engine rebuild and more...

[mattyo]

WOW! Has it really been a month since my last post? Well a lot has been completed but it's not that impressive to post on. I got all engine parts sandblasted. Here's the rear cylinder stacked up.



I wet-sanded all my engine gasket surfaces with 400, then 600, then 1000 grit. In my n00bish opinion, it looks pretty good. Some of those gasket edges got pretty sharp and while washing them off and rubbing them down with my hand, I initially filleted about a square 1/2" of my epidermis off. Thought I learned me lesson but then sliced my finger open pretty good a couple days later. Looked like I took a Wusthof to my finger (exaggeration)! Anyway, it gave me a new found respect for well polished gasket surfaces. So finally! all gasket surfaces are polished and valves are lapped.



Started painting the water pipes, thermostat housing, and water pump head:



I know I should ideally have them hanging off a hook or something but figured, it's just the water pipes, I don't care that much. But the engine parts will definitely be a suspended paint job. I went with VHT's engine enamel line of primer, paint, and clear coat. And yes, I went with "plum purple". Figured it was dark enough to be subtle but at the same time jazz the bike up a little. The lighting in the picture makes it look a bit brighter than it actually is to the naked eye. I'm just doing the engine in plum purple, I'm going to do the exhaust flat black, haven't decided on the fuel tank and other cosmetics yet, maybe flat black as well. All flat black with a "deep purple" engine? Classic ROCK!

Anywho, I'm still waiting on my pilot bearing puller for the two "hard-to-reach" bearings but I pulled the other accessible bearings tonight. They popped out much more easily than I had thought. That made me very happy! 2-3 semi-gentle whacks with the slide hammer and they popped right out. YEAH!



So still a lot on the to-do list but I'm gettin there. Hopefully this engine runs when all is done. Fingers crossed!

[bpratt18]

Wow! Those look really good, I'll trade you the ultrasonic for the sandblaster Can't wait to see the whole thing painted up, definitely going to turn some heads. Were you able to find new cylinder gaskets? They don't seem to have them for my 84. Anyways, keep up the good work!

[mattyo]

Originally Posted by bpratt18

Wow! Those look really good, I'll trade you the ultrasonic for the sandblaster Can't wait to see the whole thing painted up, definitely going to turn some heads. Were you able to find new cylinder gaskets? They don't seem to have them for my 84. Anyways, keep up the good work!

I think I'll hold on to the sandblaster a little while longer.

Nope, I haven't found the cylinder gaskets. Ronayers had them listed but when I ordered them, I got the classic, sorry we don't carry those anymore. I'll let you know what I find.

[bpratt18]

Just so I understand this correctly, to replace the metal gasket between the crank case and cylinder you're going to use only liquid gasket?

[csmbt]

Originally Posted by mattyo

I think I'll hold on to the sandblaster a little while longer.

Nope, I couldn't find the cylinder gaskets. Folks on the forum said to use liquid gasket. I bought some Permatex "ultra grey" that will hopefully do the job.

I am following this thread with interest, I have a very similar situation and currently have my engine down to the crankcase too

The gaskets are out there I assure you, EBAY is a good resource and if you are patient you can get some screaming deals, I found 2 x NOS genuine Honda head and cylinder gaskets for $10 a piece!

for a full head rebuild you need (all x2) head gasket, cylinder gasket, cam chain cover and tappet cover (that one is optional if you don't rebuild the tappets) and 2 x exhaust seals

you will use a liquid gasket for the vales to the top of the head

there are several complete gasket sets around the $80 mark and those have everything for the whole bike

when I get done I think I am going to post a long .... basket case to beautiful thread!

So far I have to deal with a destroyed cooling system, a "daisy" childs headband around the headlight, a Dr Pepper bottle expansion tank, a dime as a brake sight glass replacement, a head blown so badly there were 2-3 mm deep scores into the aluminum (the head was junk!) a blown rotor, so much RTV inside the engine I started to make a pile of it, threw it away when the pile got over 3in and so many "are you f'ing kidding me" moments my wife simply says ... what did he do now ...

it's a mess ... I hate the previous owner with a passion ..

but it's going to be amazing when I am done

Thanks for all the info on the rebuild, I have got some very useful tips

[csmbt]

Originally Posted by bpratt18

Just so I understand this correctly, to replace the metal gasket between the crank case and cylinder you're going to use only liquid gasket?

don't do this!

you need the correct head gasket .... trust me ... I know of what I speak

Hondabond is not going to cut it for a head gasket

it's fine for clutch covers etc but the head is too high pressure and it needs to seat and seal the water cooled sleeves

the correct part is actually 2 metal covers with a cork'ish material inbetween, it deforms and seals the coolant in

If not done the high pressure will make a HUGE mess ... not to mention blowing holes in your head ..........

[mattyo]

Originally Posted by bpratt18

Just so I understand this correctly, to replace the metal gasket between the crank case and cylinder you're going to use only liquid gasket?

Hahaha, my bad. When I wrote that I was thinking of the seam between the two halves of the crankcase. Good catch. I'll have to double check, but I think the cylinder gasket was the one that Ronayers told me they didn't carry anymore. I haven't bothered trying to hunt it down yet.

[bpratt18]

HONDA VT700 1984-85 nos cylinder head gaskets 12250-me9-306 | eBay

Not a steal, but here they are. Another question for you Are you planning on reusing your piston rings? Will you break the glaze through the honing process?

[csmbt]

heres the whole set - about $70

Vesrah admittedly ... but beats Hondabond !

Vesrah complete gasket kit vg 1023 Honda VT750 VT 700 37 pieces HONDA full | eBay

[mattyo]

FINALLY! Got the special Honda pilot bearing puller tool! It only took two months of trial and error! And then took a whole 2 minutes to actually pull the bearings! Good grief.
Here's the special $200 tool:


And now I can pull the bearings out:


And now I can actually start "rebuilding" the engine! WOOPY!! Oh yeah, I'm going to return the special tool now. (evil laugh!)