Taking an Engine Apart for Dummies

[Kittah]

Hey everyone,

I'm wanting to get my hands dirtier and really get some proper hands-on experience in engines, and to that end I'm wondering about buying an engine on the cheap, taking it apart and putting it back together all nice and clean, and hopefully running. Well.

As you can see I've never done this before, but I have the interest and support of my dad (yeah, yeah, father-son project, cheesy as...) as well as having as much time as I'd (reasonably) like to do this.

What I'm wondering is, assuming I have access to most of the tools I'd expect to need (dad owns a light engineering workshop...) how difficult would this be? I don't expect it to be rocket science, as long as you take your time and do plenty of labeling and seek plenty of advice when it's needed.

Basically, am I stupid for wanting to do this? I'd like to pick up a smallport 4A-GE to try it on, but really it's only a trial and error thing, so it doesn't matter if it doesn't happen. It's about the experience rather than the result

[xsspeed]

pretty much the exact same route I took to teach myself, I had done one related paper at uni, but was only really basic. If your old man has tools then thats all good. All my family is into woodwork etc so I had to buy my own automotive tools which was a hurdle to get over, but once you have the basics you can get by.

I would suggest buying a haynes manual, assuming you are getting a corolla with the smallport, as they are a great starting point. Further to that, I would say a 4age is a relatively simple engine as far as efi motors go to tinker with, and its not the end of the world if it gets well f*cked, which is going to be pretty hard to destroy it at the end of the day.

Biggest tip is get loads of snap lock bags and always write dates and what bits are in them - helps a lot for reassembly

[rx7guy]

Yeah man go for it! If your a bit unsure you could always play round with a cylinder head first. I would definately recommend a haynes manual and the snap locks too.

[Trls250s]

4age FTW, i learnt about engines cause i blew the headgasket on my fist car (which was a beaten to death fx-gt) and then i built my own 4age for my AE85 trueno.

Ive built heaps of engines now including 3s, rb, (ew), 1uz and now a 4agte.

Its definately a good skill to have and will save you heaps. But the biggest point i can suggest is cleanliness. Clean everything, workspace tools, hands, floor.

I go as far as to glad wrap critical parts as i pull them out (crank, camshafts), or stick them in zip lock bags with there name on them. Only removing to clean and prep.

[AE82 FXGT]

If your staring out and haven't tinkered with cars much, I'd suggest starting with something like a 4k as you can run it on the stand being carb and all.

Plus you can pick them up for next to noithing, even if you just take it apart and put it back together, you'll get it done easy as long as you got torque wrench, and some specs. Which would help build a lot of confidence

After that a 4age would be the go IMO, fairly simple due to the shim and bucket head set up, and just a nice work friendly motor.

[Jazza]

When you get to the end and are happy, smiling, having a beer etc. Stop...

Put oil in, then resume beer.

Seen a few lol's (in retrospect) where a rebuild was finished and then started again in a matter of minutes

[Vertigo]

stick them in zip lock bags with there name on them

this

[Akane]

What you can do is have an outline picture of your engine, number the points and then put the relavent number in the zip lock bags......

but I never do it and end up losing bits and pieces

[Kittah]

Thanks for all the replies so far everyone, rest assured things will be numbered and set aside! It sounds like it's not too big a task as long as I'm sensible about it, and I'll definitely be picking up the appropriate manual. Looks like now all I need to do is find a slightly (but not too badly) buggered engine on the cheap and grab an engine stand!

Part of me is hoping for this to turn into a replacement for my 20V 4AGE, but then I know that screwing more out of the smallport 16V than the ~165 horsepower of the 20V blacktop may be difficult and much more expensive. At least I can have fun while I'm at it

[Leiden]

I have a old 4AGE from a MK1 MR2 if you want it, missing a few sensors but otherwise was running when removed. Should be able to find the ECU somewhere too. Has been sitting for a few years has a little surface rust on the cams but otherwise still turns over.

If you have a box of beer and can pick it up its yours

[no_8wire]

I found taking photos at major stages of dis-assembly helpful as well.

[levinguy]

yeah i'd say best to pick up something for next to nothing or free to pull apart first, instead of going head first into an engine rebuild.

[tsoob]

I have a old 4AGE from a MK1 MR2 if you want it, missing a few sensors but otherwise was running when removed. Should be able to find the ECU somewhere too. Has been sitting for a few years has a little surface rust on the cams but otherwise still turns over.

If you have a box of beer and can pick it up its yours

get this one, get the haynes and start a project thread looks like this will be fun to follow.

[Kittah]

If you have a box of beer and can pick it up its yours

Damn, that's a really good offer but if only you were in Auckland! I'm almost keen to mission it up from Auckland, but I have no idea how I'd get the engine back down

get this one, get the haynes and start a project thread looks like this will be fun to follow.

There's a couple of engines I've sort of got an eye on on Trademe, but I'm definitely keen to start a project thread

[Mr Revhead]

put it in the boot

unless you have an MR-S it will fit

[t0ms]

if you dont get the 4age get any of 3k 4k 5k....

there's a reason the polytech's all use them as their short block training engines bulletproof and simple so you get the skills without having to worry about overhead cams shimming things etc etc. plus gaskets are cheap/can make yourself (all bar the head gasket) which is a useful skill.

plus a good rebuilt one will be worth a few bob when you finished there'll be plenty of people round looking for a good one if you do want to sell it

[ee904age]

When you get to the end and are happy, smiling, having a beer etc. Stop...

Put oil in, then resume beer.

Seen a few lol's (in retrospect) where a rebuild was finished and then started again in a matter of minutes

Haha I did exactly the same thing when rebuilding my bike the first time! In such a hurry to get it going again, had it on stand with no forks or rear wheel, got engine in and kicked it. First kick away it went, 3 seconds later "F**k turn it off"!