Disaster strikes....

[biomed32uk]

Had a lovely day out with Maisie today, sun shining, took the dog with us for a walk along the river. Popped into town to pick some bits up and decide to come back along the dual carrigeway.

Sitting at something like 65/70 all of a sudden we lose power, chugging and running on two cylinders. By the looks of the oil and water coming out the head gasket has failed, I have had a weep from the front corner where the oil comes up to the rockers since the rebuild last winter, and was going to sort it this winter.

So its a recovery truck ride home (only the 2nd time in 30yrs of driving have I had this).

Pulled the head off, and the gasket does look questionable. The real disaster is the state of no 4 bore, badly scored and lumps out at the top inline with the gudgeon pin, not sure whether a circlip has failed or I broke a ring refitting them, I was very careful and have never done so before.

Whatever now the the engine needs to come back out and another rebuild, its been linered so at least its press another liner in, and I suppose it will be all four while I am at it. Sure the piston will have been damaged as part of this.

She was running so well, it's the end of the road for her this season now, at least all the crank and everything else is fine, kind of dissapointed at the moment which I am sure I will get over and get on sorting her out.

[don58van]

I'm sorry to learn of your misfortune.
What a disappointing way to end a great day out too.

I wonder whether this means that we can expect an engine rebuild manual like your excellent gearbox rebuild manual sometime in the future?

Regardless, I hope your rebuild goes well.

Don

[panky]

Oh crap, what a bummer

[biomed32uk]

Thanks guys, just a bit hacked off at the moment.

I am still finishing my workshop come garage at the moment, the car is now in the garage when I can work whatever the weather, so thats a plus.

At least its only a reline and new pistons, ironically had lots of chats while we were out and a guy was admiring her and asked is it reliable, 100% says me.

The rest of the engine is all fine and once i get going should be an easy job, just hate going back on jobs. I didnt like the ring compressor i used, i was careful and patient if indeed thats what has happened. I like to see the rings as they go in, least if you do break one you know you have then.

Yes, have to do a manual, still got some updates for the gearbox one to to merge in and re upload it.

[danielvoorwerk]

Hi biomed,

Thans indeed a bummer....

For your ring compressor; i used a ring of a sewer-pipe; 100% control and you definitely feel if it's a fit of not, so you dont over-push to force it in the bore.

Good luck and keep us informed ![frame][/frame]

[biomed32uk]

That's a great idea, I was think of one of the tapered type, which I could make, but that's simpler, quicker and cheaper.

The one I have is like a spring steel sleeve that you ratchet up, did not like it at the time and wish I had have fed them in by hand now, if indeed thats what has happened, the mark looks too wide to be anything to do with the gudgeon pin, and I am sure its done terminal harm to the piston now.

Had a word with the guy at my local engineering shop today and he can sort out re linering the block, taking the head off I have stripped half the engine already. Just to fish the bottom end out of the car and strip it.

It will wait a while as I am half way through kitting the new workshop out and I want that done first, I lay the car up over the winter anyway so its an early bath this year. I can strip bits off if I find myself at a loose end.

Need to find some 3/8 unc screws so I can attach the hoist to the lump where the head studs go.

I will report back when we have the post mortem into what happened.

[bmcecosse]

I would just pop that piston and see what's wrong with it. Maybe new rings will 'keep it going' for the rest of the summer - more worrying is why did the HG blow ?? Did you wipe it with grease - and torque it down to 44 ft lbf after the first heat cycle? Just hang the engine on the studs - using the head nuts....with a spreader bar between so you don't bend the studs.

[philthehill]

As regards 3/8" UNC bolts here you are and you can choose the length you require:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ht-Bolts-UNC- ... 43e1030d01

[biomed32uk]

I have no idea why the head gasket went on me, it was indeed fitted as you say, wiped with grease and progressivly done to 44ft lb and re done after a heat cycle. Block and head dead flat when checked. Everything with the engine was apparently spot on and very sweet. Temp gauge sits where it should, all the water ways clear and the rad. Checked all the ring gaps when fitting them etc etc.

