Good and bad news folks...

Good News:)

The temp sender for the Gauge works

The switch for the Fan works...

Bad News:mad::(

Radiator is toast- bottom is buckled and leaking

Small amount of Mayo under the filler cap...

Suffice to say, Woodie almost boiled himself on Sunday night. Rad is pi$$ing out coolant, and appears to be Mayo under the cap.

Initial plan is

Order new rad (done)

Order Headgasket (done)

then

1. Remove old rad, check all mountings and fit fan etc onto new Rad.

2. Refit new Rad.

3. Remove Rocker cover, coolant pipes and thermostat, and clean them all out.

4. drain oil and replace oil filter

5. Replace filter and refill oil.

6. Refit coolant pipes and fill coolant/bleed system

7. Run car and check for mayo.

If none found after a week or so, sigh with relief.

If mayo found, time to do the Headgasket.

does anyone have any tips or comments re this operation?

Neil

**Update Pg 2**

:eek:

ouch

:eek:

ouch

Amen!:thumbdwn:

I'd recommend that K-Seal stuff too

I'd recommend that K-Seal stuff too

thats whats keeping my 325i running:thumbup:(prev owner put it in!)

but TBH- would rather do the Headgasket on it and do it right!

I know Niel, I was being ironic

It probably didn't do the thermostat much good either...

Do it right

I know Niel, I was being ironic

It probably didn't do the thermostat much good either...

Do it right

But i'm still hoping not to have to do the H/G

have you done one on the mpi lump?

Not on a Felly, no. I've done many headgaskets, both pushrod & ohc. though no injection motor ever :eek:

Last h/g I did was a 1048 Polo ohc & the only reason it didn't run properly first kick (took 105 minutes) was I'd left a vac hose off the carb

Not on a Felly, no. I've done many headgaskets, both pushrod & ohc. though no injection motor ever :eek:

Last h/g I did was a 1048 Polo ohc & the only reason it didn't run properly first kick (took 105 minutes) was I'd left a vac hose off the carb

the Mpi lump in Woodie is a pushrod job, aint it?

take it that means that the timing chain etc wont need disturbed!

I have found mayo under my filler cap a few days in a row after sitting over night... but after a long run to manchester there wans't any there yesterday or today... so must just have been the damp and cold weather.

Bad news about radiator etc.

Hope its not the head gasket mate... time will tell... is there any oil in the coolant??

That's right

Keep all the pushrods in order too (they wear on each end to fit the adjusters & cam followers, plus you'll have minimal valve adjustment to do after unless you go whole hog & regrind the valves too - can make a difference to how well the engine runs.

I have found mayo under my filler cap a few days in a row after sitting over night... but after a long run to manchester there wans't any there yesterday or today... so must just have been the damp and cold weather.

Bad news about radiator etc.

Hope its not the head gasket mate... time will tell... is there any oil in the coolant??

Cheers Phil. Woodie's smallest regular run is 20 miles, so he doesnt do condensation normally.

as for the "oil in the coolant"-I would check, but there's no coolant:rofl:

I know what you mean though- the expansion bottle seems clean-none on the cap and hoses look fairly clear

the 1.3 is prone to head gasket going. i say do it now.

i had one go bang properly at 90mph, sure wished i'd done it when it first showed signs.

the 1.3 is prone to head gasket going. i say do it now.

i had one go bang properly at 90mph, sure wished i'd done it when it first showed signs.

Ouch- so do I need new Head bolts to rebuild it?

That's right

Keep all the pushrods in order too (they wear on each end to fit the adjusters & cam followers, plus you'll have minimal valve adjustment to do after unless you go whole hog & regrind the valves too - can make a difference to how well the engine runs.

Yeah, got a shoebox ready to have 8 holes poked through it...

Valve clearances were due to be done- depends what state the valves are in when head comes off...

Yes new head bolts, they stretch and are torqued down then turned two quarter turns more (I think) in the same pattern as torquing them down.

You'll get two jobs done at the same time (I'd be really tempted to lap the valves too if you have the time.)

Yes new head bolts, they stretch and are torqued down then turned two quarter turns more (I think) in the same pattern as torquing them down.

You'll get two jobs done at the same time (I'd be really tempted to lap the valves too if you have the time.)

lap the valves on a 78k lump?

mind you, it is driven like we stole it!

Of course! If mine had gone pop I'd still do the valves & mine's 72k

A quick once over with fine paste & a light decoke/polish too. You know it'll be right then.

What's an extra hour or so when you have peace of mind and your car's running more efficiently?

Remember that if you get a head set rather than just the gasket & odd seals, you get valve oil seals too.

Of course! If mine had gone pop I'd still do the valves & mine's 72k

A quick once over with fine paste & a light decoke/polish too. You know it'll be right then.

