Jump to content

Renault 6TL "Crapaud"


vulgalour

Recommended Posts

Alternator bracket bolt, I spy another threaded hole at the back of the head on that side, manifold bolts

 

Failing that, the ever trusty length of seatbelt is a good way of threading something thin yet strong between gaps in brackets and manifolds.

 

Phil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am stumped so I'm posting this info on all the forums I use for this car.  This is going to be a simple fix but one that I can't figure out, I've just ended up confusing myself.

 

In the book it states there is a V mark on each of the sprockets the chain goes on.  My engine does not have these Vs or if it does they are so feint as to be essentially invisible.  Here is the helpful diagram (which is printed upside down for some reason)

20161129-01.jpg

 

Now, when I first timed this I did it to "the timing marks" as directed by the Haynes and got it wrong because I lined it up to the two marks I do have on the sprockets that being a dimple on the camshaft and a blob on the crank, as below.  The crank is at tdc when the blob is at the 10 o'clock position, piston nearest the timing chain is at the top when the blob is at 2 o'clock and at the bottom when it's at 8 o'clock.

 

20161129-02.jpg

 

20161129-03.jpg

 

If you line up as per the book instructions, taking the blob/dimple to be an alternative to the V marking, you cannot get a full revolution of the engine, presumably because a valve is touching a piston or something, I don't know.  I wasn't inclined to force it, I'm being very gently gently in my approach.  An internet hunt was futile, I could find info on how to time jet engines and ECU remaps but couldn't find anything to help me with this, I just ended up even more confused.

 

So now I'm cold and frustrated both with the job and myself.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why do they always show the engine upside down?  It helps me see what *should* be stamped on my engine components and is entirely missing, I guess it's another idiosyncracy of this little car.  Happily, a fix appeared sooner than anticipated!

 

---

Thanks to this post: https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=49883&start=150  I got the timing issue resolved.  I tried to take a video but... yeah.  I'm going to need a helper to either turn the engine or hold the camera.  And some better light.  But anyway, it's turning by hand, things go up and down in an organised fashion now and it seems much better.  It is, however, far too cold to do any more work in my poorly lit unheated little garage so a fuller update will have to wait.

 

To resolve, I removed the camshaft sprocket, unfastened the rocker bar enough that it as loose and turned the crankshaft until #1 was at TDC proper (not what I'd mistakenly called TDC, which was actually 90* out).  I then turned the camshaft independently to watch the valves, as per the instructions.  Once things were moving as they ought I checked the blob and dimple and they lined up as per the book.  Cautiously, I put everything back together and gave the engine a few turns and it turn perfectly fine with the valves doing their thing in an organised way now as far as I can tell.  I hope that means I've fixed it and I wonder if it was the rocker bar locking things as I'd not known or had forgotten that it shouldn't be tightened down until you've set the timing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love engine work but this engine frightens and confuses me.

 

The timing is so sloppy on it, so easy to make it a tooth or more out. Difficult or impossible to alter once the engine is in the car because it's slammed right up against the bulkhead.

 

The fact it'll turn by hand without locking up is a good sign, you'll know if it's 180 out because it'll likely run but sound like you poured pieces of cut up spanners into the sump.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mike, check it on the rock.

 

Put it at TDC on 1 and 4 by feeling through a plug hole to find top, then look at the rockers. One should be full closed and the other should be holding on the cam. Check by moving the crank a few degrees back and forward and look for the arms moving.

 

Edit - you've got an access hatch for adjusting timing now!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is, if I understand what I'm looking at, what it was doing.  I couldn't remember the rule you'd said when you were here so I'm glad you popped up and put that info here.  Mike's going to double-check my work before it goes back in the car, I really don't want to have to do this again even with my professional* timing chain access hatch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Things are getting all international.  I've got a new choke stop for the carb arriving from the Netherlands and a rebuild kit for the carb coming from Croatia after it was learned these things were needed.  My radiator that I've ordered from Germany was out of stock, they're trying to source me an alternative so who knows where that might come from (if at all)?

 

Mike had a look at the timing on the Renault and confirmed that it does appear to be correct so with nothing further I can do to be certain, the last few bits will get fitted ready for the engine to go in the car.

 

As far as I know, the fuel pump does bring fuel up from the tank, I know I have good oil pressure and compression and I know I have a spark which are all the necessary ingredients to have a running engine.

 

The plan is to finish putting the engine together which is little more than a fistful of bolts and a few jubilee clips now, pull the bodywork off which is a case of undoing some wires and a couple of bumper bolts, plonk the engine in the car and get it to fire up.  Once I know it's running I'll get the exhaust connected and the bodywork back on and once I know everything is working properly I'll order the tyres and book it in for an MoT.

 

With a bit of luck, this will happen this month before I go away for Chrimble (providing the Rover plays ball with the head gasket job this weekend).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love engine work but this engine frightens and confuses me.

