Six Cylinders Motoring Notes - a Workshop Day Today

[kirton]

On 5/30/2019 at 11:18 AM, Six-cylinder said:

A few years ago Tesco Buckingham managed to put petrol in their underground diesel tank and Buckingham was littered with dead diesel cars 1-3 miles away, including my friend with a Passat that had to be transported before the fuel system was cleaned out.

But Mrs6C pootled about all day in the 1.9d zx which didn't care about it... 

I can confirm that a ZX  1.9d will run quite happily on a tank of  1/3rd petrol to 2/3rds diesel (there was a pity of praying involved)

[Six-cylinder]

Do I detect foul play, has Bucketeer deliberately broken off the VP tail pipe so I have to fit a Cherry bomb!

[chaseracer]

You know it makes sense!

[SiC]

Are those sort of parts readily available for the Gamma? What is the parts situation like for classic Italian stuff, as good as BL?

[Six-cylinder]

21 minutes ago, SiC said:

Are those sort of parts readily available for the Gamma? What is the parts situation like for classic Italian stuff, as good as BL?

I have been in touch with the club who are really the only UK source of spares, they are hopeful but need some time to look them out.

[Six-cylinder]

I told you Bucketeer was up to something!

[Andyrew]

That mis match fuel cap is a thing of beauty. 

I hope in that picture he is fitting a cherry bomb in place. 

[The Moog]

He is on a mission to convert everyone to the joys of noise

[Tadhg Tiogar]

1 hour ago, Six-cylinder said:

I have been in touch with the club who are really the only UK source of spares, ..

That, in a sense, indicates just how ill-catered for the car is in this country, especially the berlines.

[Six-cylinder]

56 minutes ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

That, in a sense, indicates just how ill-catered for the car is in this country, especially the berlines.

13 taxed Gammas in the UK it is not a surprise that spares are difficult. 

[Mrs6C]

If new valves are available, I'd be inclined to fit new all round... save having to do all this again in future..

[Six-cylinder]

I broke down again today!

Sort of self inflicted, I ran out of petrol. In my defence I always manage 1 hour 15 mins on a tank, today I ran out after 1 hour 10 mins. 

[Six-cylinder]

I did get the grass cut so here are a couple of glamour shots with my favourite model, whether you like it or not!

[Six-cylinder]

8 hours ago, Andyrew said:

That mis match fuel cap is a thing of beauty. 

 

Did I mention at a recent Allegro outing the club spares guy presented me with a single small aerosol of Damask red!

[Tadhg Tiogar]

1 hour ago, Six-cylinder said:

I did get the grass cut so here are a couple of glamour shots with my favourite model, whether you like it or not!

 

Only saw one - ONE! - Visa at the Coventry event yesterday.

[somewhatfoolish]

On 5/31/2019 at 1:56 PM, Six-cylinder said:

Valve head broke off, not sure a why. It did get a bit warm when the fan switch failed but never really sizzling. They are sodium filled valves so maybe its time had just come. 

The broken end of the valve stem is embedded into the value seat area.

Sodium-cooled valves do seem to have a finite life, far more fatigue-prone than solid ones; given the relatively low state of tune are cooled valves even needed?

[Tadhg Tiogar]

36 minutes ago, somewhatfoolish said:

Sodium-cooled valves do seem to have a finite life, far more fatigue-prone than solid ones; given the relatively low state of tune are cooled valves even needed?

See also Citroën SM, etc.

[somewhatfoolish]

Sodium-cooled valves seem a bit more expected in a Maserati V6 though,

[LightBulbFun]

I know higher spec versions of the engine used in the Model 70 also had Sodium cooled valves

im curious is it literally metallic sodium in them? because thats a very reactive metal, so im curious how they go about putting it in there etc (reactive to the point where it can be explosive on contact with water)

so id imagine sodium filled valves+HGF=a bad day! (it certainly makes disposal of dead/damaged Low pressure sodium lamps fun!)

[Tadhg Tiogar]

I thought sodium = salt! And I thought salt helps to corrode?

[LightBulbFun]

5 minutes ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

I thought sodium = salt! And I thought salt helps to corrode?

nah salt is sodium chloride and does not really have much in the way of cooling properties AFAIK?

elemental sodium is far nastier then then sodium chloride I can tell you that much!

[somewhatfoolish]

The sodium is metallic and it is inside the valve; they're made with hollow stems, the sodium is put in(presumably under an inert atmosphere) and the collet end welded on.

[wuvvum]

I sold my Gamma to a chap who wanted the engine to put in a kit car he was building which was designed for an Alfa flat-4.  I thought at the time that using the Gamma was a brave choice - maybe the spares situation was better back then (15 years ago), although I rather doubt it.

[richardmorris]

18 hours ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

I thought sodium = salt! And I thought salt helps to corrode?

 

[Asimo]

Sorry to read of the Gamma's engine failure.  You may have just experienced the infamous timing belt snatch. Timing doesnt need to be far out before piston knocks head of valve sideways and clank......

I hope a head turns up quickly.  The cylinder liners are said to sink in these engines, make sure they are checked before reassembly, while the heads off etc.

[Six-cylinder]

The BX has lost its head today, but the engineering shop it has been taken to for pressure test and skim can't start it until the end of next week.

[Six-cylinder]

Self powered mobile wine rack added to fleet!

[SiC]

Soooo.... which vehicle are we seeing at the weekend?

[Six-cylinder]

Surprise or reveal?

Does this give you a clue!

[Mrs6C]

25 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

Self powered mobile wine rack added to fleet!

Mine... mine... mine... mine... mine... mine...