Machine Shop Tips

[BNelsonAz]

Hi All,

Well, the motor is out of my son's 1980 FI Spider. head is off, pistons are out and I found a straight, pre-ground crank (the one in it was bent), the .010 oversize bearings and all of the gaskets are on the way. The motor is at the machine shop but I have some concerns since I hear that machine chops regularly gobber up Fiat engines.

The guy I'm using is well respected in the area, and does tons of motors, but what pitfalls are there specifically with the 2.0 liter motor with those not used to them?

Thanks!

Bill

[DanD]

I don't know where you are in AZ, but TNT machine works in Kingman knows these cars well. I haven't been there for years though.


If you call around, there is always someone who knows Fiats. Usually Fiats don't need to be line bored, but if you had a bent crank, you might want to have the block checked out.

Other, more knowledgeable people will chime in I'm sure.

[BNelsonAz]

I don't know where you are in AZ, but TNT machine works in Kingman knows these cars well. I haven't been there for years though.


If you call around, there is always someone who knows Fiats. Usually Fiats don't need to be line bored, but if you had a bent crank, you might want to have the block checked out.

Hi Dan,

Thanks for the response! Yep, since I'm in Phoenix I probably won't go to Kingman, but good to know if I need to call them for advice. The shop is going to clean, magnaflux and mic the block, pistons, and rods. I seem to remember another post referencing something about the Aux Shaft bearings tho.

[azruss]

If you replace the aux shaft bearings, they need to be sized. If the current ones spec out, i would leave them alone.

[BNelsonAz]

If you replace the aux shaft bearings, they need to be sized. If the current ones spec out, i would leave them alone.

I wasn't planning on replacing the aux shaft bearings. I am going to have the block cleaned and magnafluxed, but wasn't going to even remove the aux shaft.

[DanD]

How do the cylinder walls look ? Are you replacing the pistons ?

[BNelsonAz]

How do the cylinder walls look ? Are you replacing the pistons ?

The bores look good, two rods are bad, so I found two used rods with pistons already installed. I'll mic the pistons to check them before install.

[BNelsonAz]

I seem to remember hearing about machine shops "burning the aux shaft bearing. Is this if they high-temp clean the the motor with the aux shaft installed??

[vandor]

>I wasn't planning on replacing the aux shaft bearings.

Make sure they don't 'hottank' the engine, as the acid would eat the bearings. They need to wash the engine with detergent or solvent only.