engine rebuild....

[calvinhutt]

as per previous posts my griff 500 engine has not been at all well - it has now had new tappets fitted, but is still not running. Now I have been told that it is not running because the key on the crankshaft had worn to the point that the gear was slipping (not enough for the valves to hit the pistons!). This resulted in the timing going out, giving the lack of power previously reported.

Including a diagnosis, strip down of the timing cover / assembly, renewal of the key and full rebuild, including new crank pulley wheel (balanced by TVR power), does £1000 inclusive of labour and VAT sound a reasonable quote??? I guess I am a little over a barrel here as the engine is in bits.....

Many thanks for any info!

Calvin

[boosted ls1]

I've never heard of the key wearing out before. That's a new one on me. Basically all it does is locate the chain gear and I don't think it's subjected to any shear loads as the shaft may be tapered to provide positive location. You only have to look at the torque setting on the centre bolt to see that nothings going to move, least of all the timing or gear by a significant amount. I'd want to know if the correct crank key was installed last time it was asembled. There are stock early-rover woodruff keys which are smaller then the Serpentine woodruff keys. If your motor has a serp specced large journal crank then the early key may be to small. I'd also want to know who torqued it up the last time it was built. As for balancing the pully they only have to match it to your existing pulley or even re-use the pulley you have. As for the labour price, to me that's high but then the people doing this work may have high overheads to pay and a £75 per hour hourly rate. If so, then the price would be quite reasonable.