Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Ken T]

I finally managed to get the head off today and only 4 exhaust valves appear bent. Last time it was all 8 inlet valves.



Mind you the area around the combustion chamber looks a bit marked, a leak waiting to happen ?. 



Is it worth getting the head skimmed at the same time ?.



I am looking forward to getting the Mig back on the road. I hired a Renault Modus diesel for last week, its economical (about 58MPG ), but that's the best thing about it. Ride quality, controls, quirks, the Mig is far superior. Vauxhall engineering is good, made to last,whereas I get the feeling the Renault bits will be worn out after 3-4 years.

Ken

[Lizzie_Zoom]

How have you managed to damage your engine for a second time? :-/ :-/

Lessons not learnt?

[Welung666]

His water pump shaft sheared Lizzie

Be easier to change the 4 valves than get a new head don't you think Ken? The Desmond (4 pot) I'd got coming in isn't now 

[Matchless]

I have some new exhaust valves on the shelf if you need them but first get a bright light shone down each port and check for light around the valve heads, a valve bent even a few 'thou off its seat ruins compression.
Check the valve guide nose on the bent valves...any signs of cracks due to the bent stem means new guides (replacement head easier). Many say you can re-use cracked guides but Marks DTM managed to prove otherwise.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

His water pump shaft sheared Lizzie

Be easier to change the 4 valves than get a new head don't you think Ken? The Desmond (4 pot) I'd got coming in isn't now 

Ah right, thanks Welung!

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I have some new exhaust valves on the shelf if you need them but first get a bright light shone down each port and check for light around the valve heads, a valve bent even a few 'thou off its seat ruins compression.
Check the valve guide nose on the bent valves...any signs of cracks due to the bent stem means new guides (replacement head easier). Many say you can re-use cracked guides but Marks DTM managed to prove otherwise.

Never heard that myself, and it must be best to replace anything damaged.  As you say compression can be badly affected if things are not right in that area of the engine!

[vauxfan2k]

is a 2.0xev head the same? if so Im about to take out a fully working engine out of a facelift im breaking.

[Ken T]

How have you managed to damage your engine for a second time? :-/ :-/

Lessons not learnt?

oh Lizzie, you don't half know how to hurt a guy 

The first time still is a mystery. I had finished the rebuild, admittedly late at night, and was tired. The engine started for 1/2 sec then died, so the obstruction that caused the timing belt to jump must have fallen in from somewhere 'cause it wasn't there when I set the timing. One of life's mysteries.

This time it was the water pump shaft that broke, releasing the pressure on the cam belt. OK, I should have changed it when I did the belt kit 15K miles ago, however it was on for a total of 50K miles, which is not a lot, only 10K past the recommended belt change period. Makes you wonder how Vauxhall originally said an 80K change interval, or perhaps an Autovaux supplied water pump isn't as good as a genuine Vauxhall one. 

The idea of replacing the valves myself is attractive, however I have no experience or tools to change valve guides, and this might be difficult. I have been phoning around; the place that replaced the valves last time wants £180 to do 4 valves guides and skim. Another place advertises the whole lot done for £200 and that includes pick and delivery, but he's not answering his phone.

Thanks for the offer of the X20EV head, but I suspect it is different, mine is the Z22XE engine, and the gasket looks different.

I'll just keep looking and phoning, something will turn up, hopefully soon. 

Ken

[Entwood]

Ken ... I accept you might not want/have the tools, to do the top end yourself ... but it might be worth thinking about getting one of the OOF "spanner twirlers" to do it for you   That way you get a known quality job done at, usually, a decent price. You then just do the "final assembly" yourself ??

At least you then know the state of the heads, rather than looking to buy "unknown" items ??

Just a thought  

[Marks DTM Calib]

Are you going anywhere near Leicester in the near future Ken?

[Ken T]

Could do, in fact I was there last weekend.

If there is somewhere that can do the job for a reasonable fee and I could drop it off after work, then yes, definately. 

Ken

[Marks DTM Calib]

I would whip the valves out and check the guides, if the guides needed sorted then I have a guy who can fit them localy for a reasonable price.

Given how bent they are, I would guess they are ok.

I have some spare valves to.

The head looks ok, needs a clean up but little else

[Marks DTM Calib]

So, in a nut shell, drop it round and leave it with me.

It might be worth new stem seals at the same time (if they have not been done recently)

[Ken T]

Great Mark, many thanks, when?, tomorrow ?

Ken

[Marks DTM Calib]

Great Mark, many thanks, when?, tomorrow ?

Ken

Whenever you like, if nobody is then leave it around the back of the house