SENATOR-Gone!

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Excellent news - I look forward to the pictures!

[DSdriver]

Dropping stuff in an engine bay can be a right mare if the car has an undertray. I thought I would have to buy a new big green knob for the battery disconnector on the DS yesterday, visions of a similar situation to a few years ago when I dropped a rotor arm and didn't get it back until I removed the engine (for other reasons). Fortunately the bright greenness saved the day once I had found a torch and there was the little bugger inside the radiator fan cowl.

All these words just to say that I feel your pain. Have you had it running yet?

[Junkman]

Thread title made me fear this for a second.

 

[Royale80]

Dropping stuff in an engine bay can be a right mare if the car has an undertray. I thought I would have to buy a new big green knob for the battery disconnector on the DS yesterday, visions of a similar situation to a few years ago when I dropped a rotor arm and didn't get it back until I removed the engine (for other reasons). Fortunately the bright greenness saved the day once I had found a torch and there was the little bugger inside the radiator fan cowl.

All these words just to say that I feel your pain. Have you had it running yet?

 

No-tightened up the head bolts and gave up for the day-needed a fresh mind!

it will need a few more hours yet-all the water pipes, exhaust pipes, electrical connections and rocker arms.

 

Steve

[tooSavvy]

Then the splined socket came off dropping into the head

Slightly OT but... I did my 4 plugs the other day and had to buy a 16mm PlugSocket. It held the plug in a rubber guide but it gripped the plug harder than the extension could pull the socket off = socket stuck in plug tube

 

I binned the rubber guide and lowered the plugs down the tube with my 'magic magnetic extender' then tighten 'em in

 

The magnetic tip is gr9 for retrieval of wayward junk!

 

 

TS

[Royale80]

I definately need one of those magnetic retrieval things-Ive got two of the claw ones but they are useless.

 

Ended up magnetizing a screwdriver using my magnetic bits holder.

 

Steve

 

Ps

I then used self amalgamating tape to "bond" the spline bit to the socket.

i

I

[mercrocker]

Thread title made me fear this for a second.

 

 

 

That's nearly as disturbing as my thinking that Trump had appointed The Clash's drummer to the White House..... 

[Royale80]

Rockers and tappets being put in tonight. Chain sprocket last night- a bit of a pain as the camshaft was not perfectly aligned for the slot on the sprocket. Managed in the end with the help of a longer bolt (to locate the sprocket-later replaced with normal bolt)  and all timing marks are aligned.

 

Steve

[Sir Snipes]

I changed all the lifters on Manta years ago as it was a little noisy on tickover. Made no difference but seems I got away lucky. I never had any idea the cams were such a weakponit for the CIH.

[Royale80]

Picture oh progress so far-head on tappets and rockers in. "Only"  need to connect up pipes and wires and set the rockers with engine running and it's finished.

 

[Royale80]

Evening all,

Had a good go today with my "wonderful" Senator. Even managed to start it.

 

Started to adjust the rockers with the engine running and the oil started to turn a lovely shade lightish brown.

 

Looks like I either pinched the head gasket putting it on or the "O" ring that sits on the head moved.

 

I'll leave it a few months (to get my interest back!)and get my Royale going. I'll try and get it under the car port as more room as well.

 

Onwards and downwards

 

Steve

[Guest Lord Sward]

Shit.  Sorry to hear that.

[Royale80]

It's only a car-worst thing was I changed the oil and filter before starting it!

 

Steve

[Royale80]

A photo! Nice and smooth though running on 6 not 5!

 

[CreepingJesus]

Happy days!

I remember a bunch of us trooping mob handed into the workshop to do just that: lift a Senny head off (a 24v too!). In the end we left it to one of the fitters, who was a competition power lifter, quite a big lad, and even he struggled a bit.

Chocolate camshaft was quite common on Vauxhall Opel OHCs, I always assumed it was just that: poor quality case hardening.

[Royale80]

Round 2!

 

A bit more room now.

 

[Royale80]

Thought I'd have a "quick" look at the Senator after I got home. Two hours later I ended up with this.

 

 

I'm getting good at this-must be the practise.

 

One problem I saw was a hole blocked with sealant (wont be using it again!)

 

 

No other obvious faults-"O" ring was in place

 

 

I'm thinking too much paste and the fact I couldn't do the head bolts up for at least an hour as I dropped the splined socket into the head.

 

another pic

 

 

steve

[Junkman]

I have never ever seen anyone use sealant for a head gasket. That can't work properly.

[Royale80]

Thanks Junkman!

I won't be using any next time (there is a new head gasket under it). When I was a kid watching my Uncle and his friend home mechancking - they always used the old heamatite red-I definitely won't be using it next time.

 

Steve

[Captain Furious]

Yep, using sealant on head gaskets is a definite no-no

 

On the sort of plus side, at least you have a definite reason why it's failed first time round. Bang it on with a new clean gasket and you should be good to go

[Isaac Hunt]

Fair play for getting stuck in for round two. If having to do a job twice peeesice you off as much as it does me, you are mighty peiced.

 

I'm with the chaps, Defo dry on a headgasket. I always used to use hylomar on thin paper rocker gaskets until it didn't work, so I moved to hermatite red, better but still not good. Then an ex RAC patrolman said 'use grease' on the paper rocker gasket, brilliant. Don't use grease on a OMGHGF though

[Bren]

I have seen hylomar used on austin engines around the corners of the gasket - but only the corners.

[Jimbo]

I have also seen hylomar used on vhall 2279cc slant engine head gaskets on clubman rally engines. I think it acted as a lubricant as much as a sealant due to it being non setting.

[tooSavvy]

Blob of BlooHylomar goes on the IMP 'o ring', oil way seal, which is fitted in a hole in the OMGHGF*

 

*guaranteed

 

 

TS

[Royale80]

Yep-my fault!

I was given advice just to smear around the corners as Bren said, but went " slightly" overboard. Will send for a HG today and will also get a chain block from ebay to lower it down slowly. It,s a very heavy lump- bit like me!

 

Anyway- if anyone wants a hand getting a CIH head off- I'm your man- just no good at putting it back on!

 

No sealant this time!!!!!

 

Thanks again

 

Steve

 

Ts

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

If you can wait a few days, I would recommend you get the head skimmed - just a 5 thou shave to make it perfect.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Have you cleaned up the block & head faces with fine wet n dry as well? They don't look particularly clean in the pics.

[Royale80]

They are not at the moment-all the left over sealant and gasket are still on-waiting for a new HG and I've ordered a chain block to lower it 0n-might be done on the weekend.

I've got the wet n dry waiting!

 

Thanks

 

Steve

[Des]

Best not use any kind of sandpaper, scraper only, unless you have a preference for a blue tinge to your exhaust gas in which case work away. 

[Royale80]

Scraper only it is!!!