LS140 Rebuild ???

[Frederick]

My work on my LS140 continues with the engine rebuild. I would like to know what are the must dos for this: replace rod bearings, replace main bearings, all filters, replace rings, replace rod bushing, replace oil pump, gaskets / seals, rebuild injectors, check fuel pump, hone bores. Since I had very bad bearings on rods #2 and #3, I have to get the crank reworked. Other items to consider??? Fred

 

[mllud]

Fred If you have to get in as deep as you are I would make sure everything engine related is back in spec. I always replace the oil pump after a metal eating disaster. Rebuilding part of an engine can be wasted money.All thse metal particals from your crank/rods gets sucked throught your engine.Rings dont reseat without being honed . The fuel injectors should be cleaned or replaced. The injector pump would probably be ok but could be timed and calabrated.
I have wasted money and time not refreshing an engine as a unit. Mike

 

[Tazza]

Fred If you have to get in as deep as you are I would make sure everything engine related is back in spec. I always replace the oil pump after a metal eating disaster. Rebuilding part of an engine can be wasted money.All thse metal particals from your crank/rods gets sucked throught your engine.Rings dont reseat without being honed . The fuel injectors should be cleaned or replaced. The injector pump would probably be ok but could be timed and calabrated.
I have wasted money and time not refreshing an engine as a unit. Mike

All good points, when i rebuilt my kubota's they were fully done. New sleeves installed, bored to size decked new bearings EVERYWHERE crank ground, cam was checked and linished, new pistons and rings, rods were re-sized new gudgeon pin bushes. Injectors and pump were done. Head was re-conditioned as well.
I totally agree if you are that far in, do the lot. You don't want to dive back in later because you didn't do it earlier.

 

[mllud]

All good points, when i rebuilt my kubota's they were fully done. New sleeves installed, bored to size decked new bearings EVERYWHERE crank ground, cam was checked and linished, new pistons and rings, rods were re-sized new gudgeon pin bushes. Injectors and pump were done. Head was re-conditioned as well.
I totally agree if you are that far in, do the lot. You don't want to dive back in later because you didn't do it earlier.

Fred; Om my N/H they wanted $250 each for oversized pistons. The machine shop sleeved all three cylinders for $165 per cylinder. That allowed me to stay with sthe standard pistons. I dont know if you have any damage or enough wear to make that nessesary. Just an option too oversized pistons.The machinest also warned me about boring and ending up with pin holes in the sidewalls of the cylinders so I sleeved all three. Electrolasis on some engines is a problem that a sleeve cures.
. Between machine shop work. Head rebuild,,parts,gaskets and seals it cost me a little under $3000 to rebuild my 3 cyl ford engine in a Lx865. Parts are high from N/H but I found no other option. I still got off OK and have a solid engine. Mike

 

[Frederick]

Fred; Om my N/H they wanted $250 each for oversized pistons. The machine shop sleeved all three cylinders for $165 per cylinder. That allowed me to stay with sthe standard pistons. I dont know if you have any damage or enough wear to make that nessesary. Just an option too oversized pistons.The machinest also warned me about boring and ending up with pin holes in the sidewalls of the cylinders so I sleeved all three. Electrolasis on some engines is a problem that a sleeve cures.
. Between machine shop work. Head rebuild,,parts,gaskets and seals it cost me a little under $3000 to rebuild my 3 cyl ford engine in a Lx865. Parts are high from N/H but I found no other option. I still got off OK and have a solid engine. Mike

Yes, I think I'm looking at $3K given the NH part prices. One really bad thing that I do not have an answer from NH on yet is given the newer ser # of my engine, there are NO oversized piston options listed. When I used a decent cylinder bore guage the only issue I see is on #3 at 0.25 inches below the top ridge, the bore is just at the allowed limit - otherwise seems like standard would work. One question then is can I salvage the old pistons and rods. I purchased this loader for $4K so maybe I am still ahead - eBay is a wonderful thing! Thanks, Fred

 

[Tazza]

Yes, I think I'm looking at $3K given the NH part prices. One really bad thing that I do not have an answer from NH on yet is given the newer ser # of my engine, there are NO oversized piston options listed. When I used a decent cylinder bore guage the only issue I see is on #3 at 0.25 inches below the top ridge, the bore is just at the allowed limit - otherwise seems like standard would work. One question then is can I salvage the old pistons and rods. I purchased this loader for $4K so maybe I am still ahead - eBay is a wonderful thing! Thanks, Fred

You can check the pistons for wear, ensure the ring grooves are rite and that the skirt of the piston is not worn, i have re-used old pistons before but i did ensure they were not worn. I believe they are machined so there is a slight taper. The wear you talk about in the bore is normal but the ridge at the top will need to be removed. If you don't and install new rings they can strike the ridge and break under high rpm with stretch of the conrod or clearance of the rod bearings. This can be done with a ridge remover or if you don't have access to one an air die grinder will do the job. Use what they call over here Spiro bands. They are essentially rings of sand paper that are held in a rubber mount on the grinder. Use chalk to retard the cut and go slow, grind a bit and use your finger to feel for a ridge, repeat till its rite. Its not the best way to do it, but engine shops DO use this technique, i know a guy that did it as an apprentice.
As its rite on the wear limit and if you use new rings you should be pretty well rite. You could always ask a machine show how much it is to install sleeves? The ones for my Kubota were all of $20 each, but i did get the machine work done for free.
Even if you don't go for sleeves, it should still be fine. A new set of rings sure can help lift the compression.

 

[mllud]

You can check the pistons for wear, ensure the ring grooves are rite and that the skirt of the piston is not worn, i have re-used old pistons before but i did ensure they were not worn. I believe they are machined so there is a slight taper. The wear you talk about in the bore is normal but the ridge at the top will need to be removed. If you don't and install new rings they can strike the ridge and break under high rpm with stretch of the conrod or clearance of the rod bearings. This can be done with a ridge remover or if you don't have access to one an air die grinder will do the job. Use what they call over here Spiro bands. They are essentially rings of sand paper that are held in a rubber mount on the grinder. Use chalk to retard the cut and go slow, grind a bit and use your finger to feel for a ridge, repeat till its rite. Its not the best way to do it, but engine shops DO use this technique, i know a guy that did it as an apprentice.
As its rite on the wear limit and if you use new rings you should be pretty well rite. You could always ask a machine show how much it is to install sleeves? The ones for my Kubota were all of $20 each, but i did get the machine work done for free.
Even if you don't go for sleeves, it should still be fine. A new set of rings sure can help lift the compression.

The rods should be checked since you had a crankchaft problem; As Tazza said check your ring grooves. Mine were ok. You also need to check wrist pins for wear. At least if oversized pistons are not available you can sleeve or just hone cylinders. I would be reluctant to just put rings back in the cyl. that is at the limit on wear. Like tazza says you have to remove the ridge at the top. Letting a machine shop get the block ready for you to reassemble would be a good investment.They will also check pistons and rods. I think about $850 of the $3000 was machine shop work. Sleeve 3 cyls, recondition head, valves. Ground crankshaft ,Resurface head and block,boil out block and checked pistons and rods for wear.