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Blown Engine - Help!! Need rebuild advice!!

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blown rebuild
1K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  Pcutter1 
#1 · (Edited)
OK guys

I was driving down a dual carriageway the other day and got stuck behind a taxi who insisted on sitting in the outside lane at a steady 55 MPH. Eventually, he pulls in, I drop my car into 4th to go past and I hear this rattling noise coming from what I thought at first was the Taxi.

It was on only when I felt a "jolt" and a sudden drop-off in power that I realised it was in fact my 156 that was rattling!!

I pulled over and the car sounded like a bag of hammers. Now I've been keeping my eye on the oil level since I got the car a couple of months ago and it's been using quite a bit. I thought nothing of it as I used to own a 155 V6 and that liked it's oil too.

I've taken tha car to an independant Alfa specialist who confirmed my worst fears. It's looking like the bottom end's shot and needs a rebuild.

At this point I just can't believe my luck!! Only had the car for a couple of months, it's got a full alfa service history and had a new timing belt so I can't understand how this could happen!!

Maybe there was an underlying problem when I bought the car??

At any rate, it's getting a rebuild but I've been told a complete rebuild will cost around £1500.

I just hope when I get it back in a couple of weeks, it's going to be OK.

Does anybody have any advice regarding engine rebuilds of the 2.0 Twin Spark motor?

:rolleyes:
 
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#6 ·
If it's thown a leg out of bed then a whole replacement engine is the only way, but this doesn't fit the decription of a previous belt failure with top end rebuild only, mainly because the noise builds up over time, it doesnt just suddenly happen.

My first suspect would be a snapped valve rattling round the cylinder and eventually blasting through bore, it sounds to me like they are going to drop the sump and find the end of it in there, but time will tell.
 
#7 ·
Thanks for your replies guys.

My mechanic suspects the bottom end as the car still idles OK (despite the knocking noise), which leads him to believe the valve gear is OK. To be honest, he won't know for sure till he takes my engine apart.

I do know though that there were no oil leaks anywhere following the incident and there were no signs of head or head gasket failure as there was no evidence of water in the oil or oil in the expansion bottle. The engine will need new piston rings though as the amount of blue smoke that came out of the exhaust when my mechanic started it up, well it was like a fog!

I'm waiting to hear how bad the damage is before I go ahead with a rebuild though. Swapping the engine might be a cheaper option depending on the extent of the damage, who knows?

I'll keep you all posted

Cheers
 
#8 ·
Racer, don't let him take the head off yet. If he suspects bottom end failure (which it certainly sounds like, then get hi to just remove the downpipe and sump, then undo the conrods and check the shells and big end journals for damage, as if the crank need replacing due to ovaling then it can be done without removal of the head which will save you a good days labour and £100 in parts. To remove the sump is 1 hour maximum. If he then needs to remove the crank then the gearbox and oil pump have to come off, 2 other jobs that can be done with the head, but I'd recommend loosening the cam journals at that point to prevent damage to the valve gear.
 
#9 ·
Smaky,

Thanks for the advice. My mechanic said he's going to check the bottom end first as he's convinced that's where the problem lies. The guy who's doing the job is and Alfa specialist and has done many rebuilds before. Think he's been in the game for 30 years or so, so he know's what he's doing.

What you said in your post is exactly what he's said. I'm hoping the bill won't be too high but he's suggested something in the order of £1500 for a complete rebuild, which to be honest, I don't think is too bad.

He's advised getting a 2nd hand engine as he pointed out that you don't really know what you're getting. At least letting him rebuild mine, gives him the chance to have a good look at the internals so I know what I'm dealing with.

Cheers
 
#10 ·
To me £1500 is steep for a rebuild, but if your needing a crank, then just bin the engine (if your paying garage labour prices) and get a recon one fitted, but If I was doing it I'd come in well under that budget and have replaced the crank. If you go for the recon, see if he'll throw in a clutch and slave for you too.
 
#11 ·
Sounds like the big end failure I had on a Kawasaki bike, beware of the wreckage from the big end bearing, expect it to be everywhere, oil pump, top end, especially valve gear and more importantly the oilways, a recon engine with warranty might be a better bet. If you have only had it a couple of months, and you bought it from a dealer, have you explored the warranty situation, you would also have a claim against the HP or Credit card company if you bought it that way. Sort that out before you get any work started as once you have the work started you are considered to have accepted the problem which makes it almost impossible to pursue a claim, and keep written documentation of any agreements and instructions the dealer/finance co give you.
 
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