Bottom End Gone

[NeilW]

So I have destroyed my daily runner! Volvo S40, Gave it a bit stick yesterday and the bottom end bearings have failed. Making the decision to keep driving the 5 mile home at low rpm to minimise the 'ratlling' has probably cost the engine its life.
Trawling Google today I learned my lump in the Volvo is actually a duratec lump.
Readily available for cheap.

Task this week (work permitting) replace engine.

anyone local have an engine hoist?

[Davidbolam]

So I have destroyed my daily runner! Volvo S40, Gave it a bit stick yesterday and the bottom end bearings have failed. Making the decision to keep driving the 5 mile home at low rpm to minimise the 'ratlling' has probably cost the engine its life.
Trawling Google today I learned my lump in the Volvo is actually a duratec lump.
Readily available for cheap.

Task this week (work permitting) replace engine.

anyone local have an engine hoist?


I have one you can borrow. It works fine but the arm goes down slowly.

Let me know of you want to borrow it. You can keep it for the duration of the build (only need it back early if my engine goes bang)

David

[NeilW]

That would be great, let me try and arrange something to collect it.
Cheers David

[Davidbolam]

That would be great, let me try and arrange something to collect it.
Cheers David

It would fit in a normal car with the seats down but would need lots of blankets. It all folds flat but weighs a ton

[NeilW]

Well at the moment, I have been flat on my back in the rain under the front end of the Volvo removing sump and crank to inspect bearings. Relatively easy work but a real pain in such crap conditions.
I looked for engines today and the variant I have is like rocky horse sh*t (Sod's law). Set of bearings (main and big) is £62.50 so going to take a punt and give it a go. Maybe need oversized bearings and crank re grind but will check once all out. For now a cup of tea is priority.....

Ps. I found the what I believe to be root cause... No oil! This really killed me when I removed the sump plug and very little oil came out. Later I found that my oil indicator lamp is not working!
Lesson learned here = do not rely on indicator lamps for such a simple check of a dip stick.

[flyerncle]

That engine is well known for destroying itself and unfortunately bits are not available to repair them and if the bearings are shot due to lack of oil the bores and pistons will also be marked.

I run a garage in Dunston and we repair engines,also part of Fordparts so we see plenty of them.

Probably a waste of your money on bearings if crank is marked as it will just score the new ones and usually wrecks the rods too.

[NeilW]

Yeah I have read some info on the Volvo forums and it is a bit of a long shot.
It's still chucking it down here so haven't been able to strip any further than the sump. Hopefully rain gives up soon so I can get the crank out for a look.
Apparently blue scorching and pitting are obvious sign of crank shagged?
Also, if the bearings have slipped then it looks to be totalled tbh.

Worst case, chuck it in for part ex.

[NeilW]

Well managed to drop crank out, no.4 piston big end bearings were both pitted a bit, all others and mains looked fine.
Crank looks visually ok (no heat marks etc) and is measuring in spec with a micrometer.
Proof in the pudding so speak tomorrow when bearings arrive. Fingers crossed for better weather and a small amount of success with the bearings.

[flyerncle]

Doom and gloom,towed one in today and complete con rod lying on under tray with hole in block.

Focus ST with alleged siezed motor and another one in bits for replacement engine in ST too.

They are basically a throw away engine and few parts available except from specialist engine parts suppliers,we generally try to make one from usable parts and what ever new bits we can get and they do fetch silly money.

Good luck.

[NeilW]

Yeah tell me about it! Luckily I found a local place that sell quite a few spares for them. Engine-express in Stockton on tees.

[flyerncle]

Nice one ,will keep that in mind.

[NeilW]

Well so far so good, managed to get the big ends replaced without a glitch.
Started up and purring like a kitten. Well chuffed to say the least!

[flyerncle]

Nice one good to hear.