Back on the road again

[MHKflyer52]

Well yesterday I took my 7 out for its first run since I replaced the second engine with the third engine. As some know from previous post I had an overheating problem that I could not fix or sort out on the first engine so I decided to pull that engines head to check for cracks in it on the exhaust side as it had good compression and only overheated when run in the higher RPMs. Long story short when the head came off I had two cracked cylinder sleeves about halfway down the sleeves so I would idle and run around at low RPM with out overheating. So I purchased another engine / car in August of 2008 to get an engine I could use which had just been overhauled by the previous owner less than 2000 miles before it was hit in an accident. I took that engine (BMC 1800cc) out of that car (an MGB GT) and pulled it apart and checked everything and then reassembled it and put it into my 7 in September 2008. It ran good for 66.4 miles and then lost oil pressure, no knocking or clatters just no oil pressure (held 10psi at 1500RPM and the needle on the gauge just quivered at idle). At first I though I had blown oil line so I shut it down and check for the leak but found none to my disbelief.

I was now mad as hell as I started reviewing what I had done or had forgotten to due when I reassembled the second engine (BMC 1800cc). All I could figure is that I had checked the oil pump and found it to be in good shape as the repair manual said and reused the pump in the rebuild of the second engine instead of replacing it like I did with all of the other parts like bearings and gaskets. Still have not pulled that engine down to find the cause so I still do not know the real cause but will find out sometime in the feature when I have time.

So to the third engine. Well I purchased an engine from another member of the forum (thanks for the great deal) as he had an engine that I could rebuild from scratch which I have now done and placed into my frame of my 7 as of this posting. The third engine holds 50psi at idle and all most pegs the oil pressure gauge at 5500 RPM. Runs smooth and responds very smoothly and no overheating problems at all. Runs water temp right at 165 degrees and is rock solid so I think I will put a 185 degree thermostat in it after I get 500 or so miles on the engine and change the oil and filter another two times.

Sure is good to have my car back on the road again and the wind in my hair what little I still have for the time being.

Be safe and happy motoring to all with the passion of cars what ever the make.

[slngsht]

That's great news. After the 2nd one went bad, I would've started throwing things

[yellowss7]

Way to go Martin. Now get out there and start bringing smiles to the neighborhood again.

 

Tom

[Hank]

Sorry to hear your bad luck, but it sounds like you finally got the right combination in there!