The 2.25 petrol engine

General Specifications

Capacity............... 2286 cc (140 cu in)

Number of cylinders......................... 4

Bore ...................3.562 in (90.47 mm)

Stroke....................... 3.5 in (88.8 mm)

Comprression ratio........................ 8 : 1

BHP at 4,250 rpm............................77

Maximum torgue...... 124 ib/ft (17mkg)

Firing order......................... 1 - 3 - 4 - 2

It soon became clear in the first few months of getting her home is that this engine really needed a re-build of some-sorts.

It started with her wanting a new exhaust and on trying to replace the exhaust the manifold studs and nuts sheared off.

Once the head was off it was stripped and sent away for skimming, new guides, hardened exhaust seats and new exhaust valves.

 I just couldn't help myself and I had to get my old 'de-grinder' out and clean up the ports. 

The ports seemed to have a very ruff casting and I thought it would be a lot better if it all was smoothed out a bit. I didn't go mad with it all, just took the ruff off and did a little bit of polishing here and there.

It will give it a bit better air flow and a touch more power with smoother running.

Once the head was washed down and put back together, I gave it a spray with some Black Paint

Once the head was cleaned up and painted, I set to with getting the block cleaned up and gave it a bit of honing out.

 The head went back on once the block was cleaned out.

 Time to set the clearances for the Tappets.

I shot blasted the inlet and exhaust manifold and get it a spray of silver paint.

I shot blasted the fan blades and painted them as well, along with the water pump.

I set too, cleaning everything up and painting it before it went back on the engine. 

The Rocker Cover looked very nice once it was cleaned and painted. 

 The Air-Filter really looked a picture, once it was cleaned and sprayed.

Run your mouse/cursor over the photo to see how it looked before I sprayed it.

 The more bits that went on, the more it started to look like an engine again.

And it wasn't long before it was running again.

 It's always a relief to find it starts first time and runs okay.

I didn't run it for long, as there was no water in it, so I didn't want to do it any damage.

But hearing it start and tick-over okay was a big relief in knowing you done right.

 The heater fan got the same treatment as everything else. Shot Blasted and painted. 

The heater Matrix Holder didn't miss out on the same treatment. 

Slowly, Slowly I went round everything and it either got a clean up, or a spray job.

Run your cursor over the steering wheel above and see how well the Steering Wheel turned out.

Just read on down the page.

A wonderful read

A drunk man in an Oldsmobile

They said had run the light

That caused the six-car pileup

On highway 109 that night.

When broken bodies lay about

And blood was everywhere,
 
The sirens screamed out eulogies,
 
For death was in the air.
 
A mother, trapped inside her car,
 
Was heard above the noise;
 
Her plaintive plea near split the air:
 
Oh, God, please spare my boys!
 
She fought to loose her pinned hands;

She struggled to get free,
 
But mangled metal held her fast

In grim captivity.

Her frightened eyes then focused

On where the back seat once had been,

But all she saw was broken glass and

Two children's seats crushed in.

Her twins were nowhere to be seen;

She did not hear them cry,

And then she prayed they'd been thrown free,

Oh, God, don't let them die!

Then firemen came and cut her loose,

But when they searched the back,
 
They found therein no little boys,
 
But the seat belts were intact.
 
They thought the woman had gone mad
 
And was traveling alone,

But when they turned to question her,
 
They discovered she was gone.

Policemen saw her running wild

And screaming above the noise
 
In beseeching supplication,

Please help me find my boys!

They're four years old and wear blue shirts;
 
Their jeans are blue to match.

One cop spoke up, They're in my car,

And they don't have a scratch.

They said their daddy put them there
 
And gave them each a cone,
 
Then told them both to wait for Mom

To come and take them home.

I've searched the area high and low,

But I can't find their dad.

He must have fled the scene,

I guess, and that is very bad.

The mother hugged the twins and said,

While wiping at a tear,

He could not flee the scene, you see,
 
For he's been dead a year.

The cop just looked confused and asked,

Now, how can that be true?

The boys said, Mommy, Daddy came

And left a kiss for you.

He told us not to worry

And that you would be all right,

And then he put us in this car with

The pretty, flashing light.

We wanted him to stay with us,

Because we miss him so,

But Mommy, he just hugged us tight

And said he had to go.

He said someday we'd understand

And told us not to fuss,

And he said to tell you, Mommy,

He's watching over us.

The mother knew without a doubt

That what they spoke was true,

For she recalled their dad's last words,

I will watch over you.

The firemen's notes could not explain

The twisted, mangled car,

And how the three of them escaped

Without a single scar.

But on the cop's report was scribed,

In print so very fine,

An angel walked the beat tonight on Highway 109.