Warehouse Xiii Ke55 Build

[Warehouse_XIII]

Ok so I have a bit of spare time off over xmas/new year so going to finally take the KE55 off the road and start ripping in to the motor and starting the rebuild.

I have a spare 4k that I am going to be swaping out the original motor for while I work on it just in case I need to use the rolla to get around.

 

This build is going to be a bit drawn out (simply due to lack of time and low budget), but I need to get most of the major internal mods done to the motor asap as we are losing our company cars not long into the new year which means the rolla will be my daily driver.

 

To help keep costs down, and because I love doing it, I am going to be doing most of the work myself. The only things I wont be doing are things I no longer have access to machines for (I was a toolmaker in a previous life), so things like block honing, cam grind etc.

 

I have a massive list of things I eventually wont to do to it but for the moment I am just wanting to do the major internal engine mods so that i don't have to take it off the road while using it as a daily. Bolt on mods can easily be added later in a day/weekend.

 

So let me know what you think guys, I am after any recommendations for places to get work done around Sydney (Hills district) as well if anyone has had good dealings with anyone.

 

Motor swap should be happening this weekend, after which I am going to strip it down and start getting stuck into it.

Before I send anything off I am looking at giving it a good acid wash myself at home, seen a few easy-ish DIY ways.

 

The mods I am looking at for the moment are:

 

Cam regrind - I am getting Crow Cams to grind their 270 deg profile for me (spec sheet attached), I like the profile as I sounds like it is fairly good balance between performance and usability A good increase over standard, a bit lumpy, but still nice enough to drive around town. I was originally looking at getting the Tighe 113 profile which is very similar except they quoted me pretty much twice as much (I use to grind cams as foreign orders at Tafe so I know what is involved and crows price is what I was expecting). I have heard a lot of good things about Crow so am happy to send it to them to get done. Getting the followers done at the same time as well obviously.

 

Bore Honed - I was originally considering going oversized and boring it out to fit 5k pistons etc, but it is going to be a daily driver with the odd track cruise (not race) and read a lot about issues arising from the thin walls etc. I figured too much hassle and stress for what it is going to be used for. Also getting the new rings, replace welsh plugs etc when rebuilding obviously.

 

Head - Again this is pretty standard work I am having done, going to get it skimmed to remove any warping from age, increase compression to 10:1, standard port and polish just to clean things up and make airflow a little nicer in general, valves re-seated etc. No need to change springs as the cam profile is not over 0.400" lift so shouldn't be any binding issues. Again nothing over the top cause I am going to get someone else to do this (more work=more $) and it also has to still be drive-able.

 

Flywheel - Going to get this lightened as much as possible, from what I have seen 7kg seems to be the lowest you really want to take the stock flywheel. Of course going to replace the clutch as well when rebuilding, just staying with the standard clutch for the moment.

 

The above mods are all going to be done initially while rebuilding the engine, anything like bearings etc that i find need replacing when I pull it apart will also get done. If anyone has suggestions of some good priced places that do a good job for any of the above around my way please let me know. Once it is back on the road and I have some more cash saved up I plan on doing the following:

 

Dizzy - I picked up an electronic dizzy on a spare motor I bought, all I need is the module and ignition for it which I will get and install asap. I was also thinking of getting the dizzy reconditioned as well

 

Exhaust - Extractors 4-1 ending in 2inch down to resonator under front passenger seat (or close to), then 1 3/4inch back to tri-chamber muffler, then 1 3/4inch out the back.

 

Carby - I was thinking something like a 32/36 side draft webber, but due to cost this is possibly the last thing I end up doing :-(

 

These last 2 seem to be the biggest cost so have been relegated to the back of the queue unfortunately. I don't see a problem with doing the other stuff first, of course I wont see the full effect of them as the carb and exhaust are still going to restrict the engine until they are done. There are several other fiddly things I am going to be doing while rebuilding like shimming the oil pump, changing hoses, leads blah blah blah but that is all pretty standard stuff.

 

There are a tonne more things that I want to do to it but most of them are general restoration things like clean up the rust, fix the interior, different wheels, take it a bit lower, repaint blah blah blah :-)

I will update this thread as I go and plan on taking as many pics and video as I can so that I might be able to put together some DIYs if I find something interesting along the way.

 

Let me know what you think :D

 

Cam Profile.txt

 

 

[Skellington]

slow low budget build, D.I.Y., Necessities first- sounds like a good build to me. Looking forward to your build. Your car looks like its a good start MINUS those square headlights- eeeeyuk! I avoid those things like the plague. GL with engine building :thumbsup:

[Warehouse_XIII]

Thanks mate, yeah got big plans eventually :yes:

 

If anyone has suggestions of good reliable engine re-conditioners in Sydney please let me know.

Would rather give my biz to someone that deserves it