Overhauling an engine will definitely add years to your engine’s lifespan – there’s no argument about that. But not all engine workshops overhaul engines the same. To get the most out of your engine, your engine overhaul should include an end-to-end solution from an experienced workshop with the right equipment. So, what exactly should an engine overhaul include?
How to break in a rebuilt engine
Engine damage assessment
First things first: what is the current state of the engine? That’s what engine overhaul machinists will try to answer when first receiving your engine for refurbishment.
- Dismantling process
To carefully inspect each engine component, the engine being overhauled is carefully and completely dismantled down to the smallest parts. - Ultrasonic cleaning
Then, each part is cleaned using both a chemical solvent and high-frequency sound waves to completely remove the oil, grease and any other dirt or debris off of the engine parts. - Damage assessment
Once out of the ultrasonic cleaner, each engine part is carefully inspected by automotive machinists for signs of damage and wear. - Component measurement
This involves measuring and inspecting all parts to suggest the best course of action necessary to recondition and rebuild the engine.
Engine reconditioning
Once automotive machinists have taken the engine apart and assessed existing wear and tear, it’s time to recondition or replace engine parts that need attention.
- Engine block
Overhauling the engine includes engine block repairs like reboring the engine block, honing the block, surface milling it, and line boring the engine block if required.
- Cylinder heads
Cylinder head reconditioning starts with refacing valves and reaming the valve guides. Valve seats are machined, the cylinder head surface is milled until smooth, and then a vacuum test to ensure correctly seated valves. - Crankshaft
No engine overhaul is complete without a crankshaft refurbishment. This includes checking the crankshaft for alignment and crankshaft journals for cracks. Then crankshaft journals can be ground, and the crankshaft can be polished. - Conrods
Conrod refurbishment begins by assessing them for roundness, and whether they can be machined or not. Smallend bushes are removed and replaced with semi-finished bushes. These are machined to manufacturer spec, after which the bigend housing is machined.
Engine rebuilding
The third and final stage of an engine overhaul is the process of reconstructing the refurbished engine, making sure that each part is clean and measures to manufacturer specification.
- Bearing clearances
Before reconstructing the overhauled engine, automotive machinists perform all the necessary inspections and ensure that each part matches the manufacturer’s factory specifications. - Engine reconstruction
Once all bearing clearances have been conducted and each component is at manufacturer specification, the overhauled engine can be reassembled. The parts are checked once more as they are put into place.
Engine overhauls in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
In 2020, Eagleharm Engineering celebrated 50 years of providing certified engine overhaul services in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Our specialist engine services are focused on engine rebuilding and reconditioning.
Machining services we offer include reboring, line boring, crankshaft grinding, conrod resizing, and overhauling of cylinder heads.
We repair Mercedes Benz, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Isuzu and all other engines. Some of our projects include rebuilding of older engines, notably: 1931 Chrysler Straight 8, Studebaker, Buick Straight 8, plus 1958 and 1959 250 and 280 Mercedes Benz engines.
Get in touch with Ryan or Todd Harmsworth to book an engine overhaul with Eagleharm Engineering.
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