Hallsie ... hope it is not serious

[adam quantrill]

Hmmm - well the standard Rover V8 cam timing belt cogs are nylon and usually last OK.

I do tend to replace with metal ones though if I'm in there.

[bluezeeland]

Stu,

I've got a replacement gear, if you want it....pm me

Frank

[hallsie]

Well, as an round up to this little problem:-

The fibre gear on the cam had obliterated as per the previous photos.

It appears that a patent part had been fitted and had let go.

A new Ford timing gear (not metal) was fitted, and yes I know you are all going to say 'you should have fitted a metal one' but its my car and Ill do as I wish, wink
So, I started compression testing as I went and number 4 pot was down at 65.
I continued stripped further to investigate, and rocker covers off revealed a banana style push rod stuck in place, (all others pots sowed 165-170.)

I inspected all the other push rods and most showed signs of a bendy nature.

after removal of said bananas and inspection of the top end with a boreoscope, it appeared that there was no further damage.
Next, all of the push rods were replaced with shiny new ones, and the tappets were set 3, yes 3 times!

following this, everything was put back on, sump cleaned and refitted etc etc and new oil in.

Then, following a very kind fella called Phil giving me a distributor for free, the car started FIRST TIME.

for completion, I took the car to a place called B D Engineering in Gillingham, and he spent 3 hours tuning and adjusting everything, and set up the car perfectly on the rolling road.

She is now running like a new car once again.

Im pleased as punch!!

Stu

[bluezeeland]

Result ! Well done !

Frank

[celcius]

Good stuff

[jon haines]

Well you sound like you have been lucky there. I had this happen to me on a 3 litre capri I had and it
buggered up the valves and I ended up with a top end rebuild but it had done over 100,000 miles.