A Memory, a Toast, and Guy Bonding

Last night, after the memorial, reception, and dinner, my close family joined together in a toast to my recently departed Mother-in-law.   We toasted with 67 year old port.  Appropriately enough, this is my last remaining inheritance from my late father-in-law's wine cellar!  It was delicious!

Today, my Father, Uncle, and both of my sons helped Mr. Mechanic assemble the pistons into the block.  The pistons had to be assembled onto the connecting rods, and then the rings installed (in the right order) onto the pistons.

The rings come in a box...  there are 4 different kinds...

... and each needs to be installed in the right order and orientation.

After the rings were installed on #1 piston, I oiled them & made sure the ring gaps were appropriately staggered.  Mr. Mechanic applied a ring compressor, inserted a rod bearing, and gently tapped the whole assembly into the block.  An assistant guided the rod bearing so the bolts didn't scratch the crank.  Mr. Mechanic then wanted to plastigage the rod bearings, but we couldn't find the left over strip from Tuesday.  We looked everywhere. This kind of thing is bound to happen, nothing to get upset about.  My Uncle and sons made a quick trip to NAPA to pick up another strip of plastigage.

In the mean time, Mr. Mechanic and I installed the front seal in the timing cover, and were getting ready to install it on the engine when they returned.

We checked the bearing clearance and continued assembling pistons.  Everyone had a chance to help getting the pistons into the block, and checking the bearing clearances.  All the bearings were fine, but I feel better having checked them all.

#1 piston installed (from the bottom).  Note the cap bolts straddling the crank throw.  Mr. Mechanic is installing the other half of the rod bearing in the bearing cap, and placing the plastigage on the bearing.

Installing the rod bearing cap with the plastigage.

#1 rod bearing cap in place.

 The rod bearing is now removed and the plastigage read to determine the bearing clearance.

Reading the plastigage.  All the rod bearings were perfect, at about 2 thousandths.

 The rest of the pistons were then assembled and installed.  Everyone had some chance to participate.

#1 son guiding in #7 connecting rod.

Tapping in #7 piston

Left bank installed.

#1 son takes an artsy-schmartsy shot of the crank.  Look closely - #8 still isn't installed yet.

Pistons are in, bearing clearances checked, everything put together right-side-up.  We shared some stories with each other; Dad, Uncle, Sons, and Mr. Mechanic.  It was a good day.  An affirming day. A healing day. We could have worked faster and accomplished more, but frankly I wouldn't want to.  Everyone had a chance to participate, to interact, and to appreciate each others company.  Mr. Mechanic will return another day, and the two of us will finish the engine.  For today, I feel complete.

It was a good day.