Right back to where I started four years ago

Right back to where I started four years ago

Author
Discussion

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,138 posts

172 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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This is last time I'll be driving my car for a while, as I now have foaming coolant in the expansion tank








NilsP

389 posts

116 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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Sorry to hear. You haven't had the best of luck lately smile
I hope it's not a head gasket. but chances are it is...
Hopefully you'll get it sorted as soon as possible. thumbup

Gazzab

21,061 posts

281 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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Been there...! Ended up with a rebuild but took the opportunity to wire liners, add copper gaskets, port heads etc etc and now have 423bhp (per joolz rolling road).

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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On man....gutted for u pal frown

ANY help you want, just holler.....gotta keep that one on the road/track smile

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,138 posts

172 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
quotequote all
Joolz got 410 out of mine, despite the corroded liners, and 18% compression variation, and worn lifters, so I'm not looking to upgrade anything other than reliability.

I have a theory about the cause of HGF, but it's just a guess, I'd be interested to hear other suggestions.

Firstly my car does pink briefly if I'm not gentle with the throttle around 2k. Joolz got rid of most of the pinking, but a little always remained, exacerbated by hot weather or traffic. I think this has probably weakened the HGs.

Secondly, I have run low on coolant several times for several different reasons. I had a rad leak and didn't realise. That was two years ago and probably the worst overheat, because I didn't believe the temp gauge (I'd only recently had it repaired and I assumed it had gone wrong again).

On another occasion my car dumped most of it's coolant through the expansion tank cap relief while in hideous traffic in Luxembourg. I think that was due to the temp sensor under-reading, and therefore failing to switch on the fans (it would show 70C while cruising using the diags).

Over the last couple of months it has simply being over-pressuring, and expelling coolant. I have replaced the temp sender, and thermostat, and expansion tank cap, and each time the symptoms got a bit better. Probably because each had been damaged due to the system overheating. Each time I hoped it had been cured, because I wouldn't loose much on a run, perhaps just a cup or two.

However, by the time I got to the Ring on Wednesday, it was using a litre per hour. By the end of the second day it was using 2 litres a lap.

I didn't let that stop me have a brilliant time, because it was no different to drive, other than a little harder to start, presumably because it was sucking coolant in to the cylinders when cooling.

I am really not looking forward to taking the heads off again. At least I know what I'm letting myself in for this time.

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,138 posts

172 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
quotequote all
djstevec said:
On man....gutted for u pal frown

ANY help you want, just holler.....gotta keep that one on the road/track smile
Generous to a fault, Steve. And I will take you up on that when I have to put the heads back on, I will need you to help keep me focussed again. Thank you.

Flatplane8

1,486 posts

261 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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Hope you get it fixed soon and that it's not too expensive. smile

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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Willing pair of hands here if you want to make a start tomorrow.

Also can do Monday evening and Thursday evening as well.

Jhonno

5,762 posts

140 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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Gutted for you Paul! What's the plan this time?!

aide

2,276 posts

163 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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Hi Paul

I have a spare garage in my building.

It's totally secure, 24hr cctv, concierge, and the garage is completely self contained.

You're more than welcome to work there.

I can give you a key and a fob so you can work away independently.

I can stick my rollcab and topchest in the spare garage for you to use as well.

Plenty of axle stands, ramps, jacks, drills, soft foam floor tiles etc etc as well.

I don't have an engine crane though..

Just let me know, it really is no trouble.

Best wishes
Aide

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
quotequote all
aide said:
Hi Paul

I have a spare garage in my building.

It's totally secure, 24hr cctv, concierge, and the garage is completely self contained.

You're more than welcome to work there.

I can give you a key and a fob so you can work away independently.

I can stick my rollcab and topchest in the spare garage for you to use as well.

Plenty of axle stands, ramps, jacks, drills, soft foam floor tiles etc etc as well.

I don't have an engine crane though..

Just let me know, it really is no trouble.

Best wishes
Aide
'Kin hell that is a kind offer.



aide

2,276 posts

163 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
quotequote all
gruffalo said:
aide said:
Hi Paul

I have a spare garage in my building.

It's totally secure, 24hr cctv, concierge, and the garage is completely self contained.

You're more than welcome to work there.

I can give you a key and a fob so you can work away independently.

I can stick my rollcab and topchest in the spare garage for you to use as well.

Plenty of axle stands, ramps, jacks, drills, soft foam floor tiles etc etc as well.

I don't have an engine crane though..

Just let me know, it really is no trouble.

Best wishes
Aide
'Kin hell that is a kind offer.
it's been sitting empty since December, I had a Lotus Espriit turbo that i got rid of, and haven't decided what to put in there yet so it's all yours if you like.

robsco

7,822 posts

175 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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There's no forum like the Cerb forum, bravo.

jammy_basturd

29,776 posts

211 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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Really sorry to hear of your woes Paul.

It seems I had exactly the same issue. Coolant system that wasn't in brilliant condition, led to the engine running hot which eventually blew the head gasket. I don't have the time nor equipment any more to spend doing major jobs like that on mine so unfortunately I sold it a few weeks back.

Crackin' offer from Aide though and that's why the Cerbera and TVR community as a whole is one of the best!

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,138 posts

172 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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Thanks Aide, that really is very generous. I know from past experience that unless the car is close to where I'm living, I'll never be spend enough time working on it. So I will persevere in the shared garage, they are used to me working on the car now, and most of my neighbours stop to chat when they see me there.

Also, I still need to return your MBE!

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,138 posts

172 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
quotequote all
gruffalo said:
Willing pair of hands here if you want to make a start tomorrow.

Also can do Monday evening and Thursday evening as well.
Thanks Martin, again a very generous offer, and I will keep that in reserve for when I really do need an extra pair of hands. Refitting the gearbox is one of those times, and when I get there I'll be on the home straight!

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,138 posts

172 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
quotequote all
jammy_basturd said:
It seems I had exactly the same issue. Coolant system that wasn't in brilliant condition, led to the engine running hot which eventually blew the head gasket. I don't have the time nor equipment any more to spend doing major jobs like that on mine so unfortunately I sold it a few weeks back.
Sorry to hear that, I hope you got a good price for yours. And thank you for the parts - much appreciated.

julian64

14,317 posts

253 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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where are you based?

ukkid35

Original Poster:

6,138 posts

172 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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julian64 said:
where are you based?
I'm near the Ace Cafe, walking distance really.

Luckyone

1,047 posts

231 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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Gutted for you, I know the feeling only too well frown

Respect to the guys offering help, sorry I'm much to far away now.

With reguard to pinking ours aways used to do it a bit at low revs, but since spending a long time with the air flow meter twisting the throttle shafts to get even air flow it's stopped doing it. Saying that the old HG was fine in that respect when I took it off though....