B200FT Reconditioning

[fonasba]

Our much-loved 1992 Wentworth Estate's B200FT has given sterling service over 252,000 miles but a significant loss of power just after New Year and the subsequent discovery of a loss of compression on cylinders 1 and 2 suggests a blown head gasket or worse. It has been burning some oil and there is evidence of gas leakage past the piston rings (blown rear oil seal gaskets) so all in all it is time for a recon. We are intending a full restoration of the car and were tossing up whether to do the engine or bodywork first but the current situation has forced our hand!

The car is currently with our local independent engineers who are looking into this and we will also be contacting Sentinel/Braydon in Tottenham (our go-to for major work) for their guidance but can anyone in the community recommend a reconditioner in the north London/Herts/Essex area? Ideally, we would like to keep the original engine to maintain authenticity, so a recondition would be the ideal solution, but failing that a short engine may be necessary.

I do understand that replacement rings for the 2-litre engine are no longer available so we may have to go for a rebore to 2.3 but the extra power would be nice, and the automatic gearbox (probably a ZF unit), is rumoured to be able to handle 240 bhp so should not be an issue.

Any recommendations or guidance would be much appreciated. Many thanks, Jon Williams

[volvo always]

It would be great if you can get the engine removed, send off to the reconditioners and then get the body and engine bay prepped and re painted.

Sounds an expensive job, especially the removal of things before painting.

Be great to see a project thread.

James

[230ina245]

I don't think you can bore out a 2 litre block to 2.3 - they're not the same casting and not enough metal between the cylinders.
I purchased new pistons with the rings included from classicswede - the machine shop bored out the block to suit the pistons.
I think most places that machine blocks would actually supply new pistons/rings.
Tim

[Jebus]

You can still get everything you need, but being a 92 it is one of the last non oil squirter turbo blocks so they do at higher mileages suffer from piston slap issues, they are not able to be bored out to 2.3, If you are wanting to keep "numbers matching" as the Yanks call it then will need to get the whole thing stripped down and everything measured up before can really go ahead.

[classicswede]

New rings are available however you will be looking at a rebore.

The only pistons available are the NA pistons but by taking a little material off to correct the CR they can be used. The other piston option is the forged pistons.

The max over bore takes you to about 2.1, going to 96mm would punch right through teh cylinder walls

All the bearings etc needed for rebuild are available from stock

[griston64]

Originally Posted by 230ina245

I don't think you can bore out a 2 litre block to 2.3 - they're not the same casting and not enough metal between the cylinders.
I purchased new pistons with the rings included from classicswede - the machine shop bored out the block to suit the pistons.
I think most places that machine blocks would actually supply new pistons/rings.
Tim

Sorry to hijack but did you go one oversize ? I think its 96.30 - 96.31 ?

Cheers

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by fonasba

I do understand that replacement rings for the 2-litre engine are no longer available so we may have to go for a rebore to 2.3 but the extra power would be nice, and the automatic gearbox (probably a ZF unit), is rumoured to be able to handle 240 bhp so should not be an issue.

Any recommendations or guidance would be much appreciated. Many thanks, Jon Williams

The ZF gearbox is designated as a 4HP-22 which is ZFs way of saying 4-speed, High Performance, 220bhp.

If memory serves, the B200FT is ~150bhp so even with a rebore which might make it nearer a 2.1, i doubt you'll be anywhere near the limits of the 4HP22 which easily copes with at least 226bhp as my last Jag was with a 4HP22 hung on the back of it.

If you have the AW71 in there instead (easily identifiable as it has the overdrive lock-out button on the side of the gear lever) that will easily handle a lot more power - same box is fitted to the Lexus LS400 that pushes 250bhp and i believe the electronci control version of the same box handles the later 4.0 V8 pushig 295bhp so either box will handle what you'll get from reconditioning your engine.

Would make sense to change the fluid thoguh, use either Carlube ATF-U or NAPA MVA instead as they are both synthetic and made to a better spec than the Dexron II-D probably listed for your box. The AW box is Toyota anyway and they specify JWS3309, both of those suggested fluids meet or exceed that standard.

[230ina245]

Originally Posted by griston64

Sorry to hijack but did you go one oversize ? I think its 96.30 - 96.31 ?

Cheers

Hi
Afraid it was a 2 litre block. I cheaped out and bought some oversize pistons from classicswede that were reduced!
Luckily(?) there are no fancy pistons for the 2 litre to tempt me to empty my bank account.
The ones I got were Kolbenschmidt with a diameter of 89,672mm. I kept the bump in the middle to keep compression up.
Tim

[griston64]

Originally Posted by 230ina245

Hi
Afraid it was a 2 litre block. I cheaped out and bought some oversize pistons from classicswede that were reduced!
Luckily(?) there are no fancy pistons for the 2 litre to tempt me to empty my bank account.
The ones I got were Kolbenschmidt with a diameter of 89,672mm. I kept the bump in the middle to keep compression up.
Tim

Cheers

I'm taking the head in this week for a skim etc. I'll have a think about block as I may just go with forged rods but knowing me it will grow arms and legs

[230ina245]

Originally Posted by griston64

Cheers

I'm taking the head in this week for a skim etc. I'll have a think about block as I may just go with forged rods but knowing me it will grow arms and legs

I know what you mean, I intended to do a quick refresh, but the ridge at the top of the bores was quite bad. I felt I had to have it rebored, so H-beam rods to go with the new bearings and a Cometic head gasket for insurance against higher boost levels seemed quite logical.
Tim