georgecook
Member
Replacement cylinder head, new pistons, piston rings, new big end and main bearings..... should I be thinking about a replacement engine?.....georgecook
Engine running roughly
- Thread starter georgecook
- Start date
Even if you buy a running engine you have no way of knowing whether it's going to be worse that yours was inside a fortnight. I'd inspect the shells on yours, and replace if necessary, and hone the bores and replace the rings as a matter of course. The pistons should be OK providing the marking isn't too bad.
georgecook
Member
Are shells the big end or main bearings? georgecook
georgecook
Member
Will be seeing my mate today for advice re the condition of the pistons. As suggested I will check on the condition of the main bearing shells. Until I check those later today my shopping list reads... piston rings: replacement cylinder head; decoke gasket set, graphenol, and big end bearings....georgecook
j_radcliffe
Active Member
The big end bearings are the bearings shells which go on the lower end of the con rod. They go between the conrod and the crankshaft. Some people call these bearings the rod bearings, or conrod bearings (mainly in the US).
The main bearings are the bearing which go between the crankshaft and the engine block. They are also a shell type bearing. Have a look at pages 46 and 48 of the Haynes manual for some photos.
You will need to work out what size you have to order replacements. It will be marked on the outside of the bearing. Your crank may have been reground at some stage. It is possible for the mains to be a different size from the big end bearings.
James.
The main bearings are the bearing which go between the crankshaft and the engine block. They are also a shell type bearing. Have a look at pages 46 and 48 of the Haynes manual for some photos.
You will need to work out what size you have to order replacements. It will be marked on the outside of the bearing. Your crank may have been reground at some stage. It is possible for the mains to be a different size from the big end bearings.
James.
georgecook
Member
The big end bearings and main bearings appear to have a vandervell (not sure about the spelling) number without any indication of size. I understand this means that they are standard size....georgecook
j_radcliffe
Active Member
I think that Vandervell would have "std" on them as short for standard size. They normally have a Vandervell part number as well. I will check the crank diameter spec tonight, and see what the un-ground diameter is. You can then check with calipers. Did you check both halves of the shells, the size in only written on one side if I remember correctly. I do have some spares, but I cannot have a look, they are in a shed in Australia, many thousands of miles from me.
georgecook
Member
The big ends show numbers on both halves of 530536 which is similar to other Rover numbers, but I couldn't see a comparison in the Rover Parts Book. Each half also showed what I believe are vandervell numbers of 4600B...No sizes are shown. georgecook
j_radcliffe
Active Member
georgecook said:
For Main Bearings post '66 the part numbers I have are:
RTC 1716 (Vandervell), VP 91206, and Glacier M5211 SA.
Pre '66 Main bearings:
VP 91117
Conrod bearings:
VP91116, Glacier AE B4434SA, RTC 1715, B4434.
Rod bearing were the same pre and post 66.
Rover part number Rod Bearings 538125 (std), 538126 (.010"), 538127 (.020"), 538128 (.030") amd 538129 (.040").
Rover part number for main bearings. (post 66) 538135 (std) through to 538139 (.040").
The journal size for the crank main bearings are 2.5" For the rod bearings the size is 2.0". Measure the crank and see if it is standard or less.
Harvey, if your reading this, my January 74 Rover 2200 parts book shows a different part number for rod bearings for 2200 automatic models versus the sc/tc models. The part number for con rod is the same. Was there a difference in the journal size for the con rods in 2200 automatic models?
James.
j_radcliffe said:
I wouldn't think so. If you have the parts book handy then if the part numbers for all the cranks are the same for auto and manual then the journals will be the same size, but if the crank part numbers are different it won't prove anything because the part numbers for V8 auto and manual engines are different, even though the engines are exactly the same, it's just the spigot bush that's different. The same would apply to the V8 cranks I would think.
I don't have a 2000/2200 parts book so I can't look myself. It may just be that the bearing material was specified differently on the autos for some reason.
suffolkpete
Member
Strange, I have the January 1974 parts book and it only shows one number. I assume that by "con-rod bearings" you mean what we call big ends this side of the pond. The auto and manual crankshafts have different part numbers as Harvey suggests and they are listed as standard and undersizes down to .040" and I think this where your confusion arises. Look at the next page at the con-rod.
georgecook
Member
Pistons are in the block. Replacement main and big end bearings fitted, now for the replacement cylinder head. Am assuming that the larger diameter "0" rings are for the exhaust valve stems.... How on earth did I remove the exhaust pipe bracket located near the starter motor so easily? Now I'm trying to refit it and having mucked about for what seems ages, it looks as though I will have to disconnect the exhaust manifold from the exhaust pipe.... can't understand it....georgecook
j_radcliffe
Active Member
suffolkpete said:
I see what you mean, and agree with you. I much prefer the earlier parts books. There is more detail, and everything is much clearer.
James.
Dave3066
Well-Known Member
georgecook said:
Hi George
Can I ask where you got your standard size big end bearings from? It's a job I need to do soon and I'm struggling to source some at a reasonable price. I have a set of standard size mains, but the big ends are proving rather elusive.
Thanks
Dave
georgecook
Member
Wadhams were the only place that I could find them in stock....however, I thought they were expensive at £129 including delivery and vat Could I suggest that you give Mark at MGBD a ring to determine when he will have them in stock.....georgecook
j_radcliffe
Active Member
Dave3066 said:
Have you tried Wins International. Their website shows 'pattern' big end bearings for 75 pounds per set.
They do come up on ebay sometimes.
You might want to research these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROVER-2000-2200 ... d2&vxp=mtr
However the part number does not confirm what they are. A bearing count would, plus a measurement of the diameter.
James.
j_radcliffe
Active Member
[/quote]
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROVER-2000-2200 ... d2&vxp=mtr
However the part number does not confirm what they are. A bearing count would, plus a measurement of the diameter.
James.[/quote]
I think they are a cam bearing set, so no good.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROVER-2000-2200 ... d2&vxp=mtr
However the part number does not confirm what they are. A bearing count would, plus a measurement of the diameter.
James.[/quote]
I think they are a cam bearing set, so no good.
suffolkpete
Member
They look too big to be cam bearings, but the Rover part number quoted does not exist in the 2200 parts list so I think they must be for a different model. Have you tried F W Thornton for your bearings?
Dave3066
Well-Known Member
j_radcliffe said:
Those look a bit ropy to me. I've just returned a set of big end bearings to an ebay seller because they had corrosion on them. They were listed as NOS and "as new" condition. I'll speak to Geoff at Wins.
***update: just spoken to Geoff at Wins and he is out of stock on STD size big end bearings***
Thanks
Dave