Exhaust Manifold Gasket... Went bad.

[zacherynuk]

So, TVR ownership has bitten me on the bum. I'm already in up to my eyeballs after but a two months of ownership.

3 weeks ago I booked the old lady into Austec to get weird rear noise looked at and since it was in, thought nothing of having them redo exhaust gaskets, the nearside of which was blowing quite badly. 1 week in and two new rear wheel bearings reported as being the noise culprit; reported as very poor indeed. 2 Weeks in report that offside bolts had snapped on manifold. This week, reported that bolts aren't budging and they need to take the head off, or full engine out.

I have opted for them to take the head off - bag of sand. I'm now £1600 in, meaning that my TVR budget is gone, bought for 9, bit of trim + some good cleaning and I'm now all in at 11.

What else should I ask them to do, do you think, while the top is off?

Very sad, probably missed our summers driving in then last couple of weeks.

[Graham]

While its apart get them to look at the cam and followers.

How nant miles on her

[zacherynuk]

49.5k so cam is/was on the todo list - but can this be seen with just the top off?

I'm dreading being sucked into a 5k engine rebuild - when, frankly, she was running very well indeed (save for very slight follow on) - I am a great believer in MIFs and I didn't want to unleash the hornets nest so soon. Especially when I was happy enough with £5 fire putty - lol.

[grngriff]

Your doing well ! You wait till your two years down the line.bought mine for ten must be in for twenty five now.
But all good fun,
All is forgotten once behind that wheel mate.

Pete

[jojackson4]

You have just made me feel good 100 hours in and not there yet
Good luck

[Steve_D]

zacherynuk said:

49.5k so cam is/was on the todo list - but can this be seen with just the top off?....

Once the head comes off you will have to change the valley gasket anyhow so the cam can be inspected then. Brace yourself as 50k is about the right time for it to be gone. They quite often still sound fine even when a cam lobe is 4mm shorter than it shouls be.

Steve

[A900ss]

I've owned my Chim for 8 weeks and 1 day (not counting mind)

It's been in the garage for 6 and a half weeks of those.

I reckon I'm facing a bill of 4.5k.

I wish I'd chose wisely.....

Bring on the sun.

Edited by A900ss on Sunday 28th April 13:50

[chris1972]

I've elected to do a lot of the work myself to save on labour costs, however, it has stopped me working myself, so has probably cost me more by proxy! It is hard work, but the help and advice from others on this forum has been invaluable. Hopefully, by doing the work myself, I'll learn more about the cars and will be able to put something back into the forum.

By the time I've finished my current work I will have added/ replaced the following:

Battery
Alternator
HT Leads
Dizzy cap and rotor
Oil sender and oil pressure switch
Sump gasket
Valley Gasket
Thermostat and gasket
Heater rail hoses
PAS hoses
Various coolant hoses
Fuel hoses
New Landrover Temp sender
Trackrod Ends
ACT intake and filter
Thermo gasket for Plenum
Exhaust gaskets (pre-cats removed and manifolds painted- a pig of a job)
Complete coolant flush and change
Alloy handbrake handle
Outriggers waxoiled
Fuel filter

Eventually this should be done:

Decat Y-piece (standard one)
Interior refurb - leather and carpets
Fuse box move
Rocker cover and plenum painted
Off-side window speed increased!!!
New discs and pads
Megasquirt ECU (next year)
Rear crank seal. I'll probably have to go to a specialist for this. I Would like to do it myself, but have no way of dropping the gearbox!

In the last three years it has had (by previous owner for 8 years):

New wheels and tyres
Top engine rebuild including new, valve seats cut, cam and oil pump
Red-top injectors
Recon 14cux ECU
I have bills from Austec totalling £4k since late 2010.

I have no doubt that there will be more work to do. Part of the problem is that a lot of the seals and gaskets have perished over the past couple of years due to lack of (6k miles in three years).

I'm hoping that a combination of the expensive work by Austec and my own remedial work should bring the car completely up to scratch and leave the car fine fettle (fingers crossed).

I think if my exhaust bolts had snapped in the head, I would be tempted to remove and replace the cylinder head myself.