The engine block has a hole in yet it runs fine any clues

[glaisdale101]

The block of my speed 6 has a hole in the side not very big but enough to blow oil out yet it runs fine when this is blocked.It happened yesterday whilist out driving and I noticed smoke bilowing out from under the bonnet and behind the car so I stopped and got a tow home it was on stripping the engine I noticed the hole in the block,yet the engine starts and runs fine.

[GreenV8S]

Does it look as if something has broken off, or is this just a traditional TVR Engineering 'Sikaflex special'?

[glaisdale101]

no doesn't look like anything has broken off but whats the other thing you mentioned

[Boosted LS1]

Ok I'll bite.

Best of 3. What is this hole like?

Is it a round machined hole, a slot or a crack?

Is it on the driver or passenger hand side of the engine?

[glaisdale101]

its on the passenger side towards the front of the block and its from the inside pushing out as though it has had something hit it with force from within

[tripleblack]

Do you have a picture of the actual situation?

[glaisdale101]

sorry no but its about 20mm long and the casing is pushed out as though its been hit from inside .What I thought I might do is get some on this ''metal glue'' and block the hole so I can start the engine as i suspect there is something major wrong .Is the sump easy to take off as I may have a look first from underneath.

[glaisdale101]

this isn't my block but the hole is just between the engine mount and were the hose joins

[Boosted LS1]

Could it be a missing spanner?

[glaisdale101]

if it is its not mine,do you think its a sump off job ? if so is it easy

[Robertjp]

This, sounds bizarre??

Thats a pic of my old block by the way....its in the classifieds, you may be needing it shortly

In all seriousness it doesnt sound particularly good but could be a number of things, without more detail its difficult to guess!!

Isnt the most likely culprit of a hole in the block a con rod ?! cant think of much else that would have enough momentum to damage a block...

what year is the engine? did it keep running?

Edited by Robertjp on Sunday 26th July 21:45

[glaisdale101]

the car is a 2001 and yes it kept running and have started it since briefly.I too thought conrod but there was no noise, ill try and plug the hole enough to start with out losing oil ,P>S sorry for the stolen picture but I couldn't find another as clear.

[Boosted LS1]

It could be a rod bolt coming undone. You certainly need to get the sump off.

[glaisdale101]

OK i will and keep you posted

[plasticman]

I have heard of it before on a speed six where a snapped mains stud has tried to escape with some help from the crank . Said engine welded and is still fine after a couple of years .

[yzf1070]

Boosted LS1 said:

It could be a rod bolt coming undone. You certainly need to get the sump off.

To get the sump off with engine in the car he will need to take the gearbox off and remove the flywheel. The sump has an integral plate that bolts all the way around the rear crank bearing to the engine block (sorry I dont have a pic). However I think it is a foregone conclusion that the engine will be coming out...! Don't bodge the job with chemical metal 5hite, get it to a specialist welding shop and see what they say. Failing that, STR8-Six replaced my block with a brand newey, prep'd and machined to their spec.... top job. Good luck.

[glaisdale101]

I have drained the oil tonight and think I have found the culprits to the hole they look like tappet shims and the hole is of similar size,so I guess the next step is off with the rocker cover and see how many are missing.
the hole looks like is could be welded in situ but will have to see.

Are the any tech site that will talk me through the setting up of the tappets and shim measuring

[glaisdale101]

[glaisdale101]

[Night Rider]

You may be right....but, did the 3 shims pictured come out with the oil as you drained it?? If yes you are the luckiest fellow on this earth. Normally a loose shim is consumed by the oil pump.

Please don't start your engine, it must have sounded noisy with missing shims!!