Just my luck !!
Discussion
Well, Wedge was collected this morning from Dulford Auto, who did the remedial work needed for the MOT. All working superbly ... 10 Miles up the M5 .... Bang !!! .. loads of back firing, loss of power, Engine Temp shoots up over 120 and off the scale... Oil Pressure normal though ...... Engine starts to pink!.
Pull off the Motorway and engine stalls. Eventually get it started and its spluttering and refusing to idle.
Decision Time .... AA or back down the Motorway to Dulford ..... Dulford Wins, and after 10 miles of spluttering @ 55 mph, spewing flames out the exhaust, I made it back.
After a check, there is a strong smell of burning oil, and the expansion tank is dry. 1.5 litres of water later and a test of the water in the cooling system reviels Hydrocarbons in the system .. Prognosis is a blown gasket, or gaskets.. The most probably cause so im told is deteriation due to the car being standing for such a long time and the stress and strain of starting / running it.
Ho Hum ... Still, its now Insured and has an MOT !!!
Pull off the Motorway and engine stalls. Eventually get it started and its spluttering and refusing to idle.
Decision Time .... AA or back down the Motorway to Dulford ..... Dulford Wins, and after 10 miles of spluttering @ 55 mph, spewing flames out the exhaust, I made it back.
After a check, there is a strong smell of burning oil, and the expansion tank is dry. 1.5 litres of water later and a test of the water in the cooling system reviels Hydrocarbons in the system .. Prognosis is a blown gasket, or gaskets.. The most probably cause so im told is deteriation due to the car being standing for such a long time and the stress and strain of starting / running it.
Ho Hum ... Still, its now Insured and has an MOT !!!
Edited by JVaughan on Saturday 12th June 23:00
d though! I hope it isn't as bad as it sounds! 
Well, fingers crossed its just a few gaskets and a few hours of labour.
if the engine is completely buggered, then the car is off the road for the forseeable future while I save the money for an LS1 or something silly.
I dont have that kind of money though at present, so im hoping its not terminal.
if the engine is completely buggered, then the car is off the road for the forseeable future while I save the money for an LS1 or something silly.
I dont have that kind of money though at present, so im hoping its not terminal.
hi Jason
We all have our fingers cross for a simple solution.
But if even if the engine has cooked, there is cheep engines on ebay sometimes, I know the pilo-wedgebits/Shaun recently sold a 350 engine for 400 quid odd ( in fact Adam has one listed in the wedge spare parts that I am sure would get you back on the road)
regards
Stephen
P.S. what is a LS1 ?
We all have our fingers cross for a simple solution.
But if even if the engine has cooked, there is cheep engines on ebay sometimes, I know the pilo-wedgebits/Shaun recently sold a 350 engine for 400 quid odd ( in fact Adam has one listed in the wedge spare parts that I am sure would get you back on the road)
regards
Stephen
P.S. what is a LS1 ?
Cheers for the replied ..
LS1 is a Chevvie Crate block ... about the same size as the Rover V8, but with service intervals that can be as far apart as 50 or 100,000 miles, 30 mpg and anything from 300 - 600 bhp depending on how much you spend on it. True American Muscle not an over developed, out of date Buick (sp) block
LS1 is a Chevvie Crate block ... about the same size as the Rover V8, but with service intervals that can be as far apart as 50 or 100,000 miles, 30 mpg and anything from 300 - 600 bhp depending on how much you spend on it. True American Muscle not an over developed, out of date Buick (sp) block
JVaughan said:
Cheers for the replied ..
LS1 is a Chevvie Crate block ... about the same size as the Rover V8, but with service intervals that can be as far apart as 50 or 100,000 miles, 30 mpg and anything from 300 - 600 bhp depending on how much you spend on it. True American Muscle not an over developed, out of date Buick (sp) block
'bout the only good things the Yanks are known for. Engines, Levis & Rockabilly Music...!! Oh and theme parks too!!LS1 is a Chevvie Crate block ... about the same size as the Rover V8, but with service intervals that can be as far apart as 50 or 100,000 miles, 30 mpg and anything from 300 - 600 bhp depending on how much you spend on it. True American Muscle not an over developed, out of date Buick (sp) block
JVaughan said:
Cheers for the replied ..
