My PVS Fail!

[Ash]

Just got back from PVS.... well, OK the M4 just west of Swindon.

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5654/07062008673sr5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/2093/07062008674pf9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Epic head gasket fail!

Gone between cylinder 3 and one water way. The other 3 cylinders have low compression too....

The nice people at RAC got me home safe tho. Top service.

[Nick]

Gutted to hear that :(

Looks good btw :)

[tom_beverley]

Terrible news Ash, whats happening then, are you still going tomorrow?

[ANDYRACER]

Its only an 8 valve, you can have it changed in an hour.

Crack on and get back out there! :cool:

[Saloony]

Ceral box, silicone sealer and that'll get you there lol

[twistysnovagte]

unlucky pal happens to the best of us:(

[Ash]

lol all the motor factors and Vauxhall were close by the time I got back. Might fashion something out of sticky-back plastic and loo rolls tho...

Cheers Nick, there some updates for my project thread soon to.

Dunno about tomorrow yet, it's a long way and I'm quite knackered already. Probably will tbh, it's going to be a good show for the nova.

[7ova]

unlucky mate, i'm sure there will be a few more
nova's on the side of the road tomorrow :cry:

hope mines not :D

[NovaLad]

What a kick in the balls.

I wonder how many novas actually broke down on the way to pod this year lol.

[Ash]

Slightly worried. Just been sorting through pics and found this:

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7279/dsc00717wy6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This was a year ago to the day, almost the hour! and the only other time I've ever broken down

(It's a pug 305 btw, my old uni hack - awesome car tho)

[Clean 2.0 nova]

unlucky mate, i'm sure there will be a few more
nova's on the side of the road tomorrow :cry:

hope mines not :D

I wonder If the AA have put on more patrols tommorrow for all these extra nova's on the road.lol

I took mine out of the garage for what was going to be a little gentle run (didn't want anything to break before PV). Unfortunately having a 2.0L in a nova and gentle run don't go together and I ended up overtaking everything I saw. No problems to report though luckily. I don't mind breaking down on the way back from PV - well it saves on petrol getting towed!

[meritlover]

oh poor Ash, i wish you well on your speedy repair.

[~~joycey~~]

Slightly worried. Just been sorting through pics and found this:

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7279/dsc00717wy6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This was a year ago to the day, almost the hour! and the only other time I've ever broken down

(It's a pug 305 btw, my old uni hack - awesome car tho)

Thats well random :eek:

[General Baxter]

FAIL lol

[Ash]

Been speaking to a few people today and found out why my head gasket went.... now please remember I built this car to learn about these things.

I didn't re-torque the head bolts after the engine got warm. Weather I just didn't read that bit or I may of read the ARP touquing up procedure, but with the proper torques, I don't know :confused: but Vauxhall sorted me out with the new gasket and bolt, but also nicked £46 from my bank. Heads coming off tomorrow and being checked off and poss skimmed again.

Be driving it by the weekend???

[General Baxter]

thats why mine went last week lol

kept pressurising the water and blowing pipes off lol

[Ash]

Stripped down the engine tonight, expecting just a gap in the head gasket....

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9838/10062008676mv3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Head appears fine, but will be checked over throughly!

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5135/10062008678ar8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Big valve goodness :cool:

and now the block, anyone spot anything?

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/1703/10062008679fw4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Maybe closer?

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8287/10062008680th5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Oh Noes, melted piston FAIL!

Appears to be caused by water slowly seeping in and getting rather hot. Already have new pistons, believed to be cossie/Group A ones. Just a headache and ballache of sorting it out. Don't think it will be at any shows this year, let alone track :cry:

Dishearted, but laughing. Its all part of the learning process ;)

[meritlover]

oh dear, i hope your bores are ok!
at least the engine wont have to come out

[big gra]

thats one for the fire-place trophy!!

[burgo]

sexy head

[Ernie]

if you had called us when you broke down you could of left the car at mine as i live in swindon then sorted it out once we had got back.
Mum would of made you a cup of tea aswel.
Good luck with the re/build fella.

[craig green]

Dang! Thats worse than you thought then?

Could the issues be fuel related seeing as your carbs werent all that special prior to having them rebuilt?

Refund on the tax, get her rebuilt for TRAX.

[Ash]

Mr Lover - Bores seem OK - a little rough maybe. That piston has melted onto the bore but should be easily removed with a honing tool apperantly.

Cheers Burgo ;)

Kind offer and cheers Ernie, hopefully wont be too long about...

CG - I'm begining to think it is fuel related. It was over fueling like mad before the setup, since its been done and driven, its done 170miles to 1/2 of fuel! sound right on my engine!?! My 1.2 didn't even do that!

If anyone could help me diagnose the problem then would be great help. Beer avaliable ;)

What do I do about my pistons then? Should I change all 4? or just replace the bust one? Do I fit the higher C/R ones? Forged ones from USA are only £260.... (must budget, must budget, must budget, must budget, must budget)

[chimp007_uk]

170miles for 1/2 a tank seems quite alot... that will def be lean and your cause.
Honing tools are cheap, and as long as the bore isnt badly pitted you should be grand.
I say change all 4 and get it r/r tuned :)

[Ash]

Cheer for the reply :)
That what I thought, you've confirmed my suspicons anyway.
Already got a honing tool from when I did it before, may need new 'pads' tho.

Probably best to change all 4, but where do you buy them from? Rough cost? Worth going forged or uprated?

R/R was going to be done on the 20th D'oh!

[craig green]

I say bang in one new piston & get on with it, get a summer out of her.

Just get the carbs looked at, A friend of my GF's father is a carb wizard where webers are concerned. He tuned her Dads 1600 (vaux) westfield on webers. He's here in Bridgwater so not too far.

[Adam]

Its on no3 cylinder too, which always seems to be the first to fail when lean for some reason.

[Ash]

hahahaaha! Vauxhall want £125 per piston! You can guess where I told them to put that! lol

Not taking any risks, the block is going to be stripped down, decked, bored and rebuilt. 4 new pistons, hopefully forged if matey comes back with the price he thought ;)

No 3 always seems to run hotter than most, dunno why tho. I recon if I'd kept on main jets (basically give it dead) then it would probably not of happened :roll: lol

[Adam]

What jets were you running it on? Just some random ones that came with the carb?

[Ash]

I saved it off ebay a long while back.
32 chokes;
125 mains;
F16 emulsions;
180 air correctors
45F9 idle;
40 pump
150 needle valve

Or if going for a Dan spec 1600 8v, 34mm chokes and 135 main.

I went Dan spec ;)

I recon the idle jets or emulsion tubes were too small

[Adam]

Hmm, those idle and emulsions are what most people use tbh.