Check your bolts are tight this weekend

[Trickie Dickie]

Just had my cylindar head gasket blow and repaired
and thought I would pass on a little wisdom learnt.

Luckily the gasket broke just to the outside on No 3 cylinder and so no water was involved
but my mechanic has said that this probably only happened as the bolt had worked loose.

Also 3 of the exhaust manifold nuts had come loose, so it is lucky
that those gaskets hadn't blown as well.

So it is worth checking yours this weekend just to see they are all tight
and save you a lot of money, time and anguish.

Had both heads off and crack tested and scimmed and also taken the opportunity
to have the valves done and all gaskets and seals re-newed
Also had the plenum and rocker covers polished up while off the car
So overall pleased at what I have had done but dreading the bill
"Wife receipt" definately required on this one boys

Cheers
Richard

[NTEL]

Hi Richard, that was obviously the cause of the tapping and smoke then. Glad you managed to get it sorted quickly

Dots Tamora is still in doc turns out the ECU has gone tits up!!!!! I'm still getting the blame for breaking it though.

Edited by NTEL on Thursday 2nd October 13:54

[Trickie Dickie]

NTEL said:

Hi Richard, that was obviously the cause of the tapping and smoke then. Glad you managed to get it sorted quickly

Dots Tamora is still in doc turns out the ECU has gone tits up!!!!! I'm still getting the blame for breaking it though.

Edited by NTEL on Thursday 2nd October 13:54

Yes I thought it was the exhaust maniold gasket to start with

Nothing to do with your racing/driving style then? LOL

Cheers Dave and see you soon

Richard

[jagdpanther]

Trickie Dickie said:

Nothing to do with your racing/driving style then? LOL

Cheers Dave and see you soon

Richard

Nah, if it was his driving he would've parked it backwards in the garage at high speed

Looking forward to seeing you out at Oulton on the 11th Davey

[GreenV8S]

Trickie Dickie said:

but my mechanic has said that this probably only happened as the bolt had worked loose.

Is your mechanic familiar with this engine? It's hard to imagine a cylinder head bolt coming loose, but if you have an early 14 bolt head then the outer row is usually only nipped up.

[grahamw48]

Good advice Richard.

Only wish you'd mentioned it a couple of years back before my rear wheel made it's bid for freedom.

[Trickie Dickie]

GreenV8S said:

Trickie Dickie said:

but my mechanic has said that this probably only happened as the bolt had worked loose.

Is your mechanic familiar with this engine? It's hard to imagine a cylinder head bolt coming loose, but if you have an early 14 bolt head then the outer row is usually only nipped up.

My usual mechanic prepares RV8 engines for about 5 of the top 10 World F1 Stockcar Racers
and tells me that the engine has never been cracked open before in it's 18 years.
(He was actually World Champion himslef on a self prepared RV8 engine a few years ago)

I have had to use a more local friend who runs a garage and used to work on Discoverys
and it would appear that the bolt has never been right as the thread was actually stripped
in the head causing the bolt to be loose, and has now had to be helicoiled before rebuild.

I just thought it might help some of my Wedge friend's to learn from my problems

Cheers
Richard

[GreenV8S]

Are you definitely talking about the head mounting bolts? They aren't threaded into the heads at all.

Perhaps it is the exhaust manifold bolts you're talking about?

[Trickie Dickie]

GreenV8S said:

Are you definitely talking about the head mounting bolts? They aren't threaded into the heads at all.

Perhaps it is the exhaust manifold bolts you're talking about?

If you read my first post again you will see
it was 1 Bolt fastening the head to the main engine block
and also 3 exhaust manifold bolts were loose as well

As you can see I am not technically minded and don't work on engines
but hope this is clear enough

Richard

[adam quantrill]

Other bolts that commonly get loose: the ones that form the bonnet 'hinges', the nut that holds on the windscreen wiper, exhaust manifold to exhaust bolts, wheel nuts.

Any others worth checking?

[grahamw48]

Nearside rear hub nut. (230lbs)

ETA...and the nut behind the wheel of course. Ah the olduns are the best.

Edited by grahamw48 on Sunday 5th October 23:25

[rev-erend]

adam quantrill said:

Other bolts that commonly get loose: the ones that form the bonnet 'hinges', the nut that holds on the windscreen wiper, exhaust manifold to exhaust bolts, wheel nuts.

Any others worth checking?

Body fixing nuts .. causes stress cracks if loose.

[leorest]

...and the pivot bolts on the light pods. If they aren't wired properly.

[adam quantrill]

Whoooa - almost lost the bonnet on the way home today - check yer bolts boys and girls!

I think I'll drill the heads and wire them to something to prevent 360 degree movement, this must be the third time in 15 years...

[chedder]

Checked my nuts this morning.....still there!

Chedder

[Number 7]

adam quantrill said:

Whoooa - almost lost the bonnet on the way home today - check yer bolts boys and girls!

I think I'll drill the heads and wire them to something to prevent 360 degree movement, this must be the third time in 15 years...

Mine always seem to slacken off, so I keep a close check on them. Should really get around to lockwiring them - another job for the list.

7.

[Transmitter Man]

Other than on the exhaust don't any of you lot use nylocs or heavy duty spring washers?

Don't like me nuts coming loose

Phil
420 SEAC

[SEvans]

Transmitter Man said:

Other than on the exhaust don't any of you lot use nylocs or heavy duty spring washers?

Don't like me nuts coming loose

Phil
420 SEAC

Not easy on the bonnet as it screws into a thread bonded in the wing. Only way is to drill and wire. Cheers Steve

[wedgewood]

Just an aside on the bonnet bolts...be careful not to overtighten. I did this and the first time I opened the bonnet stress cracks appeared on both wings where the hinge is bonded. Really wish I could have wound the clock back 2 minutes!! Maybe the threads could be locktited with the bolts backed off slightly.