RV8 - rocker gasket spacer

[100SRV]

Cautionary tale really - while changing the rocker covers on a Rover V8 to the type with the large breather filter on RH cover I managed to lose one of the spacers from the rubber gasket. The little sod dropped out and fell through the large oil drain void near number 4 cylinder's pushrods, it sounded like it hadn't travelled far so I removed the inlet manifold and gasket but the blighter wasn't in the camshaft valley.

OK, not there then it must be in the sump....

Drain oil, remove sump - no sign of the spacer.
Move car outside, sweep garage floor into a pile - no spacer.
Jack up front wheels - no spacer trapped in the tread voids.

Final bid to find the missing piece today with an ebay mobile phone endoscope, the only place I can think it has lodged is betweeen the connecting rods or counterweights and block.

[paintman]

Whilst the rubber gaskets appear to be a big improvement over the cork ones I have reservations due to the exact issue you've had, especially once they've been used - I was lucky & it stayed on top of the head.

I also find that when you offer the cover to the head the gasket falls off - the cork ones needed to be glued to the covers - when I did the top end of mine earlier this year I finally got fed up & hylomar'd them onto the cover.

During that rebuild I managed to lose a small hose clip. Didn't notice it was missing until I'd refitted the inlet manifold & ram housing. That took a couple of hours to find so you have my sympathy.

I take it it isn't hiding behind one of the pushrods or with the camshaft? Assuming you've still got the inlet manifold off would it be worth pouring oil to rinse everything & see if that flushes it out?
Can't remember if they're magnetic but if they are would a poke around with one of the telescopic magnet-on-a-stick things be worthwhile?

Edited by paintman on Saturday 25th November 19:52

[100SRV]

Glad I'm not the only one to suffer this fate!

Spacer not in the valley at all or any of the nooks in the tops of the heads where the valves are. The only place I think it could be is lodged on the top of the cylinders in the voids by the camshaft and above the counterweights.

I've turned the engine over slowly by hand but heard no tinkling noises and nothing dropped out. Last resort is that I've poured the sump oil back out of the container into the drip tray to see whether it sneaked out.

I've had a good poke around with screwdrivers, cable ties and magnetic probes. I've got some stainless wire which I'll fix some small magnets to for a final check.

[Sardonicus]

Probably stuck on the baffle plate in the sump never witnessed one of them do any harm TBH although I would want it retrieved a trick is also to stud the upper 2 rocker cover fasteners to resist this thing happening again works for me

[100SRV]

Sardonicus said:

Probably stuck on the baffle plate in the sump never witnessed one of them do any harm TBH although I would want it retrieved a trick is also to stud the upper 2 rocker cover fasteners to resist this thing happening again works for me

Sump removed, not there!

[Sardonicus]

100SRV said:

Sardonicus said:

Probably stuck on the baffle plate in the sump never witnessed one of them do any harm TBH although I would want it retrieved a trick is also to stud the upper 2 rocker cover fasteners to resist this thing happening again works for me

Sump removed, not there!

OH bks my guess stuck in the valley area

[paintman]

Sardonicus said:

H bks my guess stuck in the valley area

100SRV said:

it sounded like it hadn't travelled far so I removed the inlet manifold and gasket but the blighter wasn't in the camshaft valley.

Next guess.....

[Sardonicus]

paintman said:

100SRV said:

it sounded like it hadn't travelled far so I removed the inlet manifold and gasket but the blighter wasn't in the camshaft valley.

Nope.

Double bks didnt read that as the OP'er checked it didnt get wedged down a push-rod void/hole? space here is marginal at wont allow one of those spacers to pass into the valley area

Edited by Sardonicus on Tuesday 28th November 21:19

[paintman]

With the manifold & sump off I'd stick a washing up bowl underneath & pour a gallon of oil onto the valley area to see what comes out.
Nothing to lose providing you do a good job of cleaning the washing up bowl before you put it back.....

[Sardonicus]

Look harder with the sump removed and the intake valley exposed it cant sit anywhere other than the camshaft and crank shaft rotating assy I assume its been rotated at least 360 degrees by hand to check already its not stuck on a crank counter-weight etc? I would also check its not on the flat back area of the oil strainer too really cant be any more places it can hide TBH

[Steve_D]

Sods law says it is not inside but hiding down the back of the exhaust manifold.

Steve

[100SRV]

Sardonicus said:

Look harder with the sump removed and the intake valley exposed it cant sit anywhere other than the camshaft and crank shaft rotating assy I assume its been rotated at least 360 degrees by hand to check already its not stuck on a crank counter-weight etc? I would also check its not on the flat back area of the oil strainer too really cant be any more places it can hide TBH

Initial checks after not finding it in the RH head valve gear area or valley were:
Drain oil, remove sump - no sign of the spacer.
Move car outside, sweep garage floor into a pile - no spacer.
Jack up front wheels - no spacer trapped in the tread voids.

Last weekend:
Poke around cam shaft area from beneath
Rotate engine slowly by hand
Check around engine mounts etch

This weekend I will:
Use a bit of bent wire to poke the camshaft area and voids above the counterweights
Strain the oil which was drained from the sump in case it escaped in disguise

[GreenV8S]

Checked the turn-ups on your trousers?

[Bennachie]

Exhaust manifold and chassis legs...............

[Sardonicus]

I presumed maybe incorrectly he was adamant it fell inside the engine if not well could be just about anywhere

[Boosted LS1]

With all this doubt it'll be a full engine strip down, clean up the workshop and inspect those turn ups Peter mentioned. BTW, what are turn ups :-)

[100SRV]

Sardonicus said:

I presumed maybe incorrectly he was adamant it fell inside the engine if not well could be just about anywhere

As certain as I can be that it is in the engine, I saw it fall through the oil drain void into the valley by pushrods for number four cylinder.