Engine Rebuild

[alstarz88]

Hi

I am currently rebuilding my engine after a couple of lifters colapsed. while the engine is out I have had it degreased and steam cleaned. whilst it was in the machine shop they informed me that the con rods were no good and will need replacing. Funnily enough they knew someone that had some for sale. I have taken a couple of pictures of the big end where they said the problem was. The bolts are hand tight and not to torque.

please let me know if these do need replacing.

The big end shell bearing were very worn.

Thanks for your help

Ross

[JFP in PA]

It is impossible to say if the rods are good or not by just looking at pictures. They need to be Magafluxed, checked for center line to centerline, twist, bearing and wrist pin bores tested for roundness and size, etc., etc. Any competent machine shop can do that for you. At a minimum, they will need new bolts (you never reuse rod bolts in these engines).

If your current machine shop cannot explain why you need new rods, I would think you actually need a new rmachine shop…………

Edited February 15, 2012 by JFP in PA

[alstarz88]

they said they had a porsche engine specialist in to pick up something. the reason they gave is that there is that slight gap that i took a photo of. they said that the rods are stretched because there is that gap and with cracked rods there would fit together with absolutely no gap

[alstarz88]

this is a 2004 engine that had a IMS failure I replaced the IMS and other damaged bits but didn't replace the lifters or big end shell bearings as I didn't want to disassemble the crank carrier now I have removed the engine again I have decided to replace all lifters and all the shells as well as some other serviceable bits I didn't replace the first time.

[JFP in PA]

they said they had a porsche engine specialist in to pick up something. the reason they gave is that there is that slight gap that i took a photo of. they said that the rods are stretched because there is that gap and with cracked rods there would fit together with absolutely no gap

While I hate to cast aspersions on shops I do not personally know, I really don't like what I am hearing. They have determined that a rod is stretched based upon looking at it? Sorry; no sale................. There are ways to detect rod stretch and twist; looking at them (unless the problem is really dramatic) is not one that I would trust. You should also never be testing the rod for correctness with the bolts finger tight.

You rods could be bad, but without measurement data, I would suggest getting them properly checked.

Edited February 15, 2012 by JFP in PA

[alstarz88]

I thought it was a little fishy. I will take them to another engine specialist to be checked out

Cheers

Ross