A LITTLE ADVICE REQUIRED PLEASE.
Discussion
I have just collected my 4lt Chimaera after 6k service from my local, and well respected TVR specialist, who as I requested gave me a list of jobs that would need attention.
He noticed the tappets were excessively noisy and recommended further investigation sooner rather than later, and his opinion was, some or all of the tappets may need replacing.he also noted no noticable lack of power, or rough idling or anything that suggested obvious camshaft wear.
As it is my intention to carry out repairs and general maintainance myself,eg cleaning waxoiling,etc I started to price the parts needed to do the job, but was quite supprised to find a large price difference between the official TVR supplier and other V8 specialists, well known and advertising in Sprint.
For example, a set of lifters cost £161 from TVR, where other suppliers are quoting between £53 and £71 for a standard set, and only £82 for (Hi Rev Anti Pump) version.
Am I being a bit dull here? or are the parts identical, and being marked up by up to 300%.
I would expect to pay a little more from an official supplier, but if both parts are of the same spec and quality I would rather have the savings to spend on the next jobs on the list...
Peter.
>>> Edited by peter miller on Wednesday 19th May 22:24
He noticed the tappets were excessively noisy and recommended further investigation sooner rather than later, and his opinion was, some or all of the tappets may need replacing.he also noted no noticable lack of power, or rough idling or anything that suggested obvious camshaft wear.
As it is my intention to carry out repairs and general maintainance myself,eg cleaning waxoiling,etc I started to price the parts needed to do the job, but was quite supprised to find a large price difference between the official TVR supplier and other V8 specialists, well known and advertising in Sprint.
For example, a set of lifters cost £161 from TVR, where other suppliers are quoting between £53 and £71 for a standard set, and only £82 for (Hi Rev Anti Pump) version.
Am I being a bit dull here? or are the parts identical, and being marked up by up to 300%.
I would expect to pay a little more from an official supplier, but if both parts are of the same spec and quality I would rather have the savings to spend on the next jobs on the list...
Peter.
>>> Edited by peter miller on Wednesday 19th May 22:24
Pete
My 4 litre has done 87 K The garage who looked after it for the previous 50k told me to use thicker oil than recommeded. I belive they use Valvoline 10-40.
The reason is that the engine sounds very tappity on the thin stuff even though there is nothing wrong.
judging by the number of old Range Rovers thrashing about with huge mileages I'd spend £20 on an oil change & see what happens.
Pete
My 4 litre has done 87 K The garage who looked after it for the previous 50k told me to use thicker oil than recommeded. I belive they use Valvoline 10-40.
The reason is that the engine sounds very tappity on the thin stuff even though there is nothing wrong.
judging by the number of old Range Rovers thrashing about with huge mileages I'd spend £20 on an oil change & see what happens.
Pete
Thanks for your advice, but the oil has just been changed and they used Mobil 15/50 which is quite a high viscocity, and as far as the belt is concerned I have already had that noise occur when it was fitted incorrectly before I bought it.
It definately is a tappet sound I can hear.the car was on 30k when the cam was first changed and is now on 66k.
Apart from the obvious annoying sound I can hear,which does spoil pleasure the exhaust note provides, I dont think it is wise to leave it to long, as the constant impact on the camshaft is bound to take its toll eventually.
As long as the lifters are of the same quality I will buy the from a V8 specialist supplier along with gaskets etc, and save some cash that will pay for this years pistonfest entry with some cash left over for a couple of burgers and pints as well.
Peter
It definately is a tappet sound I can hear.the car was on 30k when the cam was first changed and is now on 66k.
Apart from the obvious annoying sound I can hear,which does spoil pleasure the exhaust note provides, I dont think it is wise to leave it to long, as the constant impact on the camshaft is bound to take its toll eventually.
As long as the lifters are of the same quality I will buy the from a V8 specialist supplier along with gaskets etc, and save some cash that will pay for this years pistonfest entry with some cash left over for a couple of burgers and pints as well.
Peter
Can't say without hearing how bad it is, but I haven't heard a completely silent engine yet. They always sound better from 20ft away than close up or inside. If it's just one lazy follower out of 16 and you have no other symptoms, are you sure you want the expense?
My cam was changed last year at 52k. Unquestionable improvement in performance, but still not much quieter than before.
Wise mens advice (V8 developmentswebsite / Paul Hardcastle - Tuning the Rover V8 book) is that you can change neither camshaft nor followers alone; they must be replaced together because the cam lobes and base of the followers develop matching dome shapes. It's quite a job changing the followers, you might as well do the camshaft as well.
