Ninety Project: Part 18
The top end of the new V8 engine build reaches completion. Ed Evans reveals all
LAST MONTH’S initial engine build at Land Rover engine specialist, ACR, in Deeside, resulted in completion to the so-called short engine stage – a re-manufactured cylinder block complete with pistons, crankshaft, camshaft, tappets and timing gear. In this session we’ll complete the engine, building up from the cylinder heads and installing most of the ancillary components.
Those ancillary components include the twin carburettors, which I’ve been rebuilding in my own workshop, together with the various brackets, pulleys, power steering pump and alternator which have been de-rusted and re-painted. Items missing from our spare parts engine have also been sourced – special bolts, brackets and connectors, which we suspected might be no longer available, have all been purchased after trawling the aftermarket parts suppliers.
Via ebay I also bought a pair of the early fluted and rounded rocker covers that suit the era of the 1989 Ninety more than the rather plain EFI types which I had on the spare parts engine. Of more practical importance, these older rocker covers have the correct emission connectors to use with the twin carburettor set-up. It’s important to use the internal oil baffle plates with these
rocker covers and, although they weren’t supplied, I was surprised to find Craddocks had new ones in stock.
So, with all the essential parts to hand, we’re back at ACR where V8 expert Roland Marlow is continuing the engine build.