Anyone else having problems?! SKIM THAT M20 FLYWHEEL

[randomspeedfreak]

So im still hunting a missfire. ive just done the vanos seals, this improved it a little, however its still there.

I also have a valve speed ticking. ive had the valve cover off to do the vanos, and the cams and buckets look fine

So my thinking is that the vanos/ head may not be receiving the correct pressure from the pump, as the ticking would be from the hydraulic lifters? (not the clearances as i thought eh Dan!)

My thinking is if the pump isnt pumping enough oil the first thing to hear would be the bottom end?

Due to this ive started looking at the gasket between the oil pickup and the block in the sump.

Okay are you sitting down for this next bit?:

two of the bolts to get the sump off, in order to get at this gasket, are next to the flywheel. Due to having no money at the time, i put the m20 flywheel on without having it skimmed, and instead took a bit off the sump. big mistake

The bolts are accessible through the gearbox casing, but because they are so close to the flywheel you cant get even the thinnest socket onto them.

Sooo the flywheel has to come off along with the clutch, and of course to get to them the box has to come off, and to get this off the prop has to come off, and to get that off the exhaust and heat shield have to come off!

The problem is i didnt realise this would be a problem when i started, so to get enough room to get the sump off ive dropped the subframe so thats off aswell

To further the problem to get the gearbox off the engine has to be dropped down aswell a bit, and to allow this all the electrics and the radiator have to be disconnected!

So basically for a 50p washer ive had to almost completely take apart the car!

All because i was being a bandit and didnt skim that m20 fly!
if youre building one dont make the same mistake!

[DanThe]

Ive always said its better to skim the flywheel for this very reason, lightweight FTW!



5.3kg, I can sort these for anybody that needs them

[Duke137]

fooking hell, what a ballache!

[steve_k]

Ive always said its better to skim the flywheel for this very reason, lightweight FTW!



5.3kg, I can sort these for anybody that needs them

how much??

[DanThe]

Pm me, works on exchange basis

[randomspeedfreak]

pm'd!

[Supafly]

I've just seen this thread, hopefully not too late.
I had the exact same problem but was able to get around it with an 8mm metal drill bit (I bought a dewalt one from screwfix that self starts) dilled the heads off the bolts which had been ground down on one side and then I refitted allen bolts for future disassembly if needs be.
Jacked the engine up off its mounts and then had lots of fun getting the sump off and around the subframe. I think I took the oil pick up pipe off to aid removal. New gasket is a must, pennies from bmw.
Good luck

[Supafly]

Just read your post again, sorry to hear you had to dismantle it all. I almost gave up and did the same, although I would have dropped the engine and box out together but I really really didn't want to do that. It's times like these that make you question whether it's really worth it, but when it's back up and running you realise it's worth it!!

[randomspeedfreak]

ah yes an allen head would solve the problem...i really should have thought of that!

i know exactly what you mean. i threw enough tantrums at it today, today was the first time it genuinely crossed my mind to break the bloody thing

its mostly back together now (im getting good at that ha)

it sounds like i did a very long winded version of what you did!

was there any reason for you changing that gasket? or just piece of mind? did it affect anything?

[rich318i]

^ what gasket did you have to change ?

[randomspeedfreak]

^ what gasket did you have to change ?

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E34/S ... ith_drive/

number 7

[Barx325i]

sorry, I don't mean to put the fear into people but I read this recently, where a machined fly exploded, taking out the drivers legs

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9383

[DanThe]

That pic is all over the net, its not even a BMW flywheel just some jap scrap being spun by a turbo, caused by a welded diff no doubt....

[rich318i]

^ what gasket did you have to change ?

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E34/S ... ith_drive/

number 7

that wouldnt make it misfire in any way. do you know want number cylinder is misfiring? you done anything to make this misfire happen?

[DanThe]

He is changing the gasket in hope of solving a low oil pressure problem.

I would also be rebuilding the pump while your in there and checking the big ends

[rich318i]

randomspeedfreak- what oil do you use and what miles have you done with that engine? whats the total milage of that M52

[rich318i]

He is changing the gasket in hope of solving a low oil pressure problem.

I would also be rebuilding the pump while your in there and checking the big ends

im sure mate if that gasket was gone the oil max level would keep that pressure with a gasket or not. plus why is there a oil pressure switch in the oil filter housing.

[DanThe]

The oil pressure switch works at around 7psi IIRC

[rich318i]

and i hear the vanos pressure is at 2 bar. is that right ?

[Supafly]

Sorry for the late reply.
I changed it for peace of mind as I had also read that a leaking gasket can cause the oil to get aerated(? suck bubbles) I also checked that the pick up pipe was good with no cracks etc.

Rich318i - The gasket changed is the oil pick up pipe gasket.

[randomspeedfreak]

randomspeedfreak- what oil do you use and what miles have you done with that engine? whats the total milage of that M52

Hi mate,
ive been on mobil 3000 5w40. the engine has done 90k