My cam was changed last year at 52k. Unquestionable improvement in performance, but still not much quieter than before.
Wise mens advice (V8 developmentswebsite / Paul Hardcastle - Tuning the Rover V8 book) is that you can change neither camshaft nor followers alone; they must be replaced together because the cam lobes and base of the followers develop matching dome shapes. It's quite a job changing the followers, you might as well do the camshaft as well.
Thanks Rat,
I take on board your comments and agree totally. I am not one to throw money at my car, if it is not needed,I have also considered that the current cam has covered 36k, and although there seems to be no set lifespan for this part I would expect considerable wear to already taken place, and as you suggested it may be more sensible to leave things as they are for now and in the future change, the cam, followers pushrods and rockers together,in one go when it is more obvious they need replacing.
I have in the past stripped down and rebuilt an RV8 from an old 3500S as a hobby , and although i'm no mechanic I did enjoy it, and the satisfaction when you start it up after rebuild, and see the oil pressure return to high level and all running quiet made it all very worth while.
I think I will order the book you mention and have a good read before I decide to go ahead and start ordering parts.
Pete...
ps. Rat, did you mean David Hardcastle! I think Paul was the guy who sung that song about the average age of the Vietnam soldier...na na na 19!
>> Edited by peter miller on Thursday 20th May 23:53
>> Edited by peter miller on Thursday 20th May 23:55
I take on board your comments and agree totally. I am not one to throw money at my car, if it is not needed,I have also considered that the current cam has covered 36k, and although there seems to be no set lifespan for this part I would expect considerable wear to already taken place, and as you suggested it may be more sensible to leave things as they are for now and in the future change, the cam, followers pushrods and rockers together,in one go when it is more obvious they need replacing.
I have in the past stripped down and rebuilt an RV8 from an old 3500S as a hobby , and although i'm no mechanic I did enjoy it, and the satisfaction when you start it up after rebuild, and see the oil pressure return to high level and all running quiet made it all very worth while.
I think I will order the book you mention and have a good read before I decide to go ahead and start ordering parts.
Pete...
ps. Rat, did you mean David Hardcastle! I think Paul was the guy who sung that song about the average age of the Vietnam soldier...na na na 19!
>> Edited by peter miller on Thursday 20th May 23:53
>> Edited by peter miller on Thursday 20th May 23:55
Hi Grimbo,
sorry i've not replied to your post,I went to the IOW to celebrate the big 40
Booked a deal with Red Funnel Ferries with 2 nights accomodation to stay in Sandown,Fantastic, cruised down to southampton on Friday. and drove all over the island on Saturday and Sunday morning and have just got back home to Cardiff.
I experienced many of those magic moments, sun shinning, music playing while blasting through Tree covered A roads across the island. when you forgive and forget all the grief and costs the car has thrown at you over previous months.
As far as the tappets are concerned I just turned up the stereo and kept it revving.
I only saw one other TVR over there, a red Tamora,are there any other TVR owners on here from IOW?
Anyway, if anybody on here is looking for a very reasonably priced weekend getaway, with some nice cruising roads and things to see and do then the IOW has got my vote, at £131.00 for 2 nights B+B for 2 people including return ferry crossing and private parking, that can't be bad.
Peter.
sorry i've not replied to your post,I went to the IOW to celebrate the big 40
Booked a deal with Red Funnel Ferries with 2 nights accomodation to stay in Sandown,Fantastic, cruised down to southampton on Friday. and drove all over the island on Saturday and Sunday morning and have just got back home to Cardiff.
I experienced many of those magic moments, sun shinning, music playing while blasting through Tree covered A roads across the island. when you forgive and forget all the grief and costs the car has thrown at you over previous months.
As far as the tappets are concerned I just turned up the stereo and kept it revving.
I only saw one other TVR over there, a red Tamora,are there any other TVR owners on here from IOW?
Anyway, if anybody on here is looking for a very reasonably priced weekend getaway, with some nice cruising roads and things to see and do then the IOW has got my vote, at £131.00 for 2 nights B+B for 2 people including return ferry crossing and private parking, that can't be bad.
Peter.
Thanks Quinny and chimburt for your suggestions,
I am pretty sure it is not manifold leaks, I had this problem last year which I managed to pinpoint with a long piece of flexy tube. One end in my ear while routing around the manifold with the other end until I could clearly hear it blowing up between the 4 pipes where the joined together at the pre cat.
Due to its location it was impossible to weld in situ, so as a temporary measure I forced exhaust repair putty up between the 4 pipes,using an empty mastic tube and gun with a rubber tube attatched to the end. probably not a recommended repair practice, but 1 year and 4k miles later it is still holding.
