Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: JamesV6CDX on 30 January 2008, 10:28:57
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As you will all know by now, I bought Max's Elite Estate 3.0 Auto as a non-runner project, and did some reasonably major engine work to get it running. It had to be a bit of a swift one, because A) I need an Estate quickly for the dogs, and B) I didn't want it Hanging around due to nowhere to work on it.
Symptoms
The main problem with the car, is that it was losing coolant. The coolant loss was down the back passenger side, and was running down the block onto the floor.
This car was OOF'd at the last cambelt party, laidback did the brakes, and Mark DTM removed and resealed the oil cooler, and coolant bridge doughty seals. Sadly the leak didn't go away. Shortly after this, I changed the thermostat seal and front transfer pipe seals. This improved the leak, but it was STILL there.
It gradually got worse, to the point it would dump all it's coolant in about 20 miles.
Diagnosis
Max's garage recently diagnosed a head gasket leak on the 2-4-6 bank, and I was inclined to agree with them. So - seeing as it needed a head gasket, I decided to go all out and do a top end rebuild.
I rebuilt two heads, using new valve stem seals, cleaning everything thoroughly, and grinding the valves back in using some fine paste.
I flattened the exhaust manifold mating faces on the heads, and the manifolds, and fitted new exhaust manifold gaskets and studs / nuts all round. Sassanach helped me helicoil 2 broken threads on one head.
Armed with my nicely rebuild heads, I attacked the car.
When I arrived, the plenum, inlets, DIS and coolant bridge were off. Otherwise it was complete.
Day 1)
Removed bagpipes, aux belt tensioner, cambelt cover, water pump, cambelt, inlet bridge, cambelt cover(rear), camcovers, camshafts, all 4 sprockets, NS SAI pipe, Thermostat and front transfer pipe.. exhaust downpipes... basically everything in the way of the heads. I then undid the head bolts (a scary moment, they DIDNT feel good!). I then removed both the heads, and rebuilt the drivers side one and cleaned all the mating surfaces. (Had already done the passenger head).
I then re-fitted both heads (using new HGs obivously) to the car. Got the camshafts back in, rear cambelt cover on, cam sprockets all back on, and the cambelt kit back on and the valve timing set. Also got stat and transfer pipe in, and that barsteward rear transfer pipe too.
At that point, I was working with a torch inbetween my teeth, so decided to call it a day once the cambelt was on. I then had a few beers on the train home.
Day 2)
Woke up with sore head, after only 4 hrs sleep.
Arrived at Max's, and starting putting all the bits together. Inlet, coolant bridge, DIS, leads, plugs.. blah...
Pics are below. I must admit, at one point I thought "oh dear, I've taken on a bit much working alone over 2 days here)....
But it's all turned out well.
When I fired her up, she literally started on the first turn, with no fault light. That pleased me immensly :)
I drove her home 40 miles, and no problems at all. Temp stable, and NO coolant loss, so it's fixed it :D
General Pics of rebuild below:
Passenger head coming off:
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/28012008065.jpg)
Both heads off, and new HG being offered up to make
sure it's correct. NOTE: The crank was set to 60deg BTDC before head fitting! I had been moving pistons up and down at this stage for cleaning purposes. Also note the corrosion in the water jacket on the 246 bank, where there's been no antifreeze in it.
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/28012008067.jpg)
Now onto the head rebuild.
2 4 6 head before rebuild:
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/27012008056.jpg)
Removing Valves:
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/27012008052.jpg)
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/27012008053.jpg)
All valve components in bags, to ensure they are fitted in their original locations:
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/27012008057.jpg)
Here is the head with no valves!
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/27012008047.jpg)
Cleaning Valves:
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/27012008042.jpg)
Removing collet, Valve spring,stem seal and seat washer
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/27012008043.jpg)
All valves cleaned, lapped back in, and fitted with new stem seals:
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/28012008063.jpg)
The FUBAR head gasket. (One of). This was caused by running with no antifreeze, I guess:
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/28012008066-1.jpg)
Offering up new exhaust manifold gasket following cleaning of the faces. Note the helicoils in the bottom right two holes..
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k205/jamesv6cdx/28012008064.jpg)
I obviously used new gaskets for downpipe to manifold too, and new studs/nuts all round.
