Cleaning & Restoring Bottom End

The bottom end was completely rebuilt as well, with the aforementioned new parts and a unique method of cleaning that made the cast aluminum parts look like new.

Step One: Thanks to Barzie at Vapor Blasting NC for the fantastic job on the aluminum block, front engine cover, oil pan, and lower pan cover. Vapor blasting is better than traditional media blasting since it doesn't dimensionally change any of the parts, and leaves a beautiful finish. See for yourself!

Step 2: The oil pan also came out glittering. I'm sure it hasn't looked this good since coming out of the factory almost 50 years ago.

Step 3: The famous finned oil pan cover of the Alfa Nord motor is notorious for being scraped and bent from countless encounters with speed bumps/parking blocks/driveways/other hard objects. This one was no different. Barzie not only cleaned the cover to like-new condition, but he also filed and welded up all of the broken, bent, and scraped fins on the pan (he also does metal sculpture in his spare time). A true artist!

And finally, the front engine cover came out sparkling as well. The guard originally designed to protect the belt for the SPICA pump had already been damaged when I bought the block. But it will be buried down at the bottom behind the crankshaft pulley, and so will be difficult-to-impossible to see when installed in an engine bay.

Next up: Bottom End Assembly

For hundreds of photos from this comprehensive performance rebuild, check out the Flickr album here.