Crankshaft wear question.

[oldchieft]

Good work using the hose clip.

Nice job with the balancing.

I assume you had the clutch fitted to the flywheel to include it in balancing?

You never regret balancing and you will always regret not doing it.

Jon the Chief

[billwill]

I'm amazed that you seem to have got all this done in a span of only 5 days.

[dougal9887]

Yes, the clutch cover was balanced at the same time. Although you can't see it in the photo, that's what the assembly is standing on. Apparently the balance on the (new ) clutch was miles out!
Not 5 days I'm afraid, more like 3 weeks. Anyway, I was still awaiting return of the block which is now bored and honed to +40 thou with some nice new QED pistons to match.

QED +.040" pistons.

I was just going to go for a hone and new rings (the gaps on the rings as found were way out) but the machinist felt that the ovality and a strange measurement at the tops of the cylinders (possibly as a result of a diy ridge removal) dictated a rebore. So both block and crank maxed out. But a nice round 1700cc!
With everything back and re measured I need a 30 thou compressed gasket to arrive at 10.5:1 compression ratio. A Cometic gasket seems the only UK option despite our guru Rohan's misgivings about these. I did speak to the Cometic uk agent who said that although the gaskets are basically the same as for the xflow, they now do an additional embossing of the centre shim to improve sealing on the twincam due to the relative softness of its aluminium compared to modern aluminium heads. And as 30 thou is a special order it's another 4 week wait.
Dougal.

[oldchieft]

Good work with the balancing, it is shaping to be a good engine in a nice car.

Jon the Chief

[rgh0]

Y I did speak to the Cometic uk agent who said that although the gaskets are basically the same as for the xflow, they now do an additional embossing of the centre shim to improve sealing on the twincam due to the relative softness of its aluminium compared to modern aluminium heads. And as 30 thou is a special order it's another 4 week wait.
Dougal.

Sounds like Cometic may have responded due to the problems I have seen and have come up with a more twin-cam friendly version. I will be interested to see how it works for you.

cheers
Rohan