Today was the big day for cracking on with my LPG Elite project. So, 9am and off I go. Took the second bank apart last night, camcover off, sprockets off, cams out and all 12 hydraulic tappets out.
This morning started with servicing the 12 remaining tappets (did 12 at marks yesterday). Great advisefrom Mark here and they are relatively simple to do, though a little time consuming. You do need a vice (which I also have) and a suitable drift as Mark says, I used a sump key (hexagon brass thing about 2" long). All 12 of the second bank freed up although 3 were sticky. Of the 12 we did yesterday, 2 had broken springs which might explain the top end noise. These were replaced with 2 from Marks spare car bank! Thanks to mark for those

So, on with this morning. Priming the last 12 meant filling a small container with fresh oil and then pumping each tappet whilst submerged in the oil until air bubbles stopped. Then into a bag and of to the car.
Firstly fitted the new water pump and torqued it up. Then put all 24 tappets back in, then all 4 cams, all cam shells, cam seals, sprocekts (hand tightened) then had to align all 4 cams. Did bank 1 first, turning each cam by hand until the appropriate timing mark lined up with the back plate. WIth the aid of 1 Laidback and a lot of brute strength, managed to hold cams in place whilst I fitted the locking peg. Then repeated for bank 2. A bit more challenging due to the lack of room for spanners and cam 4.
Next, the cambelt. Ah yes. The cambelt. That will be the new original VX ones that have no markings on them! Now, I can and did manage, but anyone doing this for the first time MAKE SURE they are marked or you will struggle.
Timing adjusted and all cjhecked several times for torque and alignement. job done.
Then timing covers back on with nice gaskets. Note in one of the pics the cam bearing shell and that little hole Pete was on about. be careful NOT to plug this with sealant or you will have leaky cam selas in a few weeks.
Next was the plugs leads - dis pack fun. Follwed by all the vacuum pipes back, then the plumbing nightmare. I say nightmare because of the canabalised pipework for the LPG system.
After cuppa numnber 8 Dave and I pressed on to get it running at least. Inlet manifold, plenum, ICV, lots of pipes, lots of checking, lots of bagpie heaving and swearing - again due to the nonsense that is this LPG installation ( to be modified by me VERY soon).
Finally, all back together and start. Well. It did start - of a sort, but didn't sound great. Exhaust is blowing somewhere to be checked, but the car only ran on 4 and there was one hideous noise from the front. That turned out to be Laidback shouting, but all the same another hideous noise turned out to be the Alternator. SOmething has managed to egt inside it during this process and the sparks were entertaining to say the least. Disconnected the aux belt and tried again. Car runs, but still on 4 minus the noise from the alternator. Tappets are not as noisy as I expected at this stage, but will need to be run down for 15 minutes. Turned off due to lack of power and wasting fuel smell.
Anyway . Lots of pics. CLICK TO ENLARGE:

Bank 1 minus any hydraulic tappets

In fact, both banks minus any tappets, cams, sprockets, water pump, cambelt tensioners - anything.

Plastic bag with 12 tappets and oil. These are just after priming

12 Tappets back in Bank 1

location of cam marking for rebuilding. See Marks reference in Maintenance section

Close up of that marking

having identified which one, cam 1 going back in