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First Time Engine Build
beagley - 28/4/10 at 06:47 PM

Aftenoon everyone....

I'm wanting to ask your opinions for a good engine to rebuild for the fun of it. I've got a small 1 cyl 2 stroke engine that I could work on, but its more of a money pit. Hasn't been run in years and would cost about twice as much to rebuild it as to buy a new one. Should I stick with that or get a small zetec (or something similar) to tool around on? What about bike engines? Those any good to tinker on or are they more trouble for a novice?

edit: I know I started doing this about a year ago, but the engine fell through and I couldn't get it.

[Edited on 4/28/2010 by beagley]

tomgregory2000 - 28/4/10 at 07:01 PM

i would go for a car engine as it should be a bit simpler to work on as you wont have any gears to mess about with

MakeEverything - 28/4/10 at 07:04 PM

An A Series, Crossflow or pinto would be ideal. A standard 1.8 or 2.0 zetec would also be simple, but a little more money. For learning, an A series would probably be cheapest such as those used in the old mini, MG Midget etc.

ReMan - 28/4/10 at 08:37 PM

By where you are, it would be a better option to do a nice job on a V8 and probably cheaper than doing a bike enginbe.
Unless by rebuild, you mean take apart, clean, put back together?

beagley - 28/4/10 at 08:42 PM

quote:

Unless by rebuild, you mean take apart, clean, put back together?


Yes, I do intend to put back together. Partly for educational purposes. I started doing a 13b rotary which was awesome, but the price of new seals was substantial at minimum and I wasn't planning to use it for a build. Although now that I think about it that might be quite different... anyway, back on topic....

There are TONS of V8s around here and I could probably sell one that I cleaned up pretty quickly.

Thanks chaps for the replies.

Canada EH! - 28/4/10 at 09:40 PM

1 cylinder 2 strokes can drive you crazy, they either work or they don't work, I have spent many cold nights in the middle of no-were trying to get a stalled 2 stroke snowmobile engine to fire and get me home.