SJ410 -1985 'Cabrio', engine rebuild

[Darrell]

We used too use this at college (many years ago now )


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[Rhinoman]

Plastigauge is the stuff to use. The outside diameter of the shells should be matched to the rods or block so there will be a stamp somewhere that gives the sizes.

[binge]

Got cracking with cosmetics today, decided to keep the thing yellow for simplicity and quickness.
Mocked up the rear door / pick up conversion, and also started fitting the hard top.

Rubbed the whole truck (other than tail gate) down with a bit of wet and dry to key the surface, then just attached it with the 6" roller, and tractol paint.
Came out alright, could do with another coat (Did two coats today). But I'm happy with it.








I think I am going to run without a front bumper for the time being, until I can find a cheap winch bumper.

Replaced the windscreen panel, just need to put a new glass in it now.
The new panel is mint, well chuffed with it. The one I took off was simply rotten. Pretty sure it's beyond repair too, haha!


With the hard top, I'm in two minds whether to just stickerflex it on permanent, or weld in 4 triangulation plates on each corner of the pillars, and fit the roof on with 4 bonnet pins, so I can whip it off on nice sunny days.




Ben

[donkeychomp]

I'd go for the quick release roof option...much more fun when it's sunny!

[binge]

Think I will do that.
I need to get all the gubbins to do it first, Might go for locking bonnet pins so the thing doesnt get nicked off the roof.

[binge]

Spend a little while this afternoon messing around with the tin-top rear door, trimming it up to fit in the bed of the SJ.
It's gone in fairly well. Needs some welding and fiberglassing around the edges to fill the gaps, and then a paint, and a window cutting from perspex for it.

[binge]

So after the 413 engine turned out to be a complete pile of shit, I managed to source a 1324cc from a Swift.
Ran very well, so I pulled it out and took it back to my garage.
Said to my friends I was going to bung it straight in, but I couldn't help but take it apart at my garage. Just for a little look.

Took the rocker cover off, and was a little shocked. The engine has done 75k miles, and I've a feeling the oil has never been changed.



Then I had to change the sump over from Swift, to SJ anyway. But once removed, I found this:



God knows how it had oil pressure! But it did. It ran very well.


And the bottom end





I went ahead and bought a head gasket set, sump gasket, Cam-belt kit, and service parts.
I will clean all the gunk off in petrol over the course of tomorrow, get the block painted, and get it built up.

Part of me wants to build it all into the 1298 block as that's all ready painted, and the 1298 head is clean. BUT, I'm not sure where the extra CC is made up on the two engines, I know it's done in the stroke, but are the blocks different, pistons etc?


So I'll work with what I have.




Ben

[binge]

SJ Oil strainer fitted as the swift one was a deeper sump and would have probably hit my axle



Bit of paint on the block




And the engine all built up






I still need to fit the inlet manifold, and carb. But I am unsure what I am doing with the cooling system at the moment.
The Swift inlet manifold has the thermostat housing at the wrong end. For a bed mounted rad, this would be better, as it is pointing towards the back of the truck already. But if I decide to run a regular rad up front, then I will need to change to the SJ inlet, which means the carb may not work from the Swift engine, as it's an SU carb.

[twiss]

looks good dude

[Darrell]

Nicely done