1600M the beginning of the end

[funkman]

I recently acquired a "fully restored" 1600M which unfortunately turned out to be a bit of a lemon with lots of things to sort.
There are two things I would like to sort first.
1) It seems like the exhaust manifold could be from the wrong TVR model as it is laying on the frame where it joins with the exhaust, there is literaly couple of mm clearence between the manifold and the frame and as soon as you go over 2000rpm it produces some unbelievable racket and vibration as it hits the frame. It seems like someone was already trying to bend it slightly upwards previously. Is this tiny clearence normal?

2) Engine for some reason sprays oil out of rocker cover cap. I have cleared the breather hole but to no avail it looks like there is some serious back pressure there but I have no idea where to start looking for the problem.

Would appreciate any advice.

[Grantura2a]

With regard to the oil spray, the most likely cause is a worn engine. Broken piston rings, worn bore, and / or bad valve guides can all contribute. Perform a leak down test to determine the cause.

[funkman]

The engine has been rebuilt 900 miles ago with with new strengthened crank, hepolite pistons and race cam. So if thats a cause im in big trouble.

[nwarner]

With regards to the oil spraying out has it got an aftermarket rocker cover and filler cap as my Vixen used to spray oil out of the dipstick until I replaced it with an original Ford rocker cover.

Also worth checking that the oil breather on the side of the engine, to the left of the distributer, isn't blocked and is working properly.

The gearbox and engine mountings haven't sagged causing the exhaust to be lower than it should??

>> Edited by nwarner on Tuesday 18th October 17:07

[adrian@]

The rocker cover is suspect as after market units do not allow the top of the engine to breathe, with only 900 miles, glazed bores by the use of oil that is just TOO good to is something that is common these days. The exhaust is a common one on the '75-'76 cars as the use the alloy cross-member common to all the models at that point and the standard exhaust can touch, if that is the case then the 2nd of the 3 fitted (during the first run of1600M made between '72-'74) is what you need, this is a steel item and you can then add a exhaust clamp and bobbin that will stop the intermediate S bend from rotating down and stop it rattling.
Adrian

[funkman]

Thanks for all the advice guys. The rocker cover is an aftermarket one, also I will check the oil breather as well. The manifold is a steel one and someone already has tried to bend it with a blow torch but it's literaly lying on the crossmember I think a new one is in order.
I shall investigate over weekend and post the progress.

By the way what is a normal oil pressure in 1600M, my car is running at 45psi and 25psi on idle when hot.

[timelord]

I've an early 1600M with the flat plate gearbox mount,I even had the exhaust touching on that after an engine rebuild,the front of the sump was very close to the chassis too,solved by putting packing pieces between engine mounts and chassis,especially exhaust side.

[krispy]

Ah, it all sounds SOOOO familiar!

I had dipstick oil spray problems with an aftermarket alloy cover - with an OEM tin one back in place and a catch tank fitted it's all much happier.

My exhaust also used to foul the chassis/gearbox crossmember.... Adrian V implemented his crossmember+bobbin cure (as he describes above) and the car was totally transformed. However, I switched to a stainless manifold last year and have now got vibrations coming from that......

By the way, my car runs 55-ish psi at 2500rpm and about 20psi at idle when warm, engine was rebuilt about 20k miles ago.

Kris..
'75 1600M

[funkman]

I'm pretty sure that the oil is coming from the rocker cover cap and not dipstick. As you can see a ring of oil around the cap and it also collects around the bottom of the cover. The cap is in perfect condition.

I think the problem is that its not breathing properly. I was thinking, what if I drill a bigger hole in the cap. Not a huge one, just slightly bigger?

[Aaron C. Reskew]

Is the aftermarket cover aluminium with an old motorcycle type chrome filler cap?
If so you will need to fit a breather outlet into the cover to attach a suitable pipe connected to a catch tank.
Also when you have a few more miles on the engine it should vent less oil.