This tapping is not effected by the amount of accelerator pedal used, it is a constant noise that alters along with the engine speed which makes your suggestion of rocker pad damage quite interesting, as it seemed to develop quite quickly. and as it is quite easy to check, I think I will start by having a little look under the Rocker covers 1st.
Once again thanks for your input.
Peter
I am pretty sure it is not manifold leaks, I had this problem last year which I managed to pinpoint with a long piece of flexy tube. One end in my ear while routing around the manifold with the other end until I could clearly hear it blowing up between the 4 pipes where the joined together at the pre cat.
Due to its location it was impossible to weld in situ, so as a temporary measure I forced exhaust repair putty up between the 4 pipes,using an empty mastic tube and gun with a rubber tube attatched to the end. probably not a recommended repair practice, but 1 year and 4k miles later it is still holding.
This tapping is not effected by the amount of accelerator pedal used, it is a constant noise that alters along with the engine speed which makes your suggestion of rocker pad damage quite interesting, as it seemed to develop quite quickly. and as it is quite easy to check, I think I will start by having a little look under the Rocker covers 1st.
Once again thanks for your input.
Peter
peter miller said:
I am pretty sure it is not manifold leaks, I had this problem last year which I managed to pinpoint with a long piece of flexy tube. One end in my ear while routing around the manifold with the other end until I could clearly hear it blowing up between the 4 pipes where the joined together at the pre cat.
I've got the exact same problem with mine at the moment, inbetween the 4 pipes. Think I might give your DIY fix a go as I'm not quite flush enough to fork out £400 for a new one right now!!
Any recommended exhaust repair putty peter??
Dannyboyo,
I used normal Gun Gum, I think it is made by Holts. You can pick it up at any motorists shops Halfords, Motorworld etc.
Get an empty mastic tube and using a long piece of thin rod, eg arc welding electrode etc push the plug back up out of the tube. next use a knife to fill with your exhaust putty and replace plunger.
get a piece of strong flexable tube and secure it onto the end of the nozzle, you may have to tape it on to secure.
I also remember having to mix the paste with a little water so it would flow through the tube.
make sure the manifold is cold when you pump the putty in,starting with the tube as far up between the pipes as it will go. And as it fills slowly pull the pipe out to fill the space with putty.
once you have filled the gap the next thing to do is to get it to set hard. this is where I made a mistake by running the engine for too long too soon, all the putty expanded, pushing out between the small gaps between each pipe.
The best bet is to start up the motor but dont rev it, just let it idle for around 20 seconds until the pipes get hot enough to start to harden the paste, but not to push it out everywhere.
If you repeat this process a few times,every 10 to 15 mins, gradually increasing the idle time it will set without expanding too much and you will have a very strong repair, and maybe leave it overnight before driving it.
As you will appriciate this was very much a trial and error experience and you may well discover an alternative method or product to impove on mine,but it does work and at the least will put off a major expense in the meantime.and who knows we may discover a product, patent it and make a million!
Let me know how you get on
Peter.
>> Edited by peter miller on Monday 24th May 23:12
I used normal Gun Gum, I think it is made by Holts. You can pick it up at any motorists shops Halfords, Motorworld etc.
Get an empty mastic tube and using a long piece of thin rod, eg arc welding electrode etc push the plug back up out of the tube. next use a knife to fill with your exhaust putty and replace plunger.
get a piece of strong flexable tube and secure it onto the end of the nozzle, you may have to tape it on to secure.
I also remember having to mix the paste with a little water so it would flow through the tube.
make sure the manifold is cold when you pump the putty in,starting with the tube as far up between the pipes as it will go. And as it fills slowly pull the pipe out to fill the space with putty.
once you have filled the gap the next thing to do is to get it to set hard. this is where I made a mistake by running the engine for too long too soon, all the putty expanded, pushing out between the small gaps between each pipe.
The best bet is to start up the motor but dont rev it, just let it idle for around 20 seconds until the pipes get hot enough to start to harden the paste, but not to push it out everywhere.
If you repeat this process a few times,every 10 to 15 mins, gradually increasing the idle time it will set without expanding too much and you will have a very strong repair, and maybe leave it overnight before driving it.
As you will appriciate this was very much a trial and error experience and you may well discover an alternative method or product to impove on mine,but it does work and at the least will put off a major expense in the meantime.and who knows we may discover a product, patent it and make a million!
Let me know how you get on
Peter.
>> Edited by peter miller on Monday 24th May 23:12
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