engine build

I decided to do laundry this morning before UPS showed up with engine parts. I have already shown you my washer and dryer so I will just skip on to the engine build. All I was waiting on was the main and rod bearings. The crankshaft was here on Saturday.

Such a small box...and yet so important. I doubt it even weighs a 1/4 pound.

Those are the bearings if you have never seen any. Now I have to get to work if I am to be in the water in a couple days.

I had to change out one of the connecting rods. I did this the other day while waiting for bearings.

Easy little job. Take out clips. beat wrist pin out. Discard ruined part.

See, Back together with new pushrod. Never put engine parts back together without lube. STP is great for assembling an engine because if there are difficulties starting it, it stays on parts longer than oil. just don't pour it in the crankcase. I learned that with dad in a small engine building course at the local college back in Idaho. It builds up in thick layers everywhere in the engine but where you would think you want it to be.

Here it was last night. The engine block waiting for parts. I think I am going to be sitting on a 5 gallon bucket while I assemble this rascal. That was not the case.

First assemble main bearing set.

All done. Time to get that crankshaft installed.

So here is crankshaft with bearings now ready to install. Remember I was going to sit on the green 5 gal. bucket? Turns out I am going to sit on settee and use bucket for work bench :-) :-)  Funny now but I pay for it later.

Parts I will be using. This is just a small amount of the parts i need to remember what to do with. Actually.. can pretty much remember where all of them came from...........so far.

Crankshaft is in. Time to get after those pistons.

All three pistons with the plate that holds end of crankshaft on flywheel side.

Cannot install pistons without one of these to hold the rings in the slots so you can slide pistons in.

Pistons are in. Flywheel is on. Everything is torqued properly. Time to put that head on.

A Jamaican Banana.  I won this from one of those claw machines and kept forgetting to try and give it away. Really....a jamaican banana? Well he Has been here a few weeks now so I named him Earl and I guess I now have a banana  living on my boat. Does that make this a banana boat ?

At 8:00 this morning I ate half a leftover sub from the fridge. I drank 2 cups of coffee with it. I had a beer about 8:00 tonight. At 11:30 I had a picnic to celebrate the first day of engine build going well. Leftover spaghetti from last night, another can of beer and a glass of water. I am really not that hungry but I know I should eat something. i had licorice for desert. The beer is excellent. Oh......I almost forgot. I did have a few energy drinks today. I was groggy from not sleeping well the last few nights. Back hurts tonight so we will see. Hopefully I can start engine tomorrow. If so I will launch Mary Lee Thursday. Are you excited. I know  I am. It has not been a very adventurous time yet.

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