Engine Rebuild Learning for Newb

[maz0]

Recently I've been getting the itch again to get back into tracking and racing around in a little cheapo that's been modified to go like stink. I was visiting some friends and they had their 205's with Mi16 engines, and Renault GT turbo's out at the weekend.

 

The feeling of being in a wee stripped out rattling box, roaring along stinking of petrol and breaking my back with every pot hole appeals to me again now that I have the choice of the Zed as my daily driver and for reliability. However when I used to own my Sunny GTIR, it was my only car and I pay'd the local tuner to fix it for me every time, which was costly and taught me nothing.

 

What I'm wanting to know is: is it difficult to learn the necessity's to strip/modify/rebuild your own engine? or even do the average engine job? I'm pretty good with my hands, and have tackled the odd clutch master cylinder now and then but I've always feared touching an engine.

 

My expertise are in IT so if only I could transfer the same problem solving skills to mechanics, I'm hoping I could manage it?

 

Anyone else out there that's IT based but turned their hands to modding and managed to pull it off? Or could even recommend me a decent book to read etc?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Ian]

Pretty sure Nurrish works in IT & has fitted his own S/C. I work in IT & am in the process of fitting my own

 

I'm using the theory that if I can build a computer, then I can fit a S/C - The same principle applies. Everything has a place & most things will only fit one way

[Spen]

I work in IT and also own a renault 5 gt turbo aswell as the Z.

 

I'd always done the simple oil change/brake pads etc on my renault and my 205 before that but then decided one day to buy a spare renault engine and rebuild it with a higher lift cam and better parts etc.

 

An engine build is a great way of learning. It's not difficult, get yourself a haynes for the car in question and have a crack at it. (really you'll only use the haynes when your putting it back together, timing it up and to check torque settings)

The feeling you get when you've done it all and fire it up for the first time is unreal. To think that you had the barebones of it in your hands...conrods, bearings etc and to then see it running is just awesome

 

 

You get to know the car inside out and then like with me I was able to do things like take off the carb & turbo in half an hour and another half an hour and the head is off etc. The only problem is you become very attached to the car and like me now struggle to part with it!

A 205 or a mini would be a nice project because they are easy to work on. The R5 is a bit of a pig to get to stuff. You find yourself having to remove 1000 hoses before you can do anything!

 

You can't beat jumping in a nippy old car on a sunny weekend and going for a blast around some twistys feeling every bump and with everything rattling (including teeth)

 

 

I say go for it, take your time with everything and enjoy it!

[maz0]

Pretty sure Nurrish works in IT & has fitted his own S/C. I work in IT & am in the process of fitting my own

 

I'm using the theory that if I can build a computer, then I can fit a S/C - The same principle applies. Everything has a place & most things will only fit one way

 

Geezo, jump in at the deep end mate!

 

An engine build is a great way of learning. It's not difficult, get yourself a haynes for the car in question and have a crack at it. (really you'll only use the haynes when your putting it back together, timing it up and to check torque settings)

The feeling you get when you've done it all and fire it up for the first time is unreal. To think that you had the barebones of it in your hands...conrods, bearings etc and to then see it running is just awesome

 

This was exactly what I was thinking mate, Its far easier for me to store an engine at the moment in my shed, and work on it. If it all goes to pot and I cant manage it then fair enough its only an engine, sell it on. Rather than having a car sit in my drive for several months and being a nuisance if I don't get the engine sorted.

 

I was thinking of a mini like you said, I hear those are quite simple to work on.

 

Hows the 5 doing these days? my friend has a Raider but its completely standard, and even its nippy as hell!