Boring boring blog...

It's a bit repetetive isn't it?. Head off / head on, thermostat in / thermostat out, running nicely / oh dear!!! It would be nice to break that cycle. But on that note, to try every possibility to avoid "head off" again...

Additional thoughts, I will NOT be putting a thermostat back in. Perhaps coolant flow around the block is not what it could be. With no thermostat there is a gaping hole from the head to the rad through which water can flow. With the thermostat in place (and even fully open) the water flow is quite restricted. Maybe that is why I bought the car with NO thermostat in it in the first place, because perhaps the previous owner had been through all of that already.

So thermostat staying out for good.

Probably will use her even more so as a fair weather car for shows etc.. rather than a daily driver. Still need to try to keep her going regularly, but more as a cherished classic car is normally used. (Shows and weekends etc..)

With  wry smile I am sure an early comment on this blog was something like I may have changed my mind after a winter! From August when I had just got the car and started this blog I stated:

"Today is another nice sunny day, have driven my daughter to her activities, she's still totally excited about the car and loves the fact that she can just lay across the back seat! The enjoyment and excitement of the kids has been enough for me to know I made the right choice, whether it lasts 10 years or 10 weeks there have already been enough positives to confirm that. (I'm interested myself to see what a post in the middle of a freezing winter might say... wait and see....)"

Well the original intention has changed for sure, some of the posts over winter were just depressing at times. But not overly unhappy about the outcome nearly 6 months in, after all I have ended up with a Classic Car, which is what I wanted. Just not quite as planned, but perhaps far more realistic. (as long as Becky keeps going OK, especially as has 108,000 miles on the clock)!!!

I think I'll make it past 10 MONTHs with her.. 10 years?.. We'll see.!!

Running again, again ... again?!!

So, as I have done it a few times now, re-fitting the head is relatively straightforward and can be achieved in an extended lunch hour - which I have done today. (Start work early, finish late - gives a bit of extra time in the middle of the day.) Impatience, plus a perfect day for it.

I had the inclination to take some photographs along the way. I also used the Hylomar red sealing compound across the weak spot. Just in case that helps matters. (cant see that it could HARM? hope not)

So stepped through re-assembly, still have to take care to not get carried away / rush. Easiest to make a slip when you THINK you are sure what you are doing!! But anyway. All back together and she's running again. And new valve stems seals which needed doing anyway.

The new problem of course is blowing exhaust manifold. Ever so slightly - you know it is there. Also had trouble with one of the manifold bolts, but then remembers that one thread is a bit suspect  and needs a spot on bolt in it to catch, and I had managed to get the combination exactly wrong!

But in summary - Amy is running again .. again. How long will it last? Don't know. I have a spare - reinforced gasket that I ordered specially. So depending on how long it lasts / what happens, then I have that in waiting.

(I mentioned impatience . I ordered a NOS gasket that I saw off ebay - that is the one I fitted. The reinforced one that I ordered turned up JUST as I had started the car up!!!) Oh well Only time will tell if that was a mistake or not.

Most importantly - Brooklands at weekend!!! (As long as it lasts that long!)

And here we go again!

Head off AGAIN. absolutely confirmed expectation. Same problem, although I now have ANOTHER problem that the manifold has cracked.

It must have happened a while ago, as the faces of the crack are BLACK from exhaust fumes. No issue on inlet manifold, hence I suppose that's why she still seemed to run fine. Will do a repair on that for now.

Also oil in pots.. BUT reason is obvious (no other issue with the gasket this time).. Valve stem seal issue for sure, as mentioned in a previous post.

Definitely valve stem seals. Took them all out, some valves were dripping with oil!!  Hopefully the result is shown clearly in the pics. All the seals were all mashed to some degree, some worse than others. So they have all been replaced, can't believe it was as simple as lubricating them before fitting.. duh .. I feel really stupid about that. So head is ready to go back on. Just awaiting the gasket. Had the patience to take a few pics this time.

 

Oh dear .. AGAIN!!

Should NEVER feel more settled about things!! I was hoping this post was going to be a jolly affair. Went down to visit parents for the first time since Christmas, plus the weather on Sunday 16th Feb was lovely. Perfect opportunity to get Amy out for a bit of a longer run.

Everything went to plan up to a point. She ran very smoothly all the way there. (mostly lane driving, about a mile and a half run on a main road where she gets opened up to 50mph and then back to lanes) Arrived very nicely, very little oil in the water remaining now, so all good. Very very smooth.