What's an extra hour or so when you have peace of mind and your car's running more efficiently?

Remember that if you get a head set rather than just the gasket & odd seals, you get valve oil seals too.

Whats an extra hour if you're in a mates garage, doing it for your brother who wants his car, and you have eleventyhundred other things to do:rofl:

Not on a Felly, no. I've done many headgaskets, both pushrod & ohc. though no injection motor ever :eek:

Last h/g I did was a 1048 Polo ohc & the only reason it didn't run properly first kick (took 105 minutes) was I'd left a vac hose off the carb

I't not much different on the fuel injection, well at least the SPI, from what I understand, although I have never messed with a carb engine. You just have to depressurise the fuel system, pull fuel pump fuse and run engine till it cuts out. Didn't do this with the scrap-bound Favorit I took a head off, but it had been stood 2 years and the battery was well gone.

As for forgetting connections, could be a good idea to put labels on things as you remove them, or even better corresponding labels on each pipe/tube and where it is connected to.

As I understand it you can take head off with intake and exhaust manifolds attatched. I took them off because I couldn't get the exhaust down pipe off :( so just left the exhaust manifold attatched to the down pipe resting on the bottom bit of the engine lol.

Before rushing for the head gasket get a pressure test done, this will confirm whether or not it's gone and between which cylinders. I would avoid putting a new radiator in before changing the HG if the HG is suspect as it will send oil and crap into the new radiator.

For the head bolts use a long wheel brace and halfords sell a 10mm 1/2" drive hex bit for about £6 or 7. It'll take a lot of effort and make a sound as each one starts to turn, if my experience is anything to go by.

I wonder if doing things like renewing the valve stem oil seals is a good thing to do while it's all in pieces? Only thing is compressing those valve springs I guess.

Didn't spend long looking but here's a compression tester.

Toolsnstuff: Draper 37442 PETROL ENGINE COMPRESSION TESTER Plug And Engine Tool

Looks a good price but postage is £7.50 but I admit I haven't looked around for cheaper. Not sure what thread the spark plugs are..... Hmmm.

Compression Tester - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys

If you didn't have sufficient anti-freeze in, i.e. topped up with water only, it could be that the water froze and burst the radiator?

I't not much different on the fuel injection, well at least the SPI, from what I understand, although I have never messed with a carb engine. You just have to depressurise the fuel system, pull fuel pump fuse and run engine till it cuts out. Didn't do this with the scrap-bound Favorit I took a head off, but it had been stood 2 years and the battery was well gone.

As for forgetting connections, could be a good idea to put labels on things as you remove them, or even better corresponding labels on each pipe/tube and where it is connected to.

As I understand it you can take head off with intake and exhaust manifolds attatched. I took them off because I couldn't get the exhaust down pipe off :( so just left the exhaust manifold attatched to the down pipe resting on the bottom bit of the engine lol.

Before rushing for the head gasket get a pressure test done, this will confirm whether or not it's gone and between which cylinders. I would avoid putting a new radiator in before changing the HG if the HG is suspect as it will send oil and crap into the new radiator.

For the head bolts use a long wheel brace and halfords sell a 10mm 1/2" drive hex bit for about £6 or 7. It'll take a lot of effort and make a sound as each one starts to turn, if my experience is anything to go by.

I wonder if doing things like renewing the valve stem oil seals is a good thing to do while it's all in pieces? Only thing is compressing those valve springs I guess.

Hmm, that may be a plan- Pressure test is a good idea.I've got a 1/2 hex drive etc lying about.

Valve stem seals will be left alone- its not using oil, and I dont want to touch the valvetrain if possible.

As for doing it before replacing rad-I'll see how it looks when rocker cover comes off- if it aint too oily at all, and comp test shows no indication.. then I may just leave it alone.

Whats an extra hour if you're in a mates garage, doing it for your brother who wants his car, and you have eleventyhundred other things to do:rofl:

fair enough!

fair enough!

was only being flippant;)

hopefully have time to do it properly:D

was only being flippant;)

hopefully have time to do it properly:D

I know:) Simple test: when the head's off, pour some petrol into the combustion chambers and if it leaks out even just a tiny bit, do the valves. It is more than an hour job in reality and friends garage space & time isn't ones own. Great of him to give you that opportunity.

I know:) Simple test: when the head's off, pour some petrol into the combustion chambers and if it leaks out even just a tiny bit, do the valves. It is more than an hour job in reality and friends garage space & time isn't ones own. Great of him to give you that opportunity.

not a bad tip that!

got the bolts ordered today, so alls well.

as for mate- I was in his garage last weekend doing the brakes on his Missus 03 plate micra, so I'm a popular fellow at the moment:thumbup: