Update continued:
Day 2:
Big BIG thank to Andy B for replacing the head gaskets for me, I didn’t want to tackle it on my own! And also a big thanks for bringing your locking kit down too.
The old gasket had gone on the passenger head at the rear (between the Oil drain to the engine, and the water jacket).
So, off we go at reassembling everything. We had just about got everything back together, however we just ran out of time to actually test the engine, so Andy went back home (with his cambelt locking kit).
Day 3:
Me and Ray (again, thanks Ray for all your help!) continued putting everything together. Couple of hours later, we started her up.... Bruuummmm... Yey, she runs... However we were then greeted with a squeaking noise - so we switched it off, and removed the Aux belt. Fired it back up and the squeak was still there - Ah bugger, it’s the cam belt!
Phoned Daz, who has been a MASSIVE help (Daz, Thanks a million!) - He advised to try a tiny tiny spray of wd40 or similar on the back of the cambelt while it was running (we both put the squeaking down to the printed text etc on the new belt).
Hay presto, after a quick spray, all is well...
Engine had been ticking over for a few minuets by now, and all seemed fine, so I gave her a few little revs etc... THEN there was a horrid metallic grinding noise. As fast as this noise appeared, it disappeared again - couldn't work out what it was.
As the engine warmed up, this intermittent 'unknown' noise came back again, and it was getting worse the longer it ran. Off comes the Aux belt again. Bad news, the grinding noise is still there - has to be the cambelt.
Few more phone calls to Daz, it became apparent that the cambelt has to come off again due to the idler pulleys been in the wrong position, and he thought the grinding sound could be the idlers catching on something – most likely the back plate... Anyway, I was then carless, and the locking kit was at Andys - 100 miles away! Ah bugger!
Day 4 (today):
Stuart (he is/was a member on here - and that’s how I met him) gave me a lift to Andys last night for the locking kit. (thanks again for the Tea Andy + Mrs Andy B!).
So this afternoon I managed to remove the cambelt and see what was wrong.
The back plate was catching the bottom idler pulley like Daz guessed. A few minuets with a large screw driver and a few little taps with a hammer, the back plate was sitting back where it should be.
Cambelt + idlers put back on. And then everything tensioned up correctly (thanks again for your advice Daz!).
Engine was back together in few hours. I crossed my fingers, and Turned the key.... Bruuummm....
And thankfully, that was how it stayed - no grinding or squeaking noises - phew!
Anyway, left it running in the garage for 45 mins or so with the occasional rev here and there, and everything seems fine.
I will try and upload some more photos from the Digi Cam over the next couple of days - however due to me been at my grans (car is in her garage) I’ve not got a memory card reader with me.
Cheers again to everyone that helped
Ian
Author
Topic: Head Gasket Update (Read 2521 times)