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MrG

Head Gasket Failure

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MrG

OK had the car on the rolling road today to set up the 45's I put on, however things didn't go too well.

 

Peter Baldwin (top guy) set the carbs up right and the engine was running well, it was singing through the rev range whilst he was doing whatever he was doing, but when dropping down to idle it started to misfire and died. Tried to start it again but nothing, wouldn't even turn over (like a flat battery)? So plugs out to find water in the 2nd cylinder from the left? Now I had a problem with the inlet manifold seating and coolant leak but we thought we'd solved this, however the way the cylinder filled up, would this be head gasket failure, the inlet manifold seating or have I more serious problem?

 

Had the RAC take me to a chap Peter knew in Ely and they're going to start by looking at the inlet manifold to see if there's an issue there then start to look at the head etc. Although I'm keen to do most myself I'm out of my depth on this one so would rather them diagnose something rather than me try to rectify something I don't know much about.

 

Basically the engine locked itself due to water I think, we removed the plugs and the water and the engine turned over ok.

 

It was OK on the run down to him (although the car popped and banged a bit).

 

I'm hopeful its a problem with the inlet in whatever I've done has caused this but part of me thinks its a little more serious than that.

 

And it was all going so well prior showing good gains on the RR with the carbs giving perfect readings throughout!

 

I'll let you know how it fares when I know more, but it looks like my Cadwell day next week is on hold.

Edited by MrG

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MrG

OK the upshot of this is the engine is shagged!

 

headgasket gone for sure but I have a cracked liner and the top of one of the pistons is peppered with debris! So what to do?

 

New engine anyone? I'll put a wanted ad in the wanted section I think, or do I just sell for scrap and get one hats already sorted?

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MrG

pm sent, thanks.

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MrG

saw the remains of my engine today, what a mess! Whats gone through that cylinder we don't know, valves were all complete but the piston crown was seriously damaged and the liner has a 1mm cracked for as far as we could see on the same cylinder.

2 head bolts sheared in the block and the remains of the head gasket shows it was definatley on its last legs.

 

New engine for sure now. Thankfully it would appear it was nothing I had done (when fitting the carbs) but I suppose we'll never know! Weird thing is the other cyls you can still the honing marks but the damaged one was smooth. Any ideas?

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ashley peddle

seeing your wanted thread you would be better off with a whole new engine mate, will be cheaper and quicker... :blush:

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MrG

you're right Ash, just weighing up my options.

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ashley peddle

gimmie a shout if you need a hand - have a haul of spare parts and depending on time maybe even access to an engine crane or 2 :D

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James_R

I've got a good 1.9 bottom end you're welcome to have Gratis Andrew, pulling out the car at the weekend, I'm going to keep the head (h/g failure and stem seals are pretty special) still makes good compression and pressure, welcome to it if you collect it.

 

James

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MrG

Cheers guys, James I'll send you a pm if you could give me any more info I'd appreciate it!

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mickie

do a compression test and a leak down test atTDC, can you see bubbles in the coolant bottle ?

 

 

ooh wait....

 

:D

 

crap news dude

Edited by mickie

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MrG

LOL I know!

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