 

The timing is so sloppy on it, so easy to make it a tooth or more out. Difficult or impossible to alter once the engine is in the car because it's slammed right up against the bulkhead.

 

The fact it'll turn by hand without locking up is a good sign, you'll know if it's 180 out because it'll likely run but sound like you poured pieces of cut up spanners into the sump.

If it is 180 out but the timing marks are lined up it won't matter at all...............it will just be firing on 4 not 1. All you need to do to fix this is move the leads around 180.

 

Mind you trying to start it 180 out will take the eyebrows of you assistant if he is peering into the carb to check if fuel is getting through......you get some good backfires through the carb!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

With the engine hopefully timed correctly now there was nothing more to do than get things buttoned up.  The weather has been changeable today so I got on with what I could before work while I had the chance.  I figured out how to dismantle the front end on my own without removing the bumper or having bits of the car cartwheel down the drive, which was something.  The key thing was pulling the face off, which was already unbolted just snagging on things because the weight of the bonnet was holding it when I tried to remove it.  Bonnet off and it was much easier to do, easier to store the two pieces separately too.

20161202-01.jpg

 

Then the fun task of putting the engine back together.  First off I had to slacken the bolts on the sump (which was a chore) so that I could get the rubber seal on the timing chain cover to sit in properly.  Bolt the cover up nice and tight and then retighten the sump (which was a chore again) and that was this end good to go.

20161202-03.jpg

 

Then I could do battle with the belts which is also a chore.  For the cam pulley to water pump belt you need to undo the cam pulley to jiggle the belt on and then tighten it all up again.  Having the tensioner now working did at least make putting tension on the belt easier.  Alternator belt was much easier as that's just a case of undoing the bolt holding the alternator so you can lift it, put the belt on and then effectively let the weight of the alternator tension the belt before tightening the bolt up again.  While I was working on this side I got jubilees on both of the fuel pump hoses and tightened up the jubilee for the radiator hose.  All the other hoses are easy to get to with the engine in the car.  I also put the spark plugs back in and put the rocker cover on properly.

20161202-02.jpg

 

With all that done, the only thing left to do before fitting the engine back in the car is to remove the steering rack.  It was too dark to see what I was doing and throwing it down so I'll do that bit tomorrow which is at least straight forward.  Plonked the bonnet on and called it a day.

20161202-04.jpg

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really want this little car to wake itself up under your ownership. Fingers crossed for you. As for the bodywork, I know you like the patina an' all, but have you considered giving it a decent layer of Ankor wax or something similar? Salt and shit on our roads is going to ravage those orange bits pretty rapidly otherwise...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really want this little car to wake itself up under your ownership. Fingers crossed for you. As for the bodywork, I know you like the patina an' all, but have you considered giving it a decent layer of Ankor wax or something similar? Salt and shit on our roads is going to ravage those orange bits pretty rapidly otherwise...

 

Ive read that linsead oil makes good 'patina preserving' protection on a yank site, but over this side of the Atlantic, the mount you'd be slatering on yr patinta'd ride might leave you  ending up like like some sort of 'fully clothed oiled up feftish'ist', while actually using the car, which might be of benefit if your a full time burglar , but a socially  challenged for all others outside that chosen career...

 

Great admiration for your perseverance n patience with this old motor, Vulgalour; have fingers crossed for you it'll be chugging about soon....fair play!! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The best products appear to be Ankor Wax, hard car wax and engine oil, depending on budget and how the vehicle is used.  All I've used on it so far is Turtle Wax, though it's overdue an application again since the last time I did it a few months ago.  I've not noticed a rapid deterioration of the bodywork while it's been sat outside idle so I suspect this will be a reasonable solution though you do look a little strange polishing a car like this.

 

Whenever I feel a bit exasperated by it I have to remind myself it's a 39 year old car that's spent 23 years off the road so it's not going to be an easy task getting it back into daily use.  Happily, we're very nearly there and there's a good chance I'll have it mechanically in one piece again this weekend... if the weather is kind.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My poor little blue trolley, it was never designed to cope with my bullshit.

20161203-01.jpg

 

It gained that war wound gallantly transporting the Renault's engine and gearbox to the engine bay so it could be battled into position.  A late start and short days meant I didn't get as far as some and had to press on after darkness had fallen.  Mike helped fight the last few bolts and such into place and Nugget the Corsa illuminated the scene.

20161203-02.jpg

 

It is in.  Finally.  There's one stubborn balljoint nut that won't be sensible *spinspinspin* and tbh, it was getting difficult to see what I was doing.  Engine mounts and gearbox mounts need tightening up and the various ancillaries plumbing in so a test run can be attempted.  All of these are jobs for tomorrow if the weather continues to be agreeable.

 

It's got to get easier from here, right?  It's just got to.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...