Re: roll pins in 2000 engines

[Charles Slayman <Charles.Slayman@domain.elided>]

Andrew,
	This topic is alway good for discussion on the digest.  Here's an 
excellent website where a couple of our digest experts weigh in:

	http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/3837/rollpins.html
	
	I by no means have the experience of John or Russ, so I will defer any 
updated information to them.  But here are my two cents.  
	First, when I did my first head gasket job on my '74 Spider, Alan Ward 
suggested I trash the n-Buna o-rings (or whatever cheap rubber the factory uses 
in their head gaskets.  The problem is that it hardens over time due to high 
temperature use.) and use viton o-rings intead.  The viton o-rings maintain 
their elasticity over a longer time.  This is important in an aluminum 
block/aluminum head design because aluminum undergoes more thermal expansion and 
contraction than iron.
	Second, it is important to capture the o-rings while you are assembling 
the head.  It's easy to knock the little bastards out of place while your 
struggling with getting the damn head on the block and not squishing your 
fingers or throwing your back out.  I purchased a brass pin kit with the viton 
o-rings from Alfa Parts to make the job easier.  But I think any of the 
techniques listed on the webpage should work equally well.  
	I am a little confused as to when the factory started to install the 
roll pins.  If your block has the roll pins and they are sticking up, fine.  If 
they are flat with the block, just drive them down and put new pins in.  If you 
don't have them, then try one of the techniques on the webpage or get a kit from 
Alfa Parts.
	Regarding oil flow issues, I'd say don't worry.  How many Alfa heads 
have you seen that had the cam bearings line bored due to oil starvation?  None? 
(But maybe a few line bored because the owner/mechanic lost track of which cam 
caps went into which location/orientation!) How many Alfa heads have you seen 
that leak oil due to rubber o-ring failure?  Lots!  

> From: "Watry, Andrew (LNG-MBC)" <Andrew.Watry@domain.elided>
> To: "Alfa-Digest (E-mail)" <alfa-digest@domain.elided>
> Subject: roll pins in 2000 engines
> Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 16:00:37 -0500
> 
> I know the discussion of oil-passage roll pins comes up often, but I can't
> remember whether we've covered whether Alfa ever put them in at the factory.
> I'm planning to do a head gasket job on my 1974 2-liter GTV this spring, and
> am wondering whether to expect to see them in there.  My guess (perhaps
> incorrectly) is that this engine has never been apart.  Thanks
> 
> Andrew Watry
> Berlina Register
> 
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