Engine and Transmission Tech
tips, technology, tools and techniques related to vehicle driveline components
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BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6548 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
Cleaning with acetone is not likely to be sufficient. Better to have them bake the block and burn out the oils. It'll need to be cleaned up anyway and you'll get a much better weld. Any oil at all will cause porosity.
Jim |
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Gswest236 Scott West Seabeck, Washington (134 posts) Registered: 07/14/2021 09:13PM Main British Car: 1974.5 MGBGT V8 Olds 215 Stroked to 266 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
Do machine shops have a way to burn off the oil residue? Or do they boil them?
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2592 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
Scott, Watch the video link on Pacific Engine and Machine I sent above, Shows the process. You could use your Mapp torch to heat the area that needs to be welded. The welder might preheat to do it before he Tigs it,
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Gswest236 Scott West Seabeck, Washington (134 posts) Registered: 07/14/2021 09:13PM Main British Car: 1974.5 MGBGT V8 Olds 215 Stroked to 266 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
I watched the video and the baking process is what Jim B is recommending before welding up the breakout. So, I’ll see what the shop can do for my block, maybe they’ll be equipped to do the repair. they’re closed today of course, so Monday I’ll call them!
Thanks |
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Gswest236 Scott West Seabeck, Washington (134 posts) Registered: 07/14/2021 09:13PM Main British Car: 1974.5 MGBGT V8 Olds 215 Stroked to 266 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
I took the block to Johns Specialty Services AKA (Pacific Engine and Machine). They may have changed names or ownership. John was very knowledgable and felt he could clean the block and do the breakout repair as well as all the honing , boring etc. Drilling the oil passage the rest of the way to 1/2” is the questionable part. He did say it would require a special type of bit. They are going to do my heads as well. I didn't mention Heli-coiling the head bolt holes, but will get with him on that. Haven’t heard back from the Cranky crankshaft guy yet.
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2592 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
Scott, Good news! It is hard to find a machine shop that doesn't have a backlog.
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Gswest236 Scott West Seabeck, Washington (134 posts) Registered: 07/14/2021 09:13PM Main British Car: 1974.5 MGBGT V8 Olds 215 Stroked to 266 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
I’m finding that out. John said he would want the rods and new pistons at some point. He was going to hone or bore to .030 over and see if the scored cylinders clean up. Go to .040 if need be. Crank, cam and lifters should be ready soon. Complete assembly would be up to me as they aren’t doing that currently. My problem is when you haven’t done engine assembly before, you don't even know what questions to ask. Making assumptions about the various technical aspects without any experience has bit me before. Of course there’s the community here that has helped guide me through it to this point, which I appreciate. That decision will come later.
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2592 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
Scott, We can guide you through assembly. Let us know what oversize for pistons and bearings you need and I'll give you links, Most from Summit, some from Rockauto or Ebay. Your engine is almost identical to Jon's, so follow that thread on MGExperience too. I'd order the TA back grooved front cam bearing too. Their site is down so you would have to call them.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/04/2025 12:24PM by mgb260. |
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2592 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
Scott, On the pistons and rods. 4 have the dimple in the middle of the rod facing forward (2, 4, 6 and 8) and 4 have the dimple facing back (1, 3, 5 and 7) in the block. Top notch in piston always go forward. That way the oil squirt hole in the parting line of the rod faces the cam on both sides. You'll need these too:
[www.ebay.com] Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/04/2025 01:17PM by mgb260. |
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Gswest236 Scott West Seabeck, Washington (134 posts) Registered: 07/14/2021 09:13PM Main British Car: 1974.5 MGBGT V8 Olds 215 Stroked to 266 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
OK Jim, I’ll order that piston install kit, and the back grooved front cam bearing.
Thanks |
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Gswest236 Scott West Seabeck, Washington (134 posts) Registered: 07/14/2021 09:13PM Main British Car: 1974.5 MGBGT V8 Olds 215 Stroked to 266 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
John got the breakout repaired and was able to drill it out the rest of the way. He got it bored to 030 over and now needs the cam bearings and pistons and rods. So, based on the bore now, what pistons and rings would you guys recommend? Where do you guys get your cam bearings? After talking to John, its becoming more obvious I dont know squat about this process.
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2592 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
Scott, Highly recommend the TA front cam bearing. Here is the set. You would bring him the cam to fit too. He should do soft plugs and oil galley plugs too. I'll give you links for the pistons and moly rings.
[www.ebay.com] I Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/13/2025 02:00PM by mgb260. |
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2592 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
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Gswest236 Scott West Seabeck, Washington (134 posts) Registered: 07/14/2021 09:13PM Main British Car: 1974.5 MGBGT V8 Olds 215 Stroked to 266 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
Jim I ordered the pistons and rings. I already got the double grooved front cam bearings from TA. Also ordered the rest of the cam bearings you listed. Can’t thank you enough!
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2592 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
Scott, That's what this site is all about! Pick up some Clevite Bearing Guard for assembly lube on the bearings and I like a thin coat of Moly lube (grease in a tube) on the cam lobes and bottom of lifters, valve tips and pushrod tips and cam and distributor gears. Go real light with it. Remember to tell the machinist 4 of the rods face one way and 4 the other. 1, 3, 5, and 7 the dimple/bump in the middle of the rod faces back and on 2, 4, 6 and 8 faces forward.
[www.ebay.com] [www.ebay.com] Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/13/2025 03:25PM by mgb260. |
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2592 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
We used one of Jon's adjustable pushrods to figure optimum length and ordered these new pushrods. His lifters have the oiling holes and we are using pushrod oiling. Your build and his is almost identical and they would work with shaft oiling too:
[www.ebay.com] |
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2592 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
Are you going to have the machinist skim the block deck and heads?
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Gswest236 Scott West Seabeck, Washington (134 posts) Registered: 07/14/2021 09:13PM Main British Car: 1974.5 MGBGT V8 Olds 215 Stroked to 266 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
I’m going to ask him to do the soft plugs and oil galley plugs; (are these freeze plugs, what are these things) I’m taking my heads to the same shop when I get the Crank back (he’s backed up at his shop). The cam and lifters are done and we’re taking those to John as well. The pistons, rings and cam bearings are ordered (we ordered the rings, but they aren’t scheduled to ship for 2 weeks). Don’t see them available anywhere else quicker than Summit.
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2592 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
Soft plugs and freeze plugs are the same thing. Machinist won't need the lifters, just the cam. On Jon's heads they cut the guides for Viton seals and a 3 angle valve job.
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mgb260 Jim Nichols Sequim,WA (2592 posts) Registered: 02/29/2008 08:29PM Main British Car: 1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8 |
Re: Did a compression test on my stroked Olds 215, not good. #4 cylinder at 50 lbs.
Scott, when you get your crank back, you will know what undersize bearings to order. I'll get you the links. You won't have to wait for the rings, the machine shop just needs the pistons to know how much clearance to hone to. Plus, install new pistons on old rods.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/14/2025 11:21AM by mgb260. |
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