Delica 1600 re-ringing in place?

[edlithgow]

Hi All

I'm thinking of buying a cheap-but-rather-smoky Delica 1600 (4G32?) pickup truck, and am trying to find out if it is possible to re-ring with the engine in the truck.

In other words, is there enough sump clearance to disconnect the big ends without removing the engine.

I've done this a long time ago on a BMC 1800 B series engine in a BL Marina, but the sump is unobstructed on those.

Does anyone know (or is anyone able to take an educated guess)? I've posted the same question on the other forums I know of (except oz, where I seem to have screwed up the registration) but so far no responses.

[Green1]

can't speak for the pickup truck, but my mechanic is pretty certain that he can re-ring a 4D56 engine in place in my Delica (van)

[DelicaMark]

I am no mechanic but is that what needs to be done? My van was really smoking too. I had the compression checked and it was right in spec. I then took it to get the injectors cleaned and the timing adjusted and there is pretty much zero smoke now. It was just out of tune.

-Mark

[docsavage]

The engine described is a gas job. Honing and rings should be possible as long as the cylinder walls are still in good shape. It should also be possible to pull the head with the engine in place - you can on the vans. There also is plenty of sump exposure on the vans to get at the bottom end in situ. Best check with a truck owner though.

James

[TardisDeli]

The 2 Delica Truck owners are MardyDelica (also a dealer, who knows them from Phillipines where also gas), and Kuan (see his post for photos of truck, which I think is diesel). We don't have much gasoline delii here, mainly diesel.
Christine

[edlithgow]

Thanks all. Not definate but it sounds encouraging, and your response puts my compatriots (well, semi - compatriots, most of them are probably from England rather than Scotland) over on the UK site to shame. New World Candu spirit, I suppose.

As someone pointed out, its not forced to be ring/bore wear (valve seals are the other obvious possibility) but unless the seller will let me do a compression test (and my compression tester is 3,000 miles away) thats my best (worst case) guess. Its old (224kk on the clock, for what that's worth) and a 1600 engine must be straining a bit to move a truck this size around even in perfect condition, so it'll have had a hard life.

There are 2.5 litre (and 2 litre I think) normally aspirated diesel trucks here (Taiwan) as well but engine swaps are, unfortunately, illegal. The 4X4 vans are 2.0 litre turbo and probably what your'e used to in Canada

Encouraged by your response, I'll ask my (even) obscurer supplementary question (s).

(a) Can one still buy "ridge-dodging" top piston rings (as I recall these were specially cut away so the new, unworn ring wouldn't hit the bore wear ridge at TDC and break.

(b) Is one likely to be able to get them for the 1600 Delica engine?