Dismantling the Block

My partner's father came round today to have a look at the MGB's block and assess the general conditon of things.

There's both good news and bad news: the bottom end if the engine is in pretty good condition but the bores are more worn than I originally appreciated.

We decided to leave the crank shaft installed as the bearings were in good conditon with no movement and very little end-float. The camshaft was also in serviceable condition and remained in situ, but we removed the pistons to get a good look at the bores. You can see in the photograph below, taken upwards through the engine, the silver edge of the ridge that the pistons have made in the bore. Steve thought that this might result in the engine being smokey so it was decided that we'd get something done.

I'm going to get the block cleaned and re-bored and also then get hold of a set of over-size pistons and rings. This is probably another trip to Ivor Searle, although there's also a place in Witchford that I'm going to check out.

In a way it's a shame to have to spend more cash, but at the end of it the engine will be about three quaters reconditioned so with any luck I won't need to do anything to it for a good long time.