Grogee's spannering (Puma, Maestro , Corsa & Avensis). MAESTRO MALAISE

[Mr Pastry]

50 minutes ago, grogee said:

I get this, but it's nearly impossible to get my eyes level with the block to see if there's daylight under a straight edge. 

Also, if the block isn't flat, I won't like that answer. 

A couple of things.

Use a feeler gauge or even a bit of paper or thin card under the straight edge.  Which of course works on the head also.     

When you have the head off - before you take the valves out, check with paraffin in the ports that they are actually sealing.  They should be if you have ground them in, but you need to know definitely.

Was the misfire evident when you first started it up, or has it developed since?

 

 

[Cluffy]

Use feeler gauges? Sure you have some in stores or borrow mine?

Likely you've already done. If so, as you were....

[grogee]

I've checked block and there is no apparent banana-ing that I can detect. However there is pitting on areas of the block around the coolant channels, but not near the rings which seal the combustion chambers. There is no way of getting rid of this without a mill and a fly cutter so I'm going to live with it. 

I have been On A Journey as far as O-Series family tree is concerned. I was blithely assuming that all blocks and heads were basically the same, and I've successfully ordered parts for other cars (eg Rover 2000 and Freight Rover manifold gaskets) that fit just fine. 

Delving a little deeper I have found that head gaskets differ, at least between FWD and RWD cars and possibly even between FWD car derivatives. 

Part of my previous HG woes may well have been because I've been trying to fit the wrong gasket. 

The gasket in the plastic film is for a Sherpa/LDV and you can see the oil way and coolant channels don't match up. 

Fortunately I have a gasket listed for MG Maestro and Rover 800 (bASe models of which used O-series) coming. 

Whisper it, but I've also smeared a bit of sealant around the block where the pitting is apparent. This is a big Haynes no-no and must not ever be done under any circumstances. 

I wonder if it'll work? 

[Jenson Velcro]

I’ve used JB Weld to fill some slight pitting in the block mating surface before. Worked well

[grogee]

Gasket arrived today (thanks, Royal Snail). I've bunged it straight on and have bolted most things back into place but it started drizzling plus Master Grogee needs feeding so I've stopped for now. 

I'll be doing a compression test before anything else because it'll be interesting to see if the compression is improved and maybe it'll change after getting hot/being run. 

It also has the added benefit of getting the oil pressure up before firing it up properly. 

It'll be nice if I can get a healthy running car back but I'm skeptical after all this fucking about. Plan C would be to source an engine. I did find one for £75 but it's in Pompey, plus there's the added faff of needing to get hold of an engine crane. 

[Matty]

8 minutes ago, grogee said:

Gasket arrived today (thanks, Royal Snail). I've bunged it straight on and have bolted most things back into place but it started drizzling plus Master Grogee needs feeding so I've stopped for now. 

I'll be doing a compression test before anything else because it'll be interesting to see if the compression is improved and maybe it'll change after getting hot/being run. 

It also has the added benefit of getting the oil pressure up before firing it up properly. 

It'll be nice if I can get a healthy running car back but I'm skeptical after all this fucking about. Plan C would be to source an engine. I did find one for £75 but it's in Pompey, plus there's the added faff of needing to get hold of an engine crane. 

You've found a smoking gun there surely. Wrong head gasket. It'll be reet now.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, grogee said:

Gasket arrived today (thanks, Royal Snail). I've bunged it straight on and have bolted most things back into place but it started drizzling plus Master Grogee needs feeding so I've stopped for now. 

I'll be doing a compression test before anything else because it'll be interesting to see if the compression is improved and maybe it'll change after getting hot/being run. 

It also has the added benefit of getting the oil pressure up before firing it up properly. 

It'll be nice if I can get a healthy running car back but I'm skeptical after all this fucking about. Plan C would be to source an engine. I did find one for £75 but it's in Pompey, plus there's the added faff of needing to get hold of an engine crane. 

 

IIRC a shitely from the Pompey area might be available - or was that today?

[grogee]

Sitrep:

Good

Even compression across the board, 120-125psi. That was before it had ran, so everything was 'dry'. 

Ran and idled well

No exhaust blow

Bad

Coolant seeping out from between block and head

White stuff appearing in coolant

Next steps 

K-Seal. 

Then, new (used) engine. 

@High Jetter the Shitely is a good suggestion but an engine is a bastard thing to transport. Pompey is about 2 hours from here on a good run so it's not the worst collection. 

[High Jetter]

@Kiltox has or had a colectshun in that vicinity, mayb 2 late

[grogee]

Went to Asda (about 6 miles away) for a test run in the Maestro with Master Grogee as co-pilot. 

Parked up and thought, "safety first, let's get the crook lock on". As I clicked it on I realised I have the wrong set of keys which don't have the crook lock key... 

So we're waiting for @Cluffyto rescue me, he's popped into our house to get the correct set of keys.

Here's Master Grogee attempting to 'pick' the lock, and a bonus 5c3n3 VW Golf in the Asda car park.