LS1 is a Chevvie Crate block ... about the same size as the Rover V8, but with service intervals that can be as far apart as 50 or 100,000 miles, 30 mpg and anything from 300 - 600 bhp depending on how much you spend on it. True American Muscle not an over developed, out of date Buick (sp) block
Bit harsh there Jason: when the RV8 WAS a Buick it was par for the course on power - the Yanks regarded 3.5L as a small engine, remember. Also, I read somewhere that it was a copy of a pre-war BMW motor, so even more respec' due for the old beast LS1 is a Chevvie Crate block ... about the same size as the Rover V8, but with service intervals that can be as far apart as 50 or 100,000 miles, 30 mpg and anything from 300 - 600 bhp depending on how much you spend on it. True American Muscle not an over developed, out of date Buick (sp) block
The LS1 et al are modern developments giving modern 'muscle': Chevy are not alone in that respect. TVR's own AJP and S6 engines were quite potent for their size - remarkable given the designed-in-a-shed approach, although the Chinese chocolate components did them no favours.
I'm sure that if you took the basic RV8 dimensions, reworked the block and heads on CADCAM software and hung up-to-date sparks and fuelling on it, you could make a lighter, more powerful version of that, too... but nobody will now. I recall that a few years back the entire RV8 automated machining line was up for auction, but I never heard what happened to it. Cut up for scrap?
Jason,
From your description it sounds like it sprung a leak in the cooling system
or possibly did not have enough coolant in from a slow leak.
An over heating engine will very quickly lead to head gasket failure and pottential block crack issues if not parked up and left to cool.
A useful get you home trick is to park up, leave to cool for a few mins,
top up with water and run engine without the pressure cap on the top up reservoir - without the pressure it will not leak as quick.
Good luck with getting it fixed.
From your description it sounds like it sprung a leak in the cooling system
or possibly did not have enough coolant in from a slow leak.
An over heating engine will very quickly lead to head gasket failure and pottential block crack issues if not parked up and left to cool.
A useful get you home trick is to park up, leave to cool for a few mins,
top up with water and run engine without the pressure cap on the top up reservoir - without the pressure it will not leak as quick.
Good luck with getting it fixed.
Synopsis ... Both Heads blown. Rest of the engine apparently is ok.
Heads being pressure tested and should be back on the car Tuesday.
Just hope its not going to cost a Kidney.. in the last 2 weeks, weve seen the Suzuki Jimny starter motor completely Pack in (Warrenty not being honoured as it was opened by the garage that fitted it to see if it could be fixed)... The TVR blow its head Gaskets, and also Kerry-Ann's golf has asked for a service, and the turbo is playing silly beggers.
To add insult to injury, I have only just sold my Mondeo, and am waiting to opt back into the company car scheme, so Transport is essential
On a side note, anyone know a good company that repairs starter motors ?
Heads being pressure tested and should be back on the car Tuesday.
Just hope its not going to cost a Kidney.. in the last 2 weeks, weve seen the Suzuki Jimny starter motor completely Pack in (Warrenty not being honoured as it was opened by the garage that fitted it to see if it could be fixed)... The TVR blow its head Gaskets, and also Kerry-Ann's golf has asked for a service, and the turbo is playing silly beggers.
To add insult to injury, I have only just sold my Mondeo, and am waiting to opt back into the company car scheme, so Transport is essential
On a side note, anyone know a good company that repairs starter motors ?
Get composite gaskets in there!
For starter motors don't bother, I got a 75 quid land rover one and they are much better than original, the turnover speed is double.
Try one of these (even cheaper now!)
http://www.brookwell.co.uk/item/243/replacement-st...
For starter motors don't bother, I got a 75 quid land rover one and they are much better than original, the turnover speed is double.
Try one of these (even cheaper now!)
http://www.brookwell.co.uk/item/243/replacement-st...
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