Big problem. Car suddenly broken down.

[grumpydad]

Hi
we live in upper church road
if you want a tow just post hear or PM me
will PM you my phone number

[bmcecosse]

That's the spirit - great offer -well done !

[James k]

That would be brilliant grumpydad! Thanks for the offer I've sent you a PM.

[James k]

A very stylish tow from grumpydad this morning: [frame][/frame]

[panky]

Did he get the Bentley out
Just seen the pic, even better

[panky]

What's the prognosis, is it definitely head gasket

[SteveClem]

Great recovery photo! The guys on the Austin site would enjoy seeing a Minor being towed by an A30 .

[SteveClem]

Sorry,by an A35!

[bmcecosse]

Fantastic ! Well done GG. I think James has already established it's the gasket - no compression on two adjacent cylinders....

[SteveClem]

The Austin folk have found it. Much hilarity!

[James k]

Well, after a long day's work (non stop 10am to 7pm), it's fixed! And running better than ever! Let's just hope it lasts The head gasket had blown between 3 and 4. I decoked the head, reground all the valves, replaced the o-rings and changed the head gasket and thermostat. The valve grinding was the longest bit, some of them were very pitted. I only drove it briefly on it's first heat cycle but the performance is very different, much smoother. I assume this is down to the valve regrinding. I've now left it to cool and am hoping to retorque the head and reset the gaps tomorrow morning (Unless there's an urgent need to do it soon, I haven't got much time tonight.

A huge thanks to grumpydad both for the tow and for a very valuable lesson yesterday in how to grind in the valves and how to do everything else properly.

Fingers crossed I won't need to do another job like that for a while

[bmcecosse]

Well done - did you check the faces for absolute flatness ?

[Trickydicky]

Cooling system flushed,new plugs, timing sorted,speedo working, head gasket replaced and engine running like a dream. Just go and enjoy your car now, the suns shining!!!

[panky]

Nice one James, you're fast becoming an expert

[James k]

Roy, the head was checked for flatness. I didn't do it myself but had great help from grumpydad

Trickydicky, you forgot to mention seized brake cylinder replaced (although I didn't do that) ;) . Yep, hopefully it's okay for a while now.

[grumpydad]

Hi
now I wounder who posted this on the Austin A35 oweners club ?

[les]

Guess we'll never know.

[James k]

I retorqued the head and reset the gaps this morning. The car started first time and is running great, the rough growl that there was when the accelerator was pushed is now gone and it seems to have more power. I also did a compression test and the compression is up by 10psi on each cylinder. Now to wait for the next thing to go wrong!

[bmcecosse]

Think positive.... I would reecheck then valve gaps after a few miles - and set the exhausts at 15 thou - inlets can stay at 12.