Weather held out, as it was forecasted to,and drove home in the sun, but could sense a loss of power in the last 5 miles or so. It was noticeable to me and the wife, and there was a faint noise that I recognised. But she soldiered on without too much trouble. Cruising was as smooth as ever. So it didn't spoil the journey.

But I was fairly sure what to expect, sure enough, when home. 2 & 3 cylinders down to half compression. Don't need to take the head off to know what has happened! The classic A40 problem strikes again!! At least after over 300 miles this time!!

So anyway, I have ordered new valve stem seals and a new manifold gasket from the club.

I have ordered a replacement, handmade, reinforced HEAD gasket that a couple of the other chaps have and swear by. So head gasket replacement number 3 coming up, when the bits arrive.

Target is 9th March for the Brooklands Austin / Morris day. Just depends on how quick a turnaround on receiving parts.

Bothered, yes of course, rather it had lasted!! But worried? Still not really as it is a known problem. I heard stories from others of the same problem with standard gaskets, so at this stage, this reinforced one should sort out my problem.. for longer than a couple of months at least!!! Maybe the original head gasket in the car when I got it was one of these reinforced ones, because she did a fair few hundred miles in the first place, the original problem was a burnt valve - NOT the head gasket.

ACCC - longer journey

Meet up with the local club guys once a month, it's one of the longer journey's I do in Amy. Only 25 mile round trip, but didn't do it last month due to heavy rain.

By some miracle, this month it was dry on the Tuesday afternoon / evening. So a nice run to get under belt, warmed her up first before setting off to ensure thermostat DID open up. Enjoyed a couple of nice pints and a bit of chat as usual.

Very pleasant drive, the headlights stayed on as well. Bonus!!

Touch wood, have had two months problem-free driving, albeit at much reduced mileage due to one thing and another. But feeling far more settled about it.

Heavy rain forecast AGAIN today, so Becky is out again, she was supposed to be the backup car, but has been used far more over Dec / Jan, due to the weather. Good little runaround though.

Brooklands Austin/Morris day on Sun 9th March. Pencil that in!!

Oil fading - good. Valve stem seals ?.. Seats??

The emulsion is dwindling, will probably still whip out the thermostat to inspect a bit closer and clean it up, there's bound to be some sludgy deposits in and around it, but also the lower temp (I put a 75 degree one back in, not the original 88 one) makes me feel safer. Mostly short journeys just in case, but the temp needle has come up after around 5 mins in each case.

Still, the positioning of the temp sender is a mystery to me!!! Maybe it's common, but the setup means that if you don't get a temperature reading at all it probably means your car is overheating due to a stuck thermostat!! At least when my Sierra had the same trouble, I KNEW it was overheated because the gauge was off the red.

I get the feeling I knackered one or two valve stem seals, to be honest I am not sure where they end up sitting and exactly HOW they stop oil dripping down the guides. But I am getting some oily bursts of smoke. Not the "worn piston ring" type of smoke puff, also compression still good. Seals I am sure of it, a couple of them were a bit ragged when I re-fitted, didn't realise the importance. This must be the trouble.

Another head job next year!!! But no biggie. Old hand at that now!!

Had first play with new seat covers, bases seem like they should be easy enough. Just need to plan and take care. Putting it off a little while longer, as with the electronic ignition conversion!! What else to say.. Crappy weather means infrequent journeys. Biggest floods since 1947 apparently. The Citroen is definitely playing her part. Very wise move.

Thermostat back in again

Since the coolant seems to be relatively free of oil now, have decided to re-fit thermostat. No totally sure about this. Wonder if it is really worth it. But in for a penny!!

Firstly drained the coolant again, rad tap is working now - so at least that is easier. Fixed that whilst doing the CH gasket for the second time.

Makes it much easier to also check things out. I'll be too nervous to just leave the thermostat in place now, without double checking it isn't getting clogged up like I assume happened the previous time.

Then pretty much clock work 10 minute job, no need to get proper tools out either. Just the basics. So only a small set of pictures. Same as last time really. First run has dragged some emulsion out of the system, but hoping that is the higher temperature clearing out more oil that was left behind. But as mentioned - will be checking! Don't want to blow her up again..

Still hoping I won't regret this.. Tempted to do a U-turn already after only one run!!