Blew the rad,and the headgasket!!

[harveyp6]

Hi Dave

Well, I've never heard of a moved or cracked liner on a 3.5. There's always a first of course,

In all the ones I've had dealings with I've only seen one dropped liner, and that had dropped by about 1/8". S*d's Law meant I sold it to be rebult and put in a Series landie V8 conversion and when it came apart they found it. Still I got them another one and sold the parts off the one with the dropped liner. If it had been sold as a runner to fit straight in we'd never have known as it didn't exhibit any symptoms at all.

 

[Pilkie]

What I really need is a mechanics inspection camera/endoscope so I can have a look inside to see where its leaking from!
As I normally treat myself to a prezzie for Xmas,maybe this will be what I buy!

 

[chrisyork]

I'm still a bit concerned about the focus on