Note: If you don't have the equipment to hone your car or don't want to bother, most service stations can do the job for a reasonable price.
2. Before honing, install the main bearing caps or crankcase (on a V6 engine) without liners and tighten their bolts to the required torque.
3. Cylinder honing is typically accomplished using one of two types of equipment: a bottle brush head or a more traditional honing head with abrasive stones pressed by springs. Both types of tools are suitable for the job, but the bottle brush is easier to use, which is especially important for the home mechanic without much experience. You will also need some kerosene or honing fluid and a power drill. The drill should have a constant low rotation speed. A drill with variable speed control works well for this chain.
The honing process is carried out as follows:
- a) Install the honing head into the drill, tighten the blocks and insert the head into the cylinder (figure 17.3,a).
Caution: Wear safety glasses or a clear face shield.
- b) Generously lubricate the cylinder surface with honing fluid, turn on the drill and move the head up and down along the cylinder so that the marks from the tool form a grid on the cylinder surface. Ideally, the lines should intersect at an angle of approximately 60° (figure 17.3,b). Don't skimp on liquid. Do not remove more metal from the cylinder than is necessary to achieve the desired surface quality. Note: Track manufacturers sometimes recommend a grid with a line intersection angle other than 60° - read and follow the instructions included with your new track kit.
- c) Do not remove the honing head from the cylinder while it is rotating. First, turn off the drill and continue moving the head up and down until it comes to a complete stop. After this, press the bars and remove the head. If you are using a bottle chuck, stop the drill, then, while rotating the spindle in the same direction, remove the tool.
- d) Wipe off any remaining liquid from the cylinder surface and repeat the procedure for the remaining cylinders.
4. After honing is complete, chamfer the top edges of the cylinders with a fine file to facilitate track setting. Perform this work carefully so as not to damage the cylinder mirrors with the end of the file.
5. Wash the inside surfaces of the block again with warm soapy water to remove any traces of abrasive remaining from honing. At the same time, thoroughly clean all internal channels of the block with a brush, especially the oil ones.
Note: To check the quality of the cylinder cleaning, moisten a clean, lint-free cloth with liquid light oil and run it along the cylinder wall. The cylinder can be considered clean if no dark mark remains on the rag.
(The text of the article is taken from the website: «Mazbook»)
6. After washing, dry the block and cover all treated surfaces with clean oil to protect them from corrosion. Place the block in a large plastic bag to protect it from dirt and dust and set it aside until you begin assembling the engine.