Reassembling Thread

[Lauren]

Did you change your core plugs Lauren?

He checked them and got a mirror down in the water gallery so you can see the back of them. They were fine.

I guess as long as you do that you'll be fine. A core plug going in an AE86 would be bad enough but with the access being so crap in an MR2 it might not be so much fun.

[elbon50]

[access being so crap in an MR2 it might not be so much fun.

Exactly the point I was making Luren

I gave him very valuable advice based on my knowledge and experience

In return I received a long stream of volatile abuse, insults and incorrect statements

[SuperRedMR2]

I've had three 4AGE engines and not suffered any issues with the core plugs.

Peter you just seem to want to criticise me instead of letting me get on with it.

[Lauren]

YMMV.

I wouldn't take the risk, but maybe you'll be 4th time lucky. It's up to you of course.

If the engine has ever been run on water that would increase the risk of corrosion.

I think you struggle to take any critique in all honesty Alex. Peter's posting style can seem confrontational at times. That doesn't help, but I'm tired of the bickering.

[elbon50]

I was trying to be helpful

[Lauren]

I know, Peter. Maybe it's just the way you come across sometimes. Intention is not so clear at times with the written word.

[elbon50]

I know, Peter. Maybe it's just the way you come across sometimes. Intention is not so clear at times with the written word.

Thanks for that Lauren, I appreciate what you are saying

Gives me food for thought

[SuperRedMR2]

Apologies Lauren.

I can take criticism but when you do something for yourself you learn from your mistakes. If I wanted to be told how to do everything I would have had someone else rebuild my engine.

It wasn't helpful Peter, I'm sorry for being rude, but if you think that's volatile you don't know me

I have spoken to garages used by the AE86 boys and even called the company who carried out the machining on my block, plus my father who has rebuilt many VW beetle engines and my trusted best friend who is also a proven car mechanic. All of which say if it ain't leaking there is no need to change it. Damage could be done to the threads of the plugs when removing it so I could balls my engine up completely through taking them apart.

I'm sealing the sump on tomorrow night with a view to get as much done as possible this week to put my engine in next weekend as my camshafts are being delivered next Friday.

I'll post up pictures tomorrow of further progress.

[PW@Woodsport]

Damage could be done to the threads of the plugs when removing it so I could balls my engine up completely through taking them apart.

Whoever told you this is talking nonsense, there are no threads on core plugs, they are simply an interference fit.

[SuperRedMR2]

Sorry, I thought I read somewhere that they were threaded.

I'm not going to, but how would you get them out?

[PW@Woodsport]

Various methods, some drill a hole, insert a screw and use a slide hammer... or welding something on and lever them out with a pry bar. A few minutes with a sharp chisel usually dispatches them though.

I personally never replace them, i've yet to see a 4a-ge coreplug failure and some of them are 28 years old.

The statistics would suggest replacing them is a wasted effort, although if you are unlucky enough to suffer a failed one the chances are it will be a nightmare to replace in situ.

[SuperRedMR2]

Various methods, some drill a hole, insert a screw and use a slide hammer... or welding something on and lever them out with a pry bar. A few minutes with a sharp chisel usually dispatches them though.

I personally never replace them, i've yet to see a 4a-ge coreplug failure and some of them are 28 years old.

The statistics would suggest replacing them is a wasted effort, although if you are unlucky enough to suffer a failed one the chances are it will be a nightmare to replace in situ.

Thanks Paul, I thought you would have popped up saying to replace them if it was absolutely necessary unless they were already leaking of course.

I did however think last night that this engine is the API engine so if it's been refurbished in the past the plugs would have been changed possibly anyway.

[PW@Woodsport]

To be honest i doubt even they would replace them.

[SuperRedMR2]

Fair enough.

There is an o-ring that fits in the hole of the water pump - I cant seem to find a part number for it - any ideas?

[PW@Woodsport]

I'll get that for you later tonight

[SuperRedMR2]

Cheers Paul

I did notice that this was heavily perished so thought it would be a good idea to replace this

[jimi]

I've been messing with engines for 40+ years and in all that time I've 1 problem with a core plug. That was on MG midget when the block froze and pushed the core plug out. I thawed the engine out and knocked the same core plug back in, it was still there 4 years later when I sold the car My advice

Don't fix what isn't broke

... if the core plugs aren't leaking I'd leave them alone

[elbon50]

We always replaced them as a matter of course, when we did a rebuild

But conditions have changed in the modern day

Even the coreplugs themselves are different

Having said that, I had one leak on a GT6 a few years ago & it needed replacing

And of couse the leaky one was in the worst possible place to get at

[SuperRedMR2]

So with the comments above by two of the most knowledgable and respected people in the mk1 club, i'm glad with what I knew was best.

[tottacrolla]

Pictures I took tonight

Clean & honed block


New pistons on Rods


New thrust washers, big end bearings & main bearings


Crankshaft - cleaned and polished

Cleaned and honed...
New pistons on rods...

GREAT !

now lets put them outside on some concrete slabs......