Confusion runs amok

I'm very much looking forward to assembling the bottom end of the engine but we've been stymied by confusion around several different topics. First, the bearings that I have had holes which did not line up with the holes in the main bearing saddles. Apparently a popular modification was to drill holes in the number 2 and 4 main bearing saddles to allow for extra oil circulation, but the bearings themselves have to be drilled to take advantage of this. Also, the bearings for number 1, 3, and 5 have two holes while the saddles themselves only have 1. I've been told that this is not a problem as the groove in the saddle will allow oil to flow properly through the engine, but it's still a bit disconcerting to not know for sure from an authoritative source (like an official manual).

Another area of confusion surrounds the pistons. The only manual I have, which is for a 2L motor, suggests that there should be an arrow on the piston crown which needs to point to the exhaust side of the head. Problem is, I'm not building a 2L engine, I'm building a 1600cc engine and the AE/Borgo pistons I have do not have such a marking on them. It's been suggested that these pistons are in fact symmetrical and that it does not matter which side faces which, but again, with an engine, you just want to know for sure.

And so the various engine components continue to sit in boxes on my workbench while I call and research and post questions to the Alfabb looking for answers.

Hopefully I'm getting closer to the truth and can start building an engine soon.

The Engine Returns

Last Saturday Chel and I drove up the peninsula to Cardelli Motorsports to pick up some of the engine that needed work. The head got new valve guides and seals, the seats were cut and all the components were blasted and thoroughly cleaned. The rods were reconditioned and fitted with new bushings. The new cylinder liners were pressed in to the block. Here's a picture of everything ready for reassembly. I ended up buying a set of new matched pistons and liners as it seemed false economy to re-use the old ones. Additionally, I'll be installing a new oil pump as it's one of the critical components to an engine's health, and I had no idea what sort of oil pressure I was getting with the old one as the car was never really driven before I began to disassemble it.

Chela and I are cleaning engine fasteners and trying to figure out where they all go, but the block is now mounted on the engine stand and soon we'll start to put it together. I love building engines! They're like big puzzles, and everything fits.