Who's assembled an M20?

[E21meister]

I'm in the first stages of building a short block M20B23. Although I've built a couple of A-series lumps in the dim & distant past, an M20 is of course a far different proposition. has anyone got any best practices, tip tricks etc. bearing in mind it's being built to more or less standard spec. I will be putting in new big-end shells, piston rings, main bearing shells etc if it needs it.

[murran]

not really any tricks to it. an engine is pretty much an engine really...... only real difference from an a series engine is the cam is in the head and theres 2 more cylinders!

[E21meister]

Do the cranks wear well? I'm having to replace the big ends, but do the mains shells stand up to high mileages (the engine in question has done about 120k), and do high mileage cranks suffer a lot from end float? And do the bores only need a quick honing, being an iron block I'm guessing they wear well, the bores on the block only seem to have a mild lip at the top, but I haven't taken out the pistons yet.

[murran]

Do the cranks wear well? I'm having to replace the big ends, but do the mains shells stand up to high mileages (the engine in question has done about 120k), and do high mileage cranks suffer a lot from end float? And do the bores only need a quick honing, being an iron block I'm guessing they wear well, the bores on the block only seem to have a mild lip at the top, but I haven't taken out the pistons yet.

how worn are the bigends? might be worth getting the crank checked, make sure non of the journals are oval. and get the journals polished if its ok.
with good servicing bottomends usually do 200k without problems. are there any up and down lines in the bores? are the original honing marks still visible?

[E21meister]

It's the engine out of my old red car, had regular oil and fluid changes and the waterways look pretty good, so once I dismantle the bottom end I'll let you know.

[tommi_e21]

dude me and ben have both built m20's on verious occasions. Ben way more so than me. if you need help we are only a phonecall away. and now we also have a mini carpeted garage workshop with a soon to be engine stand in