Discussion
Hi........Have 1995 Griff 500HC with 42000 miles.Have always looked after car myself,regular oil changes etc.However i recently decided to get the car serviced at a main dealer.Picked car up and drove home,approx 5 miles with no problems.Car has sat in garage couple of days but went for a drive Monday evening,got about 2 miles and car started making 'clicking' noise (don't know how else to descibe it)from under bonnet.It seems to be coming from drivers side rocker cover,drivers end.Car drove ok,but nursed it home.Manifold gaskets are ok so its not them.The only thing of any note is that dealer used Castrol RS 10W-60 where as i have always used Mobil 1.Coincidence?.Not been in touch with dealer yet as wanted to get some info first.Any thoughts?
I’ve had the pads on the rockers fail, and quit a few manifold gaskets fail.
Both sound similar, but the rockers started quietly and got worse, in the early stages getting quieter as the engine warmed up. The gaskets go suddenly and usually within a mile or so of driving a cold engine. One time I was convinced it wasn’t the gasket but couldn’t quit work out what it was and since I’m getting quite good at it, took the manifold off to find it had failed yet again.
Not expensive or difficult if you’ve a good selection of 14mm spanners and small hands. The rocker problem, well just don’t go there…
Good luck,
Simon.
Both sound similar, but the rockers started quietly and got worse, in the early stages getting quieter as the engine warmed up. The gaskets go suddenly and usually within a mile or so of driving a cold engine. One time I was convinced it wasn’t the gasket but couldn’t quit work out what it was and since I’m getting quite good at it, took the manifold off to find it had failed yet again.
Not expensive or difficult if you’ve a good selection of 14mm spanners and small hands. The rocker problem, well just don’t go there…
Good luck,
Simon.
steve-V8s said:
Have to do my passenger side ones this weekend, the task looks impossible without removing the exhaust, is that the case ?
What the head / ex. manifold gasket .. no you just need to remove (pairs) 4 bolts at a time and pull the manifold from the head - the old one will drop out .. and put the new one in.. and stop it falling thru with the bolts.. loads of fun 
There is a knack to the access form above but once you’ve found the spanner that works for you it’s quite easy.
You need small hands to get through from above for the lower back two, just pull off the plug leads and try getting a hand through it’s a tight fit but once through there’s enough movement in your wrist to do it.
For these back two I use a long straight thin walled ring spanner, for the front two an open end and sometimes a cranked one for the lower at cylinder No3.
The uppers all easy.
Cheers,
Simon.
You need small hands to get through from above for the lower back two, just pull off the plug leads and try getting a hand through it’s a tight fit but once through there’s enough movement in your wrist to do it.
For these back two I use a long straight thin walled ring spanner, for the front two an open end and sometimes a cranked one for the lower at cylinder No3.
The uppers all easy.
Cheers,
Simon.
SIM500 said:
Just to say it was manifold gaskets.Am changing both sides to metal ones.Hope this cures problem long term.Thanks......Simon
hi simon, i have also had issues with repeatedly blowing manifold gaskets,last attempt was to drill the bolts and add some lock wire to stop the bolts undoing, but they have blown again i dont want to put back in normal ones and would like to go for the metal ones but dont know where to get them from can you piont me in the right direction.Thanks ,Tim
I find that the ACT ones are the best, Tim knows how demanding I am with these bits. Never had an issue wuth his ones, only the cheap imitations.
I would also caution not taking the manifold off and trying to clan the mating face with a wire brush in a drill. It really helps to get rid of any corrosion build up ahead of new gaskets.
I also use a smear of exhaust assembly putty often and I do mean a thin smear.
With Tim's metal sandwiched composite type gaskets and the above routine I've never had a failure, using original bolts as well. Remember also to re-chck them after a 500 miles or 3-4 heat cycles repeatedly for the first 2k miles or so. Tedious but they settle in and it makes you more confident. I also put all my bolts in with copper slip which helps them seat well and get them back out next time.
Currently have a spare set of gaskets (not always availale), with ARP bolts and Nordlocks waiting to be done if it fails, but not going to fix until broken, so likely they'll gather dust for a while yet, been done for last 20k or so . .
I would also caution not taking the manifold off and trying to clan the mating face with a wire brush in a drill. It really helps to get rid of any corrosion build up ahead of new gaskets.
I also use a smear of exhaust assembly putty often and I do mean a thin smear.
With Tim's metal sandwiched composite type gaskets and the above routine I've never had a failure, using original bolts as well. Remember also to re-chck them after a 500 miles or 3-4 heat cycles repeatedly for the first 2k miles or so. Tedious but they settle in and it makes you more confident. I also put all my bolts in with copper slip which helps them seat well and get them back out next time.
Currently have a spare set of gaskets (not always availale), with ARP bolts and Nordlocks waiting to be done if it fails, but not going to fix until broken, so likely they'll gather dust for a while yet, been done for last 20k or so . .
thanks guysGassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff