Engine Block Re-Honing - Has anyone done it?

[explosive-cabbage]

The block is currently out of my Niva. LONG STORY! I will be putting an epic post on my resto thread and explain it all when I am done and have free time again!

 

I have come to the conclusion, with help from the experts at http://www.lada.co.uk, that I will need to hone the block. Its all out, stripped and ready to do.

 

So to the question:

 

Had anyone ever used those engine block honing kits similar to the ones on eBay?

See here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Draper-56246-Cylinder-Hone-51mm-177mm-Bore-Honing-Tool-/360547709188?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item53f2517104

Are they hard to use? Is it a skilled sport? Anyone got any tips/tricks??

 

 

If I decide to get someone else to do it for me how much should I expect to pay?

 

 

Any information would be much appreciated

 

Regards, Will

[Albert Ross]

Easy peasy. Keep the drill speed slow, rag the bottom of each bore, as the grey paste (a product of the stones wearing on the bores) will contaminate more than you can see, making cleaning the block a bit of a twat. Try not to catch the rag. Keep the rhythm regular, and place the block on it's side, the head face as the lower part, (10-15 degrees from horizontal) as the honing tool with drill can be heavy. The grey paste SHOULD drain towards the drill.... making cleaning LESS of a twat. Enjoy. You will know when it's right. When you have finished, clean well, clean again, and then do it better. When refitting pistons with NEW rings, (like you should be about to do) use plenty of oil. No, more than that.. you can always drain it out of a freshly built engine, but you can't add it once it's together.

[explosive-cabbage]

Wow. Fast and Helpful! Thanks!

 

Do I need some kind of lubricant?

Should you use a few different grits to get a good finish?

Should I do the full legnth of the bore from top to bottom including the or just in the area the rings run?

 

I will use a pressure washer and Fairy Liquid after to get it clean of resudue.

 

Regards, Will

[Guest]

Don't use a pressure washer and don't use fairy liquid.

 

One you'll blow crap where you don't want it and oil out of where you do want oil and Fairy Liquid a.contains salt and b. will degrease it a treat

[explosive-cabbage]

Oops.

Well, I was pressure washing my block just this morning....

 

Never mind. Knowledge gained!

[jonathan_dyane]

I use have always successfully used diesel as a lubricant, and also as a cleaning agent and protectant.

[meggersdog]

As Albert has suggested, slow speed on the drill and down the bore as far as you dare without catching the rag.As Jonathan_dyane said, diesel oil is good just put it in an oil can and squirt in the bore you are about to hone.Try not to bring the honing tool too far out of the bore while it's rotating as this can cause the stones to crack.

[Morgan84]

There's a few youtube videos showing it which may be helpfull

[explosive-cabbage]

Thanks everyone, I've watched a few youtube vids and it doesn't look to hard. Ill be trying it this week, and I will keep you posted.

[jonny69]

I have that exact bore hone. About 15 years ago when I did my first ever rebuild I got the block honed by a local place. The Draper one is just a smaller version of the one they used in the shop back then. I just copied what they did and got exactly the same results. You may need to work near the top of the bore if you have a bit of a step and if you want to smooth it out. You can get different grade stones, but they aren't actually replaceable without drilling out the rivets that hold them on. I found the grade that came with it is actually bang on. I did mine bores vertically with the head face up and engine oil as the lube.