Back in business!

[radzoule]

Since my catastrophic breakdown on boxing day due to blow timing cover gasket, and via a new cam and stage 3 heads on the way the old girl is back in business. Tried to finish the job on the weekend but ran out of time as the fiddly bits took longer than expected, so worked solid from after work till 3.00 am last night to get it done! Once I realised I'd connected up the fuel rail the wrong way round she fired up first time and i've now bled the system, adjusted the timing etc and she's running really well.

It is so good to be back - went for a long long drive last night after i'd finished fettling. A couple of lobes on the old cam looked like toffee - the difference is incredible even though I'm keeping the revs down to let the cam bed in - but its so much crisper, no pinking as slop in timing chain removed, much more torque. I'm going mapped ignition and rolling road session in due course - can't wait. One prelim question though, I verified TDC on the pulley wheel, and the timing at 950 rpm seems optimal at 12-14 degrees advance. I am quite surprised by this as I've heard the figure should be nearer 8 degrees. The engine really doesn't sound or feel so good at 8 degrees. Anyone have any idea what the reason for this might be?

I never want to go 6 weeks without this car again. And I certainly never want to do a job that big again - the access on these things is truly awful. Trouble is I know that now I've got the engine sorted the rest of the car is demanding attention ... new carpets, seats treated, front end respray ....... does it ever end?!

Thanks to all on here for the advice over the past few weeks.

[David H]

Top work, not the easiest of jobs!

[v8 racing]

Rad dont take your time to bed the cam this is what scraps cams! the higher you rev the engine the better the cam will bed in and last a lot longer too! the ignition sounds about right to me, check to see what it is doing at 3500 rpm you want to be around 28 deg