RELIANT RIALTO ENGINE SWAP

Have taken the late 1982 original, numbers matching 60k engine (2M/85/68311) and gearbox (uneven compression reads and very unstable tickover) out of GAT 910Y for possible overhaul and in past week swapped in a 1979 red top with strong compression, mileage and provenance unknown (9E/85/54193) and older type gearbox, bought off Ebay (reverse to left and back). Hoping to put this estate back on the road from April when I shall apply for it to be changed to historic. Meantime the C reg red Rialto 2 estate (a rare yellow top with B axle ratio) is the daily driver and doing very well, still needs two more MOTs before also historic. Before it was back on the road it too needed a gearbox swap to the earlier type on account of similar worn mainshaft bearings/serious rear seal oil loss. So with these two experiences I am not too impressed with the oil retantion/durability of later gearboxes in this respect unless they have been diligently looked after. There was almost no remaining oil in GAT's gearbox. It may not be worth overhauling due to other damage for want of being attended to sooner. Didn't happen on my watch and with having a lift it is easy to monitor gearbox oil levels on the classic fleet and makes engine swaps on a three wheeler a lot easier - no need for engine crane - just raise or lower vehicle with engine supported from below. The Land Rover Series 3 is one that needs topping up at least anually but the Reliant box (reverse to left version) in the Austin Seven special has been very good at retaining its oil the past fifteen years I've run it and its 1980 red top (OJ/85/61166) has been very reliable

[@nordic1121]

That’s a proper engineering paradise there , everything is exactly what you need there .

[@chriswybrew1740]

Kind of you to say so. That old 3 ton Bradbury lift with jacking beam has really helped keep the classic fleet going. I should have got one years ago. The floor needs a bit of tidy up before I tackle the Rickman project.