Discussion
scrw. said:
will look tomorrow evening now, it just doesn't sound timing chain related. I am very suspicious its had oil starvation issues before, given the amount of crap I found in the oil pickup and the way the oil pump behaved before I swapped it for a new one.
First port of call = rig up an oil pressure gauge. If you do end up changing engines you can fit it on the new one.well popped the top off just now and checked the cam timing, all in order. Will drop the sump over the weekend and have a poke. Current best price on a rebuild is £1050 inc labour to remove / refit, haven't tried the place that did the head skim yet, they advertise they can do the removal too, I really do not want to drop the motor out of it myself
2020-02-07_06-26-36 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
2020-02-07_06-26-36 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
After mooching around on a US mini forum looking for options for forging the engine (man maths, while its apart etc) came across a post about a misdiagnosed spun bearing being related to the aux belt. So eased the tension on the belt and the noise decreases alot. Expect it is a vain hope, but will take the belt off tomorrow and make sure the water pump and bottom pulleys are on okay and run the engine with the belt completely off.
well bugger me sideways, all that horrible bottom end noise was only the bloody drive belt!!
2020-02-08_02-05-15 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
2020-02-08_02-05-15 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Ahhh, so the waterpump pulley is (or was) rubber coated, looks to have delaminated most of it, breaking the friction wheel too. At least it is a simple fix, however getting the friction wheel off looks a crap job, may have to take the engine mount off??
New water pump pulley and friction thingy on its way from Neos.
New water pump pulley and friction thingy on its way from Neos.
well that has seen better days! Unsure what caused what, the belt or the pulley, both are toast, I thought maybe the friction wheel had seized up but it seems to opperate okay, but is getting replaced anyway.
2020-02-11_09-47-40 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Friction wheel and pump pulley are a bugger to get off, slam panel, inlet hard pipe from the intercooler and the engine mount need to come off, getting quite quick at getting the slam panel off now LOL Bits arrive tomorrow, so will be back together in an hour or so and off for some new front tyres.
2020-02-11_09-47-40 by Old_Chad, on Flickr
Friction wheel and pump pulley are a bugger to get off, slam panel, inlet hard pipe from the intercooler and the engine mount need to come off, getting quite quick at getting the slam panel off now LOL Bits arrive tomorrow, so will be back together in an hour or so and off for some new front tyres.
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