9 replies to this topic

[minipower101]

Hi everyone. Back along I posted about my engine not running, but due to circumstances ive only now been able to strip it down.

Its a 1984 with a 1380cc.

Just before it broke it smoked a bit under load. When it did break a lot of smoke came out the exhaust and there was oil all over the engine and some on the floor.

I did a compression test across the cylinders. From cylinder 1 to 4 it was 180, 70, 65, 50.

Ive now taken the cylinder head off to find the gasket is broken between 2 and 3. Is there something else broken because the pistons look quite black in 2 and 3 and also on the head.

Please look at the pics and see what you think. Thanks

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[L400RAS]

Does look like it was burning unclean, but that may be a bit of oil burning. I would be having new stem seals at this stage as they are a matter of pence to change now you have the head off. If its not the stem seals, it'll be the piston rings, which means an engine strip.

Edited by L400RAS, 14 August 2010 - 07:43 PM.

[Dan]

Smoking under load does suggest a cracked ring.

[Southy]

I would get a piece of wet and dry with a small block and flat the section where the gasket has broken on 2 and 3 to check the block hasn't cracked aswell, it also looks like the gasket has been blowing across 3 and 4 aswell albeit not as much as the middle. When you rebuild it I'd think about using a BK450 Payne Turbo gasket and torque the head down to 60 lbs ft to help things out.

[minipower101]

Thanks for feedback everyone. Ok I will do that and look for that gasket.

Any other suggestions on what would be worth replacing in the cylinder head whilst it is off. How can I test if the rings are ok?

Thanks

[minipower101]

I'm just about to buy a head gasket set on ebay. The set part number is dk451. I think this contains the bk450 head gasket. Is there much difference between genuine and pattern. I can't tell what it is but its quite cheap so probably pattern.

Pattern (i think) link
http://cgi.ebay.co.u...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Genuine

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...les_CarParts_SM

Thanks

[GraemeC]

You don't need a turbo head gasket set - you'd be paying for gaskets you won't use.

Go for this if you want a set:
http://www.minispare...=...9622&title=

but even that will contain gaskets you won't use and doesn't contain a manifold gasket that you do need.
I would buy individual gaskets personally.

[minipower101]

Ok. Thanks for the link

[bmcecosse]

I reckon the block is damaged between 2 and 3 - check carefully with a straight edge across. It may need skimming. If it's low at all - it will never hold a gasket no matter HOW expensive! This is the problem with big bore blocks..........that area between the bores is stupidly thin........

Edited by bmcecosse, 20 August 2010 - 11:01 PM.

[minipower101]

Hi everyone. Just to keep you all posted...

I took my cylinder head to a garage to check all the valves were ok as well as the face of the head.

Two of the valves leaked slightly and it needed skimming as was down 14 thou between 2 and 3.

Everything is all good with the head now and I found out that its ported and polished, has bronze valve guides and the valves that were in were already unleaded which is a bonus I also had new valve stem oil seals put in.

Im going to fit new lcb manifold as old one blew, change the oil and filter and fit new spark plugs.

I should get it all back together by the end of the week and fingers crossed it will run...nicely!

If anyone knows any good links for things to do or remember when fitting a head gasket and everything else please post them.

Cheers