1/11/10: Standard bore B18 engine: a thing of beauty. As tough of a pushrod engine as was ever built-like the GM 350-some parts of this workhorse just never quits. After 43 years in service and who knows how many miles this engine's main and rod bearings are still serviceable and within specs. The cylinders have only worn about .002. A weakness of carbureted engines, due to excess fueling which washes the lubrication off these valve lifters and causes wear-the top surfaces start out flat-these will be replaced.

The oil pan was full of 'gunk'. It will be cleaned, painted and reused.

The front engine cover will be exchanged for a machined cover, having a modern rubber seal which replaces the original felt seal (a common cause of oil leakage).

Lower end: the crank surface is perfect-within specs and only needs polishing.

Off with her head! This head shown here is back from the machine shop. It was checked for cracks and flat surfaces, cleaned, bead blasted, new valves installed, new hardened valve seats (to be able to burn unleaded fuel without valve damage) and a fresh coat of paint.

This shows new exhaust valves and hardened "stelite" valve seats.

Steel timing gear-this is still serviceable, but it will be replaced

Pistons removed

Pistons out: very little wear, but a lot of sludge

"The ridge": the top 1/4 inch of the cylinder bore did not make contact with the piston rings, so it is not worn. It shows here as the silver stripe around the cylinder. It has been removed to enable the pistons to be removed out of the top of the block.

Front of the engine

Piston rings in Volvo engines don't typically wear out (as is the popular belief). They become stuck to the pistons and fail to control oil properly. This comes about by the 'cooking' of the oil when the PCV system fails or when the engine gets out of tune and drops too much fuel into the engine. This piston suffered that fate.

New piston: This is how the rings should look. They spring out and seal against the cylinder walls.

Original connecting rod: this and the others will be checked for straightness and cleaned before reinstalling.

Old wrist pin...

New wrist pin: these 'fully floating' pins are a great design.

1/14/10: Block fresh from the machine shop-cleaned, checked, painted, bores deglazed and new cam bearings installed.

Block: it didn't need boring-the cylinders were only measured to be sure they were within tolerance and then deglazed

Steve "plastigauging" new main bearings to make sure they are within tolerance. The crankshaft needed only polishing as it was within specs (after 40+ years of service!!)

The crank resting in a new main bearing

Camshaft bearings replaced

Freshly polished crank is still within specs

The pan: cleaned and painted

Inside of the clean pan

New piston assembled to the existing connecting rod

New rod bearing in rod bearing cap with plastigauge line

New main bearing being fitted into the block

1/19/10: Engine reassembled and getting close to being ready to be reinstalled

New timing gears and water pump (from old engine)