Cummins M11 Inframe rebuild Progressive updates

Hi all, a few of you asked me to keep u updated, so this thread is for that purpose, hopefully I can do a good job of keeping you all updated. and it will be a source of infomation in the future, I intend to add photo's as well or at the very least post links to photo's. I purchased the Inframe Kit today and therefore have officially started on the assembly / reconstruction of my M11. I have only had time to check the piston ring end gaps so far, please find a link to a photo. (i hope) The photo is of the cylinder sleeve with the piston sitting at the bottom (actually the top) of it, and the black colored ring which is the intermeadiate ring being measured with feeler gauges.

http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y362/dcarvolth/T401%20Inframe/CheckingRingEndGaponM11CylinderSlee.jpg

P.S
This is my Kenworth T401 that I am doing the Inframe on, as well as other work, getting her ready to start subcontracting some time this year. it is bogee drive, 18 speed road ranger box, Cummins M11 rated at 400HP, and you can see the other features in the pic.

">

 

UPDATE
Well I have managed to do some more prep work today, Cleaned the gasket surfaces of the Jake Housing, the Tappet Housing ready for re-assembly. I Also Removed Pistons from Conrods and Cleaned the Conrods ready to fit the new pistons. I then moved on to giving my Work area a clean to remove dust, etc to provide a cleaner environment for the rebuild work. Photo's to follow once I get them sorted.

 

i purchased a PAI brand after much research on quality/price, the cummins was $5000au and the PAI $2750au. other were more and some were cheaper, but PAI are excellent quality at a reasonable price.

 

the follow job was to assemble the pistons to the conrods, easy job I use lucas oil treatment to lube the conrod piston, and then set them aside wraped in clean rags.

after cleaning the engine block internally with a combination of compressed air and brass brush and diesel, I moved on to installing the new piston sleeves into the engine, I placed all six sleeves into my freezer over night to help contract them slightly so they would go in easier.

then the next morning took one at a time out of the freezer installed the rubber seal and gave the seal and the area wear the seal slides on a very heavy coating of sunlight dishwashing liquid to help them slide into position without causing damage.

I used a home made tool to install them into the engine (old steel flange with 3 bolts welded into it that fits inside the sleeves and put insulation tape around each bolt so they did not scratch the sleeves) I Used a 3lb hammer to drive them into postion and then checked for correct protrusion

 

yep easy to work on, the hardest part was removing old pistons, the engine sat for 18 months with water in the bores, I had to remove pistons with a steel rod and a 6lb sledge hammer and it took me three days lying on my back, it was very hard on my arms and shoulders (getting old LOL)