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[henryd]

All the above, having first set the engine at 90 degrees BTDC by aligning and locking the cam sprockets.
Having done this, I am tempted to attach n/s front wheel and lower car to ground. Then chock front wheels and put car in 5th gear to ensure crank does nor turn, and facilitate jobs on head, all done from above. Is this a good idea?

I wouldn't bother with the in gear chocking wheels bit as there's too much gear lash to keep crank locked,better to just mark it well with tipped or similar to give you a reference  point,onecams are locked.

[terry paget]

All the above, having first set the engine at 90 degrees BTDC by aligning and locking the cam sprockets.
Having done this, I am tempted to attach n/s front wheel and lower car to ground. Then chock front wheels and put car in 5th gear to ensure crank does nor turn, and facilitate jobs on head, all done from above. Is this a good idea?

I wouldn't bother with the in gear chocking wheels bit as there's too much gear lash to keep crank locked,better to just mark it well with tipped or similar to give you a reference  point,onecams are locked.

Thanks. Will do in the morning

[terry paget]

I rang the man who changed the head gasket June 2012. He agrees with me that the car is  probably not worth repairing. However I would like to get the head off and confirm this. I will advice of progress.

[Sir Tigger KC]

If your going to go to all the effort of taking the head off, then surely it must be worth a bit more effort to put it back together with a new gasket.... 

[terry paget]

If your going to go to all the effort of taking the head off, then surely it must be worth a bit more effort to put it back together with a new gasket.... 

If the head is all right I shall of course rebuild the engine. It's just that the symptons and the car's history have braced me for the worst. Emma would have scrapped it two weeks ago, I said I would have a look at it and see if it could be saved.

[terry paget]

Sod the bottom pulley, whip the head off, you only need the pulley off to refit and time everything.

Just set the crank to 90 before/after TDC and pull the belt.

Thanks Marks DTM, that is what I shall do. I have removed exhaust manifold and most things connecting head to car. I have removed the head bolts. I am having trouble removing the cam sprocket bolts, holding the sprockets with my home made tool. There is no reason why I should not use my big nut gun, is there?

[terry paget]

Nut gun no good due to access. I have mde the Haynes tool, basically a fork with two prongs (bolts) to one side that engage in holes in the sprockets to stop it turning, but it bent before the nut loosened. Nut torque is 65Nm, quite tight. So I cannot remove the cam sprockets at the moment. I could make a more robust too, boring. I wonder if there is a tool in my tool box that would do the job. Any suggestions?

[05omegav6]

65nm isn't that tight

[terry paget]

Maybe not, but that's the torque it was tightened to in 2002. 12 years rust makes it harder to undo today. Bit like the crankshaft pulley not. Some men would put in the crankshaft locking tool to lock the sprockets, but that seems unwise and Haynes advises against it.

[05omegav6]

Is there a hex on the shaft to accept a spanner?

[terry paget]

Is there a hex on the shaft to accept a spanner?

No, but there are what Haynes calls 'reluctor segments'. I had to turn the camshaft before loosening head bolts 3 & 4 because they were in the way. They seem to be part of the camshaft, they are not cams, and their function is not clear. I can nearly get a 24mm spanner on them ( bit tight). I cannot see why I should not hold the camshaft with a spanner on them. Only mystery is why Haynes does not recommend it, and what 'reluctor segments' do. Great idea, Al.

[terry paget]

I have looked at again. 'The reluctor segment' is in the middle of camshaft, is cast into it, and has no obvious function. A 24mm spanner will not quite go on, a 1" spanner goes on easily and I reckon should hold it. 15/16" would be too small. I googled the defintion of 'reluctor' and nothing came up, only reluctant. 

[terry paget]

Brilliant, Al. Fitting a 1" spanner on the reluctor, shimmed with a 3 point (I am a printer) shim held it firmly, then I easily loosened the nut holding on the camshaft sprocket.

[Shackeng]

I have looked at again. 'The reluctor segment' is in the middle of camshaft, is cast into it, and has no obvious function. A 24mm spanner will not quite go on, a 1" spanner goes on easily and I reckon should hold it. 15/16" would be too small. I googled the defintion of 'reluctor' and nothing came up, only reluctant.

I have an idea that a reluctor is 'usually' a rotating segmented ring used for signalling speed of rotation via a pickup, as per ABS for example, although I'm probably talking through my hat as usual.

http://www.reluctorrings.com/

[terry paget]

Head is off, thanks to all for help. There appears to be a clean track from water channel to cylinder no. 1, which fits the sympton. Pic follows.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3yhk6ou1gat494s/gasketTRACK.jpg?dl=0