Head damage ....

Post Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:01 pm

Head went in today to the machine shop ... we agree to keep the cost down that pessure test comes first then we try other things.
Phone rings a bit later ..... you need a new head ...come down and give me a deposit if you want a new one. So off I go ....
When the head bolt snapped , the head lodged somewhere under the cam and smashed a hole into the head .... cam shaft buggered and some of the rocker arms ruined too ... suprised none of the rockers broke.

So I will be getting a new one ...

NOT CHEAP !!!

Post Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:07 pm

ouch...............................

Post Mon Jun 27, 2005 11:46 pm

GDBN wrote:Head went in today to the machine shop ... we agree to keep the cost down that pessure test comes first then we try other things.
Phone rings a bit later ..... you need a new head ...come down and give me a deposit if you want a new one. So off I go ....
When the head bolt snapped , the head lodged somewhere under the cam and smashed a hole into the head .... cam shaft buggered and some of the rocker arms ruined too ... suprised none of the rockers broke.

So I will be getting a new one ...

NOT CHEAP !!!

I'm sorry for ya mate!!he'res hoping it all goes nice and smoothly

Post Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:15 am

just wondering it may be cheaper to source a good second hand engine

Post Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:19 pm

Karan wrote:just wondering it may be cheaper to source a good second hand engine

Very valid point. I've just spent a small fortune on a replacement head (Ãƒ”šÃ‚£200), new cam/springs (Ãƒ”šÃ‚£300), all the gaskets etc. (Ãƒ”šÃ‚£200 from BMW) plus garage fee for fitting (Ãƒ”šÃ‚£300). For less than half that money, i could have had a second-hand engine fitted. Problem is, knowing what you're fitting, i.e. finding a known good engine.

Post Tue Jun 28, 2005 2:33 pm

I see what you're saying but the problem is my old 86 has just driven over 70,000 km from new.
My options were from the garage that had it :
1 - replacement engine 190,000 km for Ãƒ”šÃ‚£400 or 125,000 km for Ãƒ”šÃ‚£850 + 12 hours labour at Ãƒ”šÃ‚£50 per hour + cost of fitting new cam belt etc filters
and still not knowing how much life is left in it.
2 - old head knocking around forÃƒ”šÃ‚£300 plus 8 hours fitting again don't know its history and wasn't tested first --- who knows ??

I went for option 3 - professional machine shop who specialise in head work are making a completely new head all ready to put in the car for nearly 1 grand - at least I KNOW I am getting something good that hasn't been skimmed before etc... The cost is probably far too high . Cam belt and putting it all back together will be done by me - would have had to pay for all the other parts anyway.
So I am keepeing my fingers crossed and I know I have probably been blinded by the fact that it is low mileage but I want to keep it that way !!!

Post Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:07 pm

I had a similar problem a month ago. My head went porous.
I could have bought another engine for Ãƒ”šÃ‚£200 but then who knows how long that will last or if its any good.
I got a recon head with 6 months warranty and changed everything else.
Im doing all the work myself but it has cost Ãƒ”šÃ‚£800 already in parts alone.

Hopefully that will help make up your mind.

Post Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:44 pm

GDBN, what a bummer man:(, if i can help u let me know

Post Tue Jun 28, 2005 11:45 pm

Well I just spent a couple of weeks fitting a new camshaft and generally reconditioning my engine, when, 3 weeks later it has developed an insatiable thirst for coolant. No overheating, it's just turning my engine internals into an advert for Hellmans, so the head has to come off again. I'm so p1ssed, yet so pleased I can do it myself and save a million pounds on labour.
Just so you can all feel really sory for me, my hard drive died last night and I'm typing this from a poxy lap top I keep hitting the wrong keys on.

BOLLOCJS!!

Post Tue Jun 28, 2005 11:48 pm

not about the hellmans though,..

Post Wed Jun 29, 2005 10:44 am

Thx ..... hoping the new head will be ready tomorrow and than I have a bit more preparation and will borrow a second set of steady hands to lower the head on !!! Then it is just a case of figuring out what goes where and fitting the new cam belt, flushing oil and coolant ....etc ....
Wish I had stripped it then I would have labelled everything so I know where it all goes back !! But there's a retired guy not far from me with an 87 conv so I can pop round and see what goes where.
There's a couple of elec things I'm not too sure about !!
And I hope I don't get the hellmans after or I will go mad !!
Just out of curiousity ... how long does the hellmans take to form ??

Post Wed Jun 29, 2005 11:23 am

you shouldn't get any hellmans if the job is done properly

If the head has been pressure and crack tested, the mating surfaces are perfectly clean and you tighten evrything down properly you should have no problems.

I think my problem was that oil I had used to assemble the head dribbled down the oilways and contaminated the head gasket as I put the head back on.

Well I'll find out soon enough.

Good luck. The only electrical connectors you can get wrong are the 2 under the diagnostic socket, but the wires should be 'bent' anyway so they'll fit uncomfortably if you get them round the wrong way.
Get the belt right. You'll be suicidal if you don't.

All the best.