Must say, I'm quietly pleased the rebuild went so well, without so much as a minor glitch really.
My next couple of days off hopefully won't be spent working like a mad thing under a bonnet of an Omega!
PS - I got a few funny looks / comments, doing a Head gasket change on a V6 at the side of the road ;D ;D ;D
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Great Work there james and in the time you did it
You should be a private mobile mechanic mate you could make a small fortune 8-)
Dont forget the Macro setting on the camera for those closeups :)
Craig
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Tut, tut.....using composite exhaust manifold gaskets!
You can see the head damage around the water jacket on the head face at the dis pack mounting end. Quite a bit of pitting there.
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Tut, tut.....using composite exhaust manifold gaskets!
I had MONEY on you picking that up, you sod ;D
End of the day, it's a £300 car, and VX didn't have any in, so I took the risk. Should be OK with new studs and flat surfaces.
You can see the head damage around the water jacket on the head face at the dis pack mounting end. Quite a bit of pitting there.
That head didn't come off Max's car... it was off my other Elite shed, which was equally poorly maintained.
Think it will be OK with new gaskets and correct coolant?
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Tut, tut.....using composite exhaust manifold gaskets!
I had MONEY on you picking that up, you sod ;D
End of the day, it's a £300 car, and VX didn't have any in, so I took the risk. Should be OK with new studs and flat surfaces.
You can see the head damage around the water jacket on the head face at the dis pack mounting end. Quite a bit of pitting there.
That head didn't come off Max's car... it was off my other Elite shed, which was equally poorly maintained.
Think it will be OK with new gaskets and correct coolant?
Manifold gaskets should be good for 3-400 miles or so!
The corrosion should be ok.
In the past we have applied some of the green snot used on the front cam bearings to these areas to help seal them.
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Manifold gaskets should be good for 3-400 miles or so!
Shaddap you!
The corrosion should be ok.
That's what I wanted to hear... :)
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impressive, wish i could do that! when would you like to do mine and for how many beers?!
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Well done, another feather in your cap ;)
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Ow, by the way.
You don't need to worry about mixing the valve springs, valve caps, collets and valve bases up. The are all the same.
Its only the valves that need to go back in from whence they came!
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i wish i just had a tength of the confidence and skill that you have there james for doing such a job..well done mate :y :y
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Nice one ... and all outside as well .. many a garage wouldn't do such a good job
:y :y :y
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I've rebuilt 8v push rod heads and 8v twin cam TSCC heads
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I might be taking the head off the Rover again :(. Still, now I've been shown, I'm sure I can tackle it OK :)
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I might be taking the head off the Rover again :(. Still, now I've been shown, I'm sure I can tackle it OK :)
I would rather do the Rover head, much easier ;)
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I might be taking the head off the Rover again :(. Still, now I've been shown, I'm sure I can tackle it OK :)
I would rather do the Rover head, much easier ;)
and only 1 of them :)
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I might be taking the head off the Rover again :(. Still, now I've been shown, I'm sure I can tackle it OK :)
Oh, dear. :(
How many miles did that one do?
Kevin
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I might be taking the head off the Rover again :(. Still, now I've been shown, I'm sure I can tackle it OK :)
Oh, dear. :(
How many miles did that one do?
Kevin
12 - 14k.
Not sure it has gone yet, so not going to rip apart until I've checked further.
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What are the symptoms Jaime?
We've cursed it, it was only the other day you were saying it's going strong!
If you fancy a hand again (even if you don't NEED one) give me a bell, I'm game for another day of being ribbed and taunted while I crawl over your engine :P
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Low oil, low coolant. Need to investigate further in daylight.
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James - how do you clean the velves? Do you use steel brush or any "special tool"?
I am also looking for a tool to compress valve springs without taking the head out. I know that the head was out last time and I just need to replace stem seals, so dont want to mess with the head again.
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James - how do you clean the velves? Do you use steel brush or any "special tool"?
I am also looking for a tool to compress valve springs without taking the head out. I know that the head was out last time and I just need to replace stem seals, so dont want to mess with the head again.
Think he uses a 'Maria' to do the cleaning :y
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great work mate, good pics aswell:y
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A good job well done James. I'd love to tackle a job like that (with help). Always liked stripping engines down, just not very good at putting them back together.
Well done mate :y :y
Mark
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Nice one James. ;) :y