1.6 Engine rebuild - Parts location help.

[Gib]

So thanks to the generosity of this forum I now have a spare 1.6 engine. The aim being to rebuild this to a moderate specification as below and then when completed swap this for the current engine.

So far I have got the engine stripped down with just the crank and 2 pistons left in the block. So far I have had no nasty surprises ( #3 crank bearing has a hot spot but the crank looks ok), I was informed the engine has been rebuilt at some point in the recent past and this seems to be the case.
The real issue is being based in the Uk there are minimal supply sources for parts required. I know Simon and Carjoy are the quick one stop shop for these and I understand that they support a low demand marque and have prices to match and have no issue with that.
I am just trying to find lower cost alternatives as I am sure they must be out there on the main land.
So any help finding Cam bearings, Crankshaft / Journal bearings. Rings I don’t have the sizes required at the moment but any ideas are appreciated. I have been in touch with Mick and Phil hart but would like to keep my options as open as possible.

So changes from normal:
Twin DCNF’s ( 36 or 40s) as I have both.
Port matched Inlet manifold, again I have 2, one already matched to the 40’s.
Head to have casting marks removed on In / Ex and then port matched. At the moment no plan to open the ports up or go for larger valves, double springs etc.
Flywheel lightened.
Piston / Crank / Flywheel/ Possibly clutch plate?? Balanced.
Target ~110Bhp. All round usability.

I would have found it far easier to just do an engine swap ( I have done a few before) but just feel that for this project I would like to improve performance in a way that is in touch with the time the car was new and sympathetic to its “feel”. But yes a 1.9GTI block would have been less of a headache to fit rather than trying to get 40 year old parts in the uk for a “SIMPKA POSSIE / POPPY engine???”

[suffolkpete]

When I rebuilt my 1.6 engine, I got almost all the parts from my local motor factors, Motor Parts Direct in Ipswich, the only exception being the pistons, which I bought on eBay.  If you're going to that amount of trouble, I strongly recommend that you have the bottom end balanced as an assembly, flywheel, clutch cover, crankshaft and crankshaft pulley.  The effect on refinement is huge and well worth the money.  When you're buying parts, be sure the supplier understands that it's a 1592  cc Simca engine, not a 1592 cc engine as fitted to British built Hillmans and Chryslers.  They are quite different.

[Gib]

Not being rude but when did you rebuild your engine? as it seems in the past 2-5 years stocks in the UK have dried out or they are not readily available ( same as 14" tyres).
Balancing will hopefully be completed at Basset Down as they are good and cheap ~ £220 +VAT. And yes I will probably go for the lot.
When searching for parts in the Uk I know what you mean people presume it is the Hillman type.

Forgot to mention there is a new cam also going into the mix.

[suffolkpete]

It was about 6 years ago, I must admit.  I had my balancing done by Coltec Racing Engines for about £60 + VAT.

[roy4matra]

So thanks to the generosity of this forum I now have a spare 1.6 engine. The aim being to rebuild this to a moderate specification as below and then when completed swap this for the current engine.

So far I have got the engine stripped down with just the crank and 2 pistons left in the block. So far I have had no nasty surprises ( #3 crank bearing has a hot spot but the crank looks ok), I was informed the engine has been rebuilt at some point in the recent past and this seems to be the case.

In view of this possible previous rebuild of the engine James, you need to check the bearing shells for their sizes.  Are they standard or undersize?  If they are undersize, how much?  Check also crank thrusts for the same reason.  There is one thing about these spare parts that often gets missed.  Standard bearing shells can sometimes still be found when undersizes are all gone.  Common sense really, but engines are often stripped and rebuilt because they had a problem and/or there was excessive wear.  That means that the shells required were undersize or the thrusts needed were thicker.  If you have an engine that is still good, you may find standard bearings are still around as there was never the same call for that size.

The real issue is being based in the Uk there are minimal supply sources for parts required. I know Simon and Carjoy are the quick one stop shop for these and I understand that they support a low demand marque and have prices to match and have no issue with that.

True but in the UK we have a large classic industry that caters for the older ways (rebuilding engines rather than just scrapping and putting in new as now!) and many have old new stock items for a variety of engines.  Also since the sizes of things like journals are often chosen as a nominal size (say 4 inch diameter for example) there are times when bearings and thrusts for one engine are the same size as those for another engine, and specialist engine re-builders know this.  I have some thrusts that are labelled for an old Rover and Vauxhall that are identical to the Chrysler and therefore can be used on my 2.2 Murena engine!

So the trick is to search out these engineering companies and people with knowledge and you can get the parts you need from them.  I am rebuilding a 2.2 for Colin at the moment and all my shells and thrusts are UK obtained, from a company that has some of this old 'new stock'.  I am obviously reluctant to give out my source as it took me a while to find them and I have more engines to rebuild so don't wish lots of others to suddenly buy up all their stock especially if it is just to put on their shelf 'just in case they may need them someday'.  I only buy what I need and particularly with things like bearings you really shouldn't be buying in advance anyway since you don't know what size you might need in the possible future rebuild.  I've found that doesn't always stop people buying up valuable stock though.

I will check with my supplier if they have any items for your engine.

UPDATE: for those needing 1.6 engine crank bearing shells, my UK supplier can supply all the sizes for this engine from Std, to 1mm in both mains and big-ends and they have thrust bearings, so there should be no problem with a re-build.  They do not have cam bearings though, so you should check those carefully.

Roy