Saving an S1

[88S1]

Thanks for the replies, gearbox is at specialist getting refurbed, never driven car so no idea if it was ok or not, but didn’t fancy putting it all back in to find out there was an issue, but 80k + mileage I guess it deserves it anyway. Hopefully done this week.

Waiting on 8mm Barricade to arrive then will fit pump, filter and accumulator back on, then drop her back onto wheels and torque up all the running gear. Ordered a paint pen to ensure I don’t miss anything.

Then onto engine. Would like to replace heads with Unleaded type, but nothing come up yet on FB or eBay yet for the 2.8 Cologne.

Anyone bought a full engine gasket set that they can recommend?

And anything else i should replace, crank seals front and back, spigot bearing etc etc. Any product references would be much appreciated

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FULL-ENGINE-HEAD-GASKET...

https://www.bearingkits.co.uk/details.asp?ID=138

https://partsfortvrs.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tv...

https://partsfortvrs.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tv...

Edited by 88S1 on Sunday 19th December 11:09

Edited by 88S1 on Monday 20th December 04:13

Edited by 88S1 on Monday 20th December 04:15

Edited by 88S1 on Monday 20th December 07:29

Edited by 88S1 on Monday 20th December 07:49

[88S1]

Sandgrounder said:

Looking good Lee. I get mine back from X-Works TVR on Monday after some chassis repair work, but mine is not a patch on yours! Maybe one day when I am retired!!

I didn't have much choice as you've probably seen, it was definitely one for the breakers, its been hard to keep the refurb costs sensible, so spent a lot of hours doing the work myself where possible. At least you've had the summer out of yours, and its ready for spring, good time to get the repairs done. I need to push on with mine as we are moving offices to a place with no warehouse, so need to get as much done as i can ASAP.

[88S1]

Ooooh. Shiny things from Burton Power. What’s the thoughts, do the rubbers get a smear of copper grease before installing into the cups???

Edited by 88S1 on Tuesday 21st December 20:14

[88S1]

Blue 30 said:

In reply to you looking for unleaded 2.8 cylinder heads.
The only ford factory unleaded 2.8 cylinder heads, were from 85-86 2.8efi MK3 Granadas. Good luck with finding any of those, and if you do, they're bound to be high mileage.
For getting yours refurbished including unleaded conversion. It's worth having a chat with...
cologneengines.com
They are at Darwen Lancs. They are Ford V6 specialists.
And you can't do much better than using Payen gaskets.
T.

Thanks Terry, will give them a shout. How’s yours going, had much time out and about in it yet?

[88S1]

TwinKam said:

88S1 said:

Ooooh. Shiny things from Burton Power. What’s the thoughts, do the rubbers get a smear of copper grease before installing into the cups???

Edited by 88S1 on Tuesday 21st December 20:14

On the threads, yes. On the rubber, no. If anything, perhaps if they're a tight fit, I'd use silicone grease or spray.

They are not tight, sitting a few mm high due to the lip on the rubber, my query was more to do with avoiding any squeaking due to rubber on metal cups. Silicone spray sounds like a good plan. Thanks.

[88S1]

Something for the weekend sir!

Full engine gasket set arrived, not Payen but look to be be good quality from a reputable supplier and delivered next day.

8mm Gates Barricade fuel pipe arrived. Need to get some S/S pipe clips.

Got gearbox back yesterday, new bearings, gaskets and seals fitted, and apparently gears in exceptionally good condition (Mint was the exact word used).

So plenty to crack on with over the festive period.

[88S1]

The old lump is nearly fully stripped down. No scoring to bores thank god, need to check crank bearings yet. But no surprises just yet. Sump had thick sludge at bottom, maybe never taken off and cleaned before.

Plenty of work ahead cleaning and painting the components and engine block before re-assembly.

[88S1]

One rocker cover stripped. Got resigns of corrosion but Seems a shame to paint them. Do I just lacquer them.

What’s your thoughts people??

[88S1]

VHT anodised paint to rockers. Engine black as that’s what it was originally on mine for some reason. Not all bolted in place yet, but looking much better than in did.

[88S1]

Spent a lot of time on the prep of the covers, block & heads. Hopefully last a good few years.

[88S1]

POR15 Engine Enamel. Says it’s good for upto 350 deg F. Let’s hope it does what it says on the Tin.

Edited by 88S1 on Tuesday 11th January 20:25

[88S1]

phillpot said:

Did you need two tins?

Ha ha. Don’t know why it did that.

[88S1]

Bloody hell. Why is this car fighting me.

[88S1]

What is supposed to hold the valve seals to the shoulder, fitted one but it’s risen off. Looking at all the old ones they are not seated either. Old ones were very hard and brittle, new ones soft rubber.

Picture is one of the originals, clearly see the seal is not on the shoulder. I had pushed the new one on, but after removing spring compressor it’s popped off.

[88S1]

Adrian. They fit over snuggly enough requiring a little push on, I think the spring compressor may have caught the new one trying to get the retainers on, but when I checked all the existing ones they were off the shoulder, hence why I asked the question. It’s tricky trying to get the new one back one with the spring there, I tried to push it down with two screwdrivers but not too successfully and didn’t want to damage the new seal. A smear of high temp RTV sealant will hold them in place I guess.

The existing seals are black and exactly the same as the one I took off. This is an S1 so has the 2.8 engine.

Edited by 88S1 on Sunday 30th January 17:13

[88S1]

phillpot said:

These are from a 2.9 top end set, the outer cover is metal.
If you'd like to give these a try drop me your address.

Interesting, they do look to be an improvement on the original type. I have a new spring compressor coming tomorrow that I think won’t catch the seal when re-installing, let me see if that was the issue and I’ll see how snug the ones I have actually are, wasn’t paying too much attention in the first one I did. Thanks for you help as ever.

[88S1]

I did it with the head back on using this tool in first photo, but had to get the legs right to the bottom of the spring as the collet where it connects to the top of the spring is deep and made it really hard to get to the split cotter thingys.

I’ve ordered the one in the second photo, which is open so hopefully will work much better and give better access.

If I was doing it again I would do it with the heads off using the tool you’ve shown. But as they are back on and torqued up etc will give it another shot.

[88S1]

New compressing tool is soooooo much better, took a few minutes to do (packed chamber with polypropylene rope to stop valves dropping if anyone was wondering). Made sure seat was fully cleaned of oil and seals are a good snug press on fit, so it must just have been the previous tool catching it. Happy days.

Would recommend this tool to do the job of you don’t want to remove the heads.

[88S1]

All done with new gaskets and seals. Just the alternator to finish, then can fit new clutch, refurbed gearbox then back onto chassis.

[88S1]

WotnoV8 said:

Looking good, making good progress.

Thanks. It’s slowly getting there.