Something didn't go down right with the head though, I had a weep of oil from the front corner over the tappet cover side, which was to be one of this winters jobs. No bits missing from the head gasket though, so I dont know whats happened, there was water around the edge of the head for sure.

What concerns me in the bore is why there is a couple of digs out of it at the top, somethings certainly caught and chewed into it. I think for that reason its beyond re ringing, I can envisage another 1.5hrs waiting for a recovery truck, fortunately it was a nice sunny afternoon and not tipping down. No foreign objects or signs of it on the piston crown. Think I have just had some bad luck.

Getting half an engine out and stripping it is not going to take long, I can decide then with the shops input as to whether we just do the one or the whole lot.

Anyone have a recommendation of decent pistons or are the usual suspects offerings OK.

If I can get a pic of the damage I will post it up tomorrow.

[The vast minority]

Just a thought,
What's the spark plug looking like?
Specifically, is it all there?
Al

[biomed32uk]

Yes, plugs are all there and complete, new NGK plugs fitted at the start of the year. Valves are all there and correct also. There are no marks in the head or the piston crown, and normally bits falling in leaves a mark somewhere.

It's most wierd, everyone who knows me locally has said they find it hard to believe I screwed anything up as I am so meticulous with my work, and its certainly not the 1st engine I have rebuilt.

Crap happens as they say, nothing that cant be sorted out, just annoying.

[The vast minority]

Indeed, that's the spirit.
I've got a spare 1098 block complete with crank and Pistons, in fact, it's a complete engine at present with a cooper head apart from valve gear.
I bought it as a spare along with a couple of 1275's

I've not looked inside yet but if you like, I'll take a peep this weekend for you.
Might be worth bunging it in whilst you rebuild yours to keep you motoring

I'll lend you it free or sell you it cheap
Assuming it's good of course.

Al

[biomed32uk]

I really appreciate the offer of a spare engine, had it have happened earlier in the year I would have taken the offer up of a loan at least to keep me going.

Thats the real true spirit of this club and the offer is really appreciated and means a lot.

Don't know who drove by me in a minor on Sun afternoon while I was stranded, not one us, as I am sure like I would I'd have been pulling over to see if there was anything I could do to assist a Minor owner in trouble.

As tempting as it is I dont want to get involved just yet, my workshop is a total mess after moving it this summer and need finishing and organising so I can get on in a professional manner. I would have decreased usage of her next month anyway so it not too bad, and she is only a second hobby car that has a pampered retirement.

A spare engine may not be a bad idea for the future, not got room to store it just yet but how much would you want for it ?, no urgency as obviously it needs a quick look to see what it like.

[The vast minority]

No worries, anytime

I really wouldn't want to issue any idea of a price until I've had the engine through a good inspection though
However, I wouldn't want much for it, I bought 2x 1275 recently and got this 1098 fairly cheap as part of the guys clear out. I think it was about 90 quid when all factored in together including the cooper head but obviously, it was and is still an unknown with all the risk associated.turns over and feels fine and the guy said it ran very sweet but the HG failed and he took it out to fit a bigger engine.

I'll drop you a PM when it's been inspected properly and give you first shout

Al

[bmcecosse]

You can easily store a spare engine under a bed..........

[The vast minority]

You can easily store a spare engine under a bed..........

My wife bought divan beds so I couldn't fit engines under them
She's also got a lock on the dishwasher because she says it's a plate washer not a parts washer

Al

[bmcecosse]

[martin418]

brake back '' plate '' , clutch pressure ''plate ''

[biomed32uk]

I think if a spare engine went under the bed she would be leaving me. bit lumpy at night as well.

Anyway, I have pretty much finished the workshop and decided to pull the rest of it out, nice having the luxury of working indoors when its heaving down outside.

Pulled No4 piston out and its not pretty, if I didnt know better it looks like it was run with no oil and water. I don't know whats happened, it's been run in carefully since rebuild, the timing was fine, the rings were gapped and everything was as I thought spot on. I have rebuilt loads of engines have and have never had this happen.

This pistons sure bin fodder.[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

Crikey.... connecting rods on right order?? Looks like possibly the piston has been forced over to one side. Oil passage in con rod clear ? Are the other 3 pistons/bores ok ?