Refitting cylinder heads on a 280i

[darkbluewedge]

I have had my cylinder heads converted to unleaded recently but now I'm having trouble getting everything back together. First attempt produced hunting after a few minutes running and caused the engine to stall. I also noticed steam coming out of the passenger side exhaust!

I have taken the inlet manifold off and have found evidence of water in the tappet sockets. Obviously the inlet manifold gasket didn't seal very well. It was a cheap one (just card no silicone on it) but I thought I could get it to seal by siliconing it myself.

I'm not sure if I have the heads fitted correctly at the moment because when I put the bolts through the heads they were smaller than the holes in the heads. This means that you can shift the heads up and down a small amount before they are tightened up. Because of the V configuration they slide down and this is the position I tightened them up in. With the inlet manifold not sealing properly I wonder if it's because I haven’t got the heads in the right position.

It's quite a lot of effort to put everything back together so I wanted to make sure I have the heads on correctly before I start having another go at the inlet manifold.

Cheers,

DarkBlueWedge

[grahamw48]

I think you would find the Haynes Ford Capri 2.8i manual very useful.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

I'll go and look in the above mentioned...

[wedg1e]

Sounds like you have some dowels missing.

[s.hogan3]

i had 2.8 capris for 18 year before my tvr and it sound like you put the head gaskets on wrong or the wrong head gaskets at the front by the inlet manifold there is a small water by pase hole on chaep head gasket thay can be missing did you cheak them with your old ones also head bolts req to be changed as the later internal tork bolts are strech bolt email me and i will phone you and talk you about it

[darkbluewedge]

I think your right! I now remember the Haynes manual refering to guide bushes but my engine didn't have any.

I will see if Ford still supply them.

Thanks,

DarkBlueWedge

[jeff m]

I would get new head gaskets, note that they are NOT the same and cannot be interchanged. The originals will be marked "top", or if you're lucky "top front".

And yes, as stated before you do have the dowels or bushes missing, possibly in your old heads!!!!

Make sure you follow all regular proceedures for installing heads, gasket on block, head on gasket, oil bolts, torque in stages using correct sequence.

Use sealing compound on the four inlet manifold joints.

[taz turbo]

If you have no joy at Fords for the dowels (but I think you will have no problem) you could try again Fords but it's my local one that deals in obsolete parts - Evans Halshaw Chorley 01257 266 221 very very helpfull, they recently sourced some obsolete parts for me, FROM BELGIUM!!! Or Burton Power carries them ex stock, they also can supply ARP head studs and nuts if you really want to pull the heads down, there the same as the main stud and nut kit but you need two kits! Pricey but nice gear.

If the dowels were missing as you say the inlet manifold would also not seat correctly.

Good luck and regards,

Chris.

[s.hogan3]

ive got dowls for a 2.8 email me if you req them