F8 engine availability

MightyBoy tech questions and answers.
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Crusty
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Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2018 8:00 am

The teardown of my recent purchase (86 MB with an F8) is going well - or at least the body side is.....

The engine (which will be out tomorrow) turns only about 1/8 of a rotation in either direction and there's a significant *clunk* that stops it going any further. The head is off, starter motor is out, and there's corrosion in 2 of the cylinder walls. The vehicle has been sitting for  couple of years. In short, I'm expecting the worst tomorrow when I take the sump off, so....

Are there any members/companies/wreckers that would have an engine? I'm in Cairns and MB's up here are pretty rare, I may even have the only one.. :-o

Any assistance is appreciated. Thanks.
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Brayden
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Location: Canberra ACT
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F8B engines are getting hard to source 2nd hand - particularly blocks - and the only way to get a new engine is a Chinese reproduction through Alibaba.
F8B EFI turbo - Three pots and a snail.
Crusty
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Thanks Brayden, I suspected as much.
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Brayden
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There's a million of the things in India, but they have a law against exporting second hand parts. :roll:
F8B EFI turbo - Three pots and a snail.
Crusty
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Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2018 8:00 am

As it turns out, the reason the engine wouldn't rotate was corrosion in all 3 cylinder walls. The crank and bigend bearings are worn, but the journals seem okay.

I've honed all 3 bores and they have cleaned up reasonably well. Now to identify what size everything is and to find out if it's undergone an overhaul in the past - the sump has a Suzistore sticker on it...

Interestinger and interestinger.
TheBrewer
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2018 6:18 pm

I'm looking for an F8B too, they are indeed rather uncommon now.  Have a couple of F5A's but fancy an 800cc for my current restoration.
If theres one available not too far from Melbourne (not the other end of the country anyway), I would be keen to hear.
Cheers all
Crusty
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As Brayden said, there are plenty of chinese versions when searched on alibaba. Likewise, new blocks & heads. I think delivery times would be measured in months, though.
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Brayden
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Crusty wrote: Now to identify what size everything is and to find out if it's undergone an overhaul in the past - the sump has a Suzistore sticker on it.
Check the pistons for markings. Oversize are usually numbered on the face. 020 / 0.50 for 20 thou and 040 / 1.00 for 40 thou.
F8B EFI turbo - Three pots and a snail.
Crusty
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2018 8:00 am

You are a font of knowledge Brayden! The pistons are indeed marked 040. Do you have the markings for the main & big end bearins as well? I've been into a couple of parts supply companies here in Cairns and managed to confuse them utterly.

Current main bearing shells are marked 0.25, and the conrod bearing shells are marked US 025. 
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Brayden
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.25 is an oversize bearing, used when the crank has been machined.
F8B EFI turbo - Three pots and a snail.
Crusty
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Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2018 8:00 am

Thanks, figured as much. Sent a message to Suzistore and they've confirmed the availability. 

Reassembly will start very soon......
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Arctic Alto
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I have an alto with a reco'd F8B, only done 40k since a rebuild from suziworld.
I'm considering selling it, been sitting for around 4yrs. But has been started and driven every now and then.
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