HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT
Discussion
I am now well past the point of no return. I took the exhaust manifolds off only to find the previous mechanic did not remove all the old gasket before fitting the new ones. Hence, the L/H exhaust has never seated properly and the metal faces have corroded were blowing meaning new gaskets will not fit unless I have the manifold refaced. Then of course there is the hole to be welded. Allan has kindly offered me some SS replacements but it is a twin pipe system. I so hope I can get it to fit...
In the meantime I have made it up to plenum removal. Surprise, surprise, there are some problems here which I have posted under Plenum Troubles. Speak to you all soon.
In the meantime I have made it up to plenum removal. Surprise, surprise, there are some problems here which I have posted under Plenum Troubles. Speak to you all soon.
Some of you may remember in my past posts I mentioned a sticky black gue at the throttle butterfly when i removed my intake pipe. I've found out what it was. My inlet manifold has bits of it all over. it looks like the remains of blue hydrosil used when mating the faces of the plenum and manifold. It has gunged out but not made any difference to sealing as I can still identify areas where the plenum has leaked.
Got both the heads off now, a lot easier than a V12 jag I once did, just undo the bolts and they drop off. However, just undo the bolts, hmmm....... The 'monkey' who tightened them up got them so tight i thought they were welded up. I had a 20 inch break bar, all the muscle I could supply and they wouldn't budge, especially that bas~@xd one at the RH rear. The only way I could do it was to stand on the engine and pretend i was pulling turnips (about the only thing I get to pull these days). All cylinders show some leakage, especially the RH bank which was happily blowing on 4,6 ,8 into the centre of the V. No.2 piston was steam cleaned with an obvious blow to the water jacket.Funnily enough this had one of the higher compressions (165 psi) whilst the other 3 RH cylinders were all high from 162 to 180. The LH bank with no sign of severe blowing were all 152.
Tomorrow is a cleaning day.
Regards
Mark
Tomorrow is a cleaning day.
Regards
Mark
Hi Reverend, yes I did 2 rounds of the bolts before removing them, that's why it took me all afternoon. The extra 4 bolts were just as tight, though RPI recommend having them at 1/2 torque so unless anyone has any objections this is what I intend to do. I don't think it's coincidence that all my cylinders leaked on the valley side of the engine.
GRIFFONMARK said:
Hi Reverend, yes I did 2 rounds of the bolts before removing them, that's why it took me all afternoon. The extra 4 bolts were just as tight, though RPI recommend having them at 1/2 torque so unless anyone has any objections this is what I intend to do. I don't think it's coincidence that all my cylinders leaked on the valley side of the engine.
That's good.. so many people make it even harder for themselves..On mine - the extra 4 bolts just have some silicon in them.. they really are not needed. I do not use them at all.
It's well known having these torqued up to tight actually pulls the head over to the exhaust side.. not good at all and as you say - probably the cause of failure.
Tomorrow everything will go back in place smoothly and the engine will run better than any other TVR before it. But only if I can get hold of an exhaust olive. One of mine was snapped in half when I removed it. Anyone know what they are off or where I can get one in Lancashire?
Regards
Mark
Regards
Mark
Going to use some jaguar olives which are very similar and recommended by my local exhaust chap. Got back exhaust manifolds nicely repaired & painted, and surprised how much porting could be done. Everything seems to be going back together OK with a bit of a clean. Should get it running tomorrow.......
GRIFFONMARK said:
Didn't get it running tomorrow, why do there have to be so many grubby bits, I've never cleaned so many bits in my life1
On refitting the intake manifold & plenum, should they be assembled dry or with a smear of sealant?
Regards
Mark
I used Blue Hylomar on all the intake components. On refitting the intake manifold & plenum, should they be assembled dry or with a smear of sealant?
Regards
Mark
...
Vroooom, vroooom, vrooooooooooooom, crackle, crackle, pop, pop,steady burble...... God, I never thought I'd be so pleased to hear that beautiful noise. The job is finished, the Tas is a minger no more.
It fired up first turn of the key, tiny bit of tappet rattle as the oil pressure built as I had flushed the system completely, but within 5 secs the engine settled into a steady but very fast tickover, which slowed as the engine reached normal temperature. I'll spend tomorrow bleeding the cooling system and checking everything out, but it looks like a successful job. Bloody hard work but thanks to all those who gave encouragement and top advice. I could never have done this job without this forum.
I'll give my observations in another posting.
Regards
Mark
It fired up first turn of the key, tiny bit of tappet rattle as the oil pressure built as I had flushed the system completely, but within 5 secs the engine settled into a steady but very fast tickover, which slowed as the engine reached normal temperature. I'll spend tomorrow bleeding the cooling system and checking everything out, but it looks like a successful job. Bloody hard work but thanks to all those who gave encouragement and top advice. I could never have done this job without this forum.
I'll give my observations in another posting.
Regards
Mark
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