'81 Engine rebuild

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dbr
Posts: 113
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 5:05 pm
Your car is a: 1981 fiat spider
Location: St. Charles, IL area

'81 Engine rebuild

Postby dbr » Sun Jun 18, 2017 1:09 pm

Hello,

I took the engine out of my 1981 Fiat spider and have been slowly taking it apart and cleaning all the pieces. I have finally reached the block but ran into several problems. First off, the bolts don't want to budge off the flywheel and secondly the pistons looked problematic to me. I didn't have any issues with the engine prior to the rebuild. It all started out this past winter with just "I'll take some parts out and clean them for the spring.", but it quickly ended up with the engine completely out and all these problems. I wanted to post some pictures of the engine block and ask you guys what you think. Do I have to worry about taking off the flywheel and what do you think of my cylinders? Or can I just repaint the sides and put it all back together with new gaskets and clean parts?

thanks so much in advance.
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klweimer
Posts: 550
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:45 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Arvada, Colorado

Re: '81 Engine rebuild

Postby klweimer » Sun Jun 18, 2017 2:16 pm

dbr,

Hard to say by just looking at the pictures. Did you happen to do a compression test before you pulled the head off? If not, search the forum for leak down tests. I saw one just recently here, where you fill the cylinder up with something, and see how long it takes to leak down through the piston rings. Are the bores scored or otherwise damaged? Again, can't tell from the pictures.

You might consider investing in an electric impact wrench, removes even stubborn nuts/bolts with ease.

Kirk

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joelittel
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Posts: 1013
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:53 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 FI
Location: Evanston, IL

Re: '81 Engine rebuild

Postby joelittel » Sun Jun 18, 2017 8:21 pm

+1 on the impact wrench. After using it you wont know how you ever got along without it.

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dbr
Posts: 113
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 5:05 pm
Your car is a: 1981 fiat spider
Location: St. Charles, IL area

Re: '81 Engine rebuild

Postby dbr » Sat Jun 24, 2017 8:01 pm

Thanks for the recommendation of the leak down test. Since the dodo that I am forgot about doing a compression test, I am going to have to do that. Is the brown rim at the top of the cylinders normal. I don't recall seeing that anywhere else. Not sure how that would occur by the engine alone. The pistons pass that level at their highest. Does anyone have a clue?

Besides that rim the pistons appear fine. No real scratches or damage. Also the engine didn't sound funny or give me any problems before tear down. Yes, please don't ask why I took it apart!

Thanks! :D

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Nanonevol
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Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:17 am
Your car is a: 1977 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Medway, Massachusetts

Re: '81 Engine rebuild

Postby Nanonevol » Sat Jun 24, 2017 8:05 pm

I couldn't get my flywheel off even with a Harbor Freight electric impact wrench. Was going to go for the lightened flywheel but at that point, after rebuilding the transmission etc., I just put it back together. Those flywheels nuts can be wicked tight.
1977 Fiat Spider
1985 Jaguar XJ6
1967 Triumph Bonneville (hard-tail chopper)
1966 BSA Lightning

Fiatlanta
Posts: 184
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2016 6:00 am
Your car is a: 1979 Spider 124

Re: '81 Engine rebuild

Postby Fiatlanta » Sun Oct 08, 2017 2:36 pm

Great pics, thanks. Looking at rebuilding my '79.

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geospider
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Posts: 581
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:07 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Spider 2000
Location: concord, ca

Re: '81 Engine rebuild

Postby geospider » Sun Oct 08, 2017 9:52 pm

All on forum, correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the ring you see in your cylinders is just some carbonization, like on you pistons. It is probably lines up with the rings on the pistons. If the cylinders below look good, then prob OK. Something I have heard on one of the many car shows I have seen.
I have alos taken more apart than probably needed. But have also learned a lot. Actually will be fixing a mistake next weekend for thinking too much.

good luck

geo


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