BBWF 2011 casualties :(

[hallsie]

Had a great weekend, and we met loads of excellent, fun people, it was also good to put some faces to names, along with a first hand experience of a 'rusty nail'

We Got home safe and sound, and we parked up outside before shuffling the cars around to get to the garage.

Kids cuddled, mother in law thanked, time to put the car to bed.

went out to start her up and she was a bit lumpy, looked in the mirror and saw plumes coming from the passenger side exhaust, looking pretty white and I obviously didnt see it on the way home due to the monsoon.

Got her into the garage for a check over, here are the findings

Low on water, took about 1/2 litre to top up
low on oil, just off the minimum on the dipstick.
cruddy deposit around the rad cap ( dont have an expansion tank)
still starts after a top up of oil and water but still loads of steam/smoke for the passenger bank.
Slight bubbling from the rad top, could just be where it was low and has trapped air.

Ill assume the worst and go for head gasket on the one bank, but any other observations greatly recieved!


On a plus point, she performed fantastically all weekend and got us home safely in the pouring rain!!



And Im still working on the purchase of that black 350 FHC!

Stu

Edited by hallsie on Sunday 17th July 17:32

[adam quantrill]

Sounds like a head gasket yes.

For my part the new rear left tyre lost some rubber against. the wheelarch so that needs sorting. Also I appear to have a petrol leak. Through the engine and out the exhaust ;^)

[hallsie]

looks like this is going to turn into the 'Hallsie engine rebuild' thread...

Thats the last time I park next to Zigs car!!

Right, I now need a passenger side manifold if anyone has a spare, the top forward lug fell off along with snapping off the stud in the head as I removed them about 10 mins ago,
so perhaps the next weekend run out wont be happening after all!

Anyone know if i need the head skimmed for definate??

Stu

[mrzigazaga]

Sorry mate..I meant to warn you..It was brilliant sun until i went out there on saturday morning..I ordered a pint and as the young fella behind the bar went to get a glass he knocked a few empties off the shelf..At least he had a smashing time..

[Wedg1e]

hallsie said:

looks like this is going to turn into the 'Hallsie engine rebuild' thread...

Thats the last time I park next to Zigs car!!

Right, I now need a passenger side manifold if anyone has a spare, the top forward lug fell off along with snapping off the stud in the head as I removed them about 10 mins ago,
so perhaps the next weekend run out wont be happening after all!

Anyone know if i need the head skimmed for definate??

Stu

Straight-edge, sight across it. Or find a piece of flat glass and see if the head rocks (or if you can see a gap under it) when placed on it.

[hallsie]

good idea Ian!

Is it worth doing both heads at the same time?
And how do you ID if the heads have soft or hard seats so I can stop using additives?

Stu

[Wedg1e]

hallsie said:

good idea Ian!

Is it worth doing both heads at the same time?
And how do you ID if the heads have soft or hard seats so I can stop using additives?

Stu

Usually only post-'85 engines have hardened valve seats. The engine type (on the same flat as the engine number) will have a D or E suffix (ie PR-E) if they were fitted. Ignore any letters cast-in to the heads themselves near the exhaust ports, they are often mistakenly taken to mean UL-ready.
Of course the heads may have been modified later but I'd want some paperwork to prove, not just a previous owner's say-so at buying time.

[rev-erend]

Sadly the SEAC is not finished .. another year goes by

Did intend to pop in to the BBWF as I was on the M40 going sound (from the Scottish highlands) on Saturday but I was on my motor bike and it was torrential rain and to add to my woes my chain looked more like a washing line it was so slack and worn out .. just wanted to get it home.

Hope you all had a good time and that the rain did not dampen the spirits too much.

[Jonny weggie]

Hi Stu,

when my cylinder head went on the 350 i had it went through 2-3 ltrs of water every 100 miles so there's life yet in the engine, i had my heads skimmed about 10 thou [didnt need to do] Jeff got his done 5 thou [didnt need to do them either] were told these engines are quite roburst in the first place so i would say thats it's your call.
PS - i had bubbling as well.
I have some gaskets left over [new] if you need any just e-mail me and i'll send them on.

cheers jonny.

[Trickie Dickie]

Sorry to hear of your troubles Stu - but at least it got you home

I had both my heads done earlier in the year when 1 went
(mine blew to the outside and sounded like an exhaust gasket had blown)
which including having several studs replaced and both heads skimmed came to £500

So hope it's not too bad

Cheers
Trickie

PS When I saw the title of your post I thought it was going to be all
your pics that you took of everyone on Saturday night!!!!!! Ha Ha

[Tasmindevil]

Stu glad you made it home ok although I believe Dixiebabes should be nominated as a BBWF casualty after seeing him on Sunday morning !!!
Great meeting you guys and good luck with the car
Cheers
H & K

[dixiebabes]

Tasmindevil said:

I believe Dixiebabes should be nominated as a BBWF casualty after seeing him on Sunday morning !!!

Agreed 100%

[wild rover]

Straight edge should do the trick if you are only doing the one side, why not do both when you are at it.Would be worthwhile i think.?
Best of luck.

[hallsie]

Right

Ive got the head off on the right hand bank and it was definately pot 3 that had blown, the pool of water kinda gave it away!!

The gasket seems to have some of the water way holes blocked and there is a lot of gunk behind them, is it usuall for some of the water holes to be blocked?
It seems to me that with the overheating problems with the cologne engines, it could be helped with correct bloody water flow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ill see what the new gasket set brings!

Ill also be refurbibg the rad and trying out an electric fan on the front end, aswell as keeping the viscous fan.
Ill also be getting some blingy red silicone hoses to replace all the bendy knackered ones and some shiny stainless hose clamps.

hopefully back on the road in 2 weeks.


Stu

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate..I did read on a ford forum that some people use 2.3 cortina head gaskets and they sometimes dont have the same fitment as the 2.8 ones and can block waterways...Sometimes its also the gasket sealant..some say it doesnt need it..Some use very little..Could be a factor..Ziga

[ROOODBOY]

Cologne head gaskets are handed, but are almost identical.

If the gaskets have been fitted on the wrong banks it blocks a couple of waterways, and it's a very easy mistake to make.

[Wedg1e]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi Mate..I did read on a ford forum that some people use 2.3 cortina head gaskets and they sometimes dont have the same fitment as the 2.8 ones and can block waterways...Sometimes its also the gasket sealant..some say it doesnt need it..Some use very little..Could be a factor..Ziga

It's not usual to use gasket sealant on a head gasket, however you're correct that over-splurging it on other areas (water pump, thermostat housing etc.) can cause problems. When I stripped my Esprit engine I found quite a few blobs of the stuff in the waterways.

[grahamw48]

I'd be tempted to put in a 2.9...now available for next to nowt.

[wooly350i]

Don't forget that leak sealer cack can also block water ways if its been put in in the past.

[hallsie]

Well, it definately wasnt gasket sealant getting trapped, it was the gasket material completely accross the holes.
there were also some places that should have been fully open that only had 4 mm holes in them.

Ill make sure that when I get the new gasket set that they are all fully open.

Stu