There was a place in Hornsby I used to buy my B20 2.1ltr head gaskets from
2.1L B20 build for Paul
- Edited
Freeze plugs installed with Permatex 80008:
We went with OEM red
An hour of masking, a bunch of prepwash and tack rags and the block is looking pretty röd!
I still need to install the rear cam plug and paint inside the bellhousing area, for that I have to take the motor off the stand, I don't have any time until Sunday afternoon so that will give this paint a few days to setup fully before I start handling the block again.
Looking nice james
^ Nice job. It's interesting how the Penta Red looks somewhat orange to my Beholding Eye, and rather more orange than the B230 engine in the background of the pics.
Not a bad thing, really, considering the engine's future home.....
What's your plan for the initial start-up and the breaking in of the cam and lifters? Doing this properly is critical to the longevity to the valvetrain and cam of a solid lifter engine, and these setups are not common configurations any more. I'm pretty sure I stuffed up this process 35 years ago.
Major Ledfoot I had the same issue with orange paint for the bodywork of the Jaffa, it took a few days before the colour looked close or right.
The B230 is VHT Engine Enamel in Bright Red
The B20's colour looks awesome in real life.
I've now installed the cam plug and painted inside the bellhousing.
I also painted this, which I think is the oil separator?
I dropped it in a tin of paint thinner for a few days which took care of all the crud inside it and hit it with a wire wheel to remove the last bits of paint and some surface rust.
gavinh That's the plan. Because the car's been sitting for 18 months, it's going to need to have the brakes sorted out, and I also need to order the new radiator from Sweden (now there's someone making 1972 onwards radiators again), and I also need a new exhaust and the steering box serviced. Not sure what to do about the diff, I am not intending to change it over once the auto is swapped for manual, but I guess it will need to be serviced in some form.
Do you have reason to suspect there is an issue with the diff? Otherwise just change the oil and carry on!
Crank is in, clearances are good, journals are all about 0.07-0.08mm than installed bearing shells.
Next up:
Ba da bing ba da boom, checked bored and big end clearances and installed pistons.
14 days later
A few more piecemeal updates. Progress has stopped while I wait for timing gears and a new front timing case (the kind that accepts a neoprene seal rather than felt) to arrive.
Updated rear main seal and housing:
New OEM Volvo oil pump:
I don't have any photos of the old pump, but the thrust surfaces were not in good shape, there was a lot of scoring. I was able to flatten the gears out with a pair of precision-ground flat stones, but even then I was able to catch a nail in places. A lot of money has gone into this engine so it makes no sense to risk it on a worn out oil pump.
I spent some time with a wire wheel and some rust converter, and cleaned up the sump. I also knocked out a dent in the bottom of it.
6 days later
Crankcase is buttoned up at last
Fuel pump and spacer installed:
Fiber cam gear soaked in engine oil:
Timing gears installed:
I didn't grab a photo, but I also replaced the cam thrust plate and spacer ring, as well as the Woodruff keys.
- Edited
Nice work James
If only that was an 850 engine 
Not sure why Paul opted for the junk fibre gear, which have multiple modes of failure.
The Penta Steel gears never fail.
Be a bit harder to find these days , the steel timings gears were the preference years ago and when easier to find