Rocking and rolling.

I have made progress over the last few days, and the engine is moving towards the meeting of head and block.

I received the new three groove valves and collets and after a bit of trail and error on relative positions had them all in and lapped with good clearances. I now have an unused set for someone with a an early engine! I put the rocker shaft in place pending receipt of new bolts and the oil baffle. This is a part that was missing but seems to be right so …

The pistons were still waiting patiently for rings. I had got some Hastings rings which have a waffle with two oil control rings where others have the H profile ring with spring behind. I had been waiting for AE rings but they seem to be completely unobtainable. I was staying clear of Britpart / Bearmach / Allmakes.

With the rings on the pistons there was only one place for the pistons to go. With new big end bearings and a piston ring compressor they went in relatively easily but reassuringly tightly! If that makes any sense. I will do a compression and leak down test once assembled just to bench mark the engine.

With the pistons in I reinstalled the oil pump, can shaft and skew gear complete with the hidden locating screw. It is a little bit of a faff to line it up but done with long nose pliers. The screw is locked with Loctite 243.

With the cam shaft in I thought I might as well put the followers in. This is a somewhat repetitive task! Cleaning, lubing, assembling making sure front remains forward and then Loctite on the locating screws as they are not wired on later engines such as this.