to get my parts direct from the U.S. even though I get battered with import duty!

Speed.

UK Speedbird

I love my V6! Yeah i could drop in a 350 but I like to be able to jump into the engine bay and work easily on it. Over here gas is £1.07 a litre thats $2.11 for you guys! A V6 makes sense. . Just! A 350 would mean I could only drive my car for about 250 miles a year instead of the 700 I usually do! And it might be two cylinders short but they still sound sexy!

UK Speedbird

Thanks ScottieB, I went down to Halfords this afternoon and bought two tins of gunk (engine de-greaser) and some aluminium cleaner. I do have a broken bolt (done before i got the car . Honest!) on the exhaust manifold, the upper one on the no'2 cylinder, i was going to remove the cylinder heads and get them (manifolds) taken off, but seeing how the cars fine for the time being and money restrictions I'm gonna have to leave em. As for the plugs, wires cap etc, I did these last year so i think i'm ok there.

Speed.