clouds to ground in 200miles

[uglymug]

Hi Guys, Have been quite busy over the last few months getting No5 up and running. Two weeks ago I finaly got it on the road after flying thru the MOT and taxing it half hour later. Another half an hour later I was waking up Brecon town. Trip up was to say an event I will never forget. Full of excitement and shear fright all at the same time. I dont think I spoke more than a few words to the wife all the way up. Listening for any strange noises, looking constantly at the gauges and smelling everything. Went OK tho. To say I came back quicker is an understatement. Did find a few things that needed tweaking tho. And found out that it had a samll misfire and a strange resonance at 2000rpm. Put it down to needing a good tune.
Couldn't get an appointment during the week so I thought I would go for another spin on Sat. Where shall we go I thought, I know the wife said we'll go and see Dickymint. Great!. Pulled up outside D's window, should have seen his face. Bewt!! Chatted for a while, rain clouds threatening so made our way back. Still that small misfire.
Took it for a tune near me, not a good start when I bumped the roller shutter door going in. Bent the hell out of it but not a scratch on the old girl.
Living on cloud nine for the last two weeks with a constant grin, knowing that I have got her on the road and loving it. So many people saying "great car mate" and "have't seen one of those for years".
Anyway, came down with a bang , there is hardly any compression on 5 cyls and absolutly nothing on no8 cyl I was told. Running way too lean even with the idle screw all the way in. Needs a total rebiuld.
So what to do now ????

Just took off the right bank rocker to see if all is OK seems to be. But, there is a lot of quite strong fumes coming from it. Where is it coming from?
All gaskets are fine ( head/inlet/exhuast) Is the valves leaking or head cracked I thought. Just dont know unless I actualy take the head off. Bottom cyl head no8 bolt looks really awkward. Might have to be an engine out job.

O WELL ......BORING TIME OFF FROM WORK COMING UP !!

[jmorgan]

Hooray and bugger in that order.

remember this?

First answer any help?

[tallbloke]

Mark. I've been offered a short engine with 10.5:1 +20 pistons with machined valve pockets at a cheap price. If you want it, your welcome. The price is £150.

[wedg1e]

P1553r, Mark. Am I right in thinking we did get some odd compression readings though? Wonder if you have gummed-up piston rings...
Pull the heads off and check all the bores. Drop the sump and check the crank bearings. This'll cost you nothing but three hours or so work. By then you'll know the worst. If it turns out to be something daft, you can get a top-end gasket set for £20 via Ebay... in fact I have a few spares here.
I also have a spare V8, but to be fair they're not exactly rare, just depends on what state of tune you fancy


Roger's 10.5:1 sounds nice but it'll NEED 98 octane.

Glad to hear you're still smiling (more or less)

Edit: just reread your original post... how d'you know the gaskets are OK?
Then I thought: camshaft.... would explain the compression AND the misfire...

>> Edited by wedg1e on Saturday 8th October 23:59

[tallbloke]

wedg1e said:

Roger's 10.5:1 sounds nice but it'll NEED 98 octane.

It could have 112 at a 3:1 price reduction

[uglymug]

Would like to try and keep the std engine to make it original as possible. Thanks very much for the offer tho. Will be given a compression tester on Tuesday so will get a more accurate account of whats wrong.
As a start, the old girl has done 96k what sort of compression reading should I look for?
The almost unbearable fumes coming from the head area is worrying me tho.
There are some gaskets on fleabay, will these be OK for the inlet/exhaust/valley I ask?

T.T.F.N...........

[wedg1e]

uglymug said:

Would like to try and keep the std engine to make it original as possible. Thanks very much for the offer tho. Will be given a compression tester on Tuesday so will get a more accurate account of whats wrong. As a start, the old girl has done 96k what sort of compression reading should I look for? The almost unbearable fumes coming from the head area is worrying me tho. There are some gaskets on fleabay, will these be OK for the inlet/exhaust/valley I ask? T.T.F.N...........

Mark:

Normal compression would be in the region of 150-170 psi.
The fumes could be explained by worn (or stuck) rings; the combustion gases are blowing-by and pressurising the crankcase; then they look for any way out (breathers, oil filler, dipstick tube).
This is exactly the symptoms my Esprit had and it was disintegrating rings AND pistons.

The V8 can appear to run quite well even though it's missing a couple of cylinders