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John Elder Robison | profile | all galleries >> Cars, at work and elsewhere >> 1965 Bentley Continental Engine Overhaul tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

1965 Bentley Continental Engine Overhaul

Here are a number of images showing work on a 1961 Bentley Continental Drophead, BC32LCZ. The engine had lost three cylinders, the transmission shifted terribly, and the car was sagged in back and high in front. The photos will follow our progress as we address those issues. The first images show the stripped engine block as it is assembled and refitted to the car. Then we move on the other problems with the car. For more information, our service department is online at www.robisonservice.com
The stripped engine block
The stripped engine block		 Bottom view of the stripped and cleaned block
Bottom view of the stripped and cleaned block		 Block view showing the liner holes
Block view showing the liner holes		 Top view of the block with lifter guides reinstalled
Top view of the block with lifter guides reinstalled
canon 148.jpg
canon 148.jpg		 Boring a liner for the oversize pistons
Boring a liner for the oversize pistons		 Rebuilding the connecting rods
Rebuilding the connecting rods		 The cylinder liners
The cylinder liners
Boring the new pistons for the pins
Boring the new pistons for the pins		 Another view of piston setup
Another view of piston setup		 Balancing the engine - setting the rods
Balancing the engine - setting the rods		 Balancing the rebuilt connecting rods
Balancing the rebuilt connecting rods
Balancing the new pistons
Balancing the new pistons		 Final machining on the pistons, reducing weight
Final machining on the pistons, reducing weight		 The crankshaft on the balancer
The crankshaft on the balancer		 Balancing the crankshaft
Balancing the crankshaft
Balance drilling on the crank
Balance drilling on the crank		 Cylinder head machining
Cylinder head machining		 Cutting the valve seats
Cutting the valve seats		 Boring the valve guides to size for the new valves
Boring the valve guides to size for the new valves
The two heads on the bench. You can see that all the corrosion is gone, they are perfectly smooth, and have new type valves
The two heads on the bench. You can see that all the corrosion is gone, they are perfectly smooth, and have new type valves		 Top view of the heads showing new springs and upper components
Top view of the heads showing new springs and upper components		 Front view of the block showing the timing gears
Front view of the block showing the timing gears		 Here's a top view of the assembled short block - pistons, rods, crank installed
Here's a top view of the assembled short block - pistons, rods, crank installed
Bottom view showing the crank, rods, and pistons fitted into the block
Bottom view showing the crank, rods, and pistons fitted into the block		 The assembled lower end showing balance slugs welded to the rebuilt crank
The assembled lower end showing balance slugs welded to the rebuilt crank		 The assembled short block
The assembled short block		 Heads and short block ready to go together
Heads and short block ready to go together
The completed short block
The completed short block		 The heads go onto the short block
The heads go onto the short block		 Valve covers in place
Valve covers in place		 A front view of the assembled long block
A front view of the assembled long block
Here we are building components onto the front of the engine
Here we are building components onto the front of the engine		 Assembling the flywheel and fluid coupler face on the rear of the motor
Assembling the flywheel and fluid coupler face on the rear of the motor		 The engine bay is clean, ready to receive motor
The engine bay is clean, ready to receive motor		 The engine has been set in place and mated to gearbox in this view from beneath
The engine has been set in place and mated to gearbox in this view from beneath
Final in-car assembly starts
Final in-car assembly starts		 Final assembly is farther along
Final assembly is farther along		 The engine is complete and running
The engine is complete and running		 Complete engine from passenger side
Complete engine from passenger side
Complete engine from driver side
Complete engine from driver side		 Here is the level Bentley, seen for the first time. The car was 1.5 inches high in front prior to the spring work
Here is the level Bentley, seen for the first time. The car was 1.5 inches high in front prior to the spring work		 Using this strip as a reference the car is within 1/4 inch of level front to rear and even side to side
Using this strip as a reference the car is within 1/4 inch of level front to rear and even side to side		 You can see clouds of sediment floating in the RR363 brake fluid
You can see clouds of sediment floating in the RR363 brake fluid
We're disassembling and cleaning the reservoirs, and we'll flush the system
We're disassembling and cleaning the reservoirs, and we'll flush the system		 Here you see rust and sediment on the screen
Here you see rust and sediment on the screen

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Abby 24-Dec-2011 20:52
Dear Sir

I am looking at buying my first Rolls Royce, i have seen a 1995 Rolls Royce silver spur 111. it has covered 300,000 miles with 25 service stamps and is in good working order,in your opinion up to what milage is a Rolls Royce engine good for, provided it has been well maintained.

Regards
Abby
Abby 24-Dec-2011 20:48
Dear Sir

I am looking at buying my first Rolls Royce, i have seen a 1995 Rolls Royce silver spur 111. it has covered 300,000 miles with 25 service stamps and is in good working order,in your opinion up to what milage is a Rolls Royce engine good for provided it has been well maintained.

Regards
Abby
Phillip 20-Jul-2011 11:27
Dear Sirs,
I have a 1979 Shadow 2.The engine has a terrible bog or hesitation when you try to accelerate from idle.It has a new fuel pump,fuel filter,the carb assembly has been off to change needles and seats and set float levels.Problem still exists.Anti-diesling and weakener solenoids have been checked.Now wondering if its not a ignition problem. It doesn't have the original Opus-Lucas ignition.It has a non adjustible Luminition ignition.Engine also has new plugs,leads cap and rotor.Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I am a Rolls Technician here in Canada. Love your Website.Very professional!!
hbacchus 19-Nov-2010 04:03
Hello. I looked over your photos, and corrosion came to mind. The original engine in my '65 RR Silver Shadow is running good, but I notice it runs hot on hot days in slow traffic. Do you recommend that the clutch fan should be replaced, and/or an electric fan be installed? Also, how can you tell if there's any internal corrosion in the engine? I drive the car less than 3,000 miles a year, and it's garaged. Thank you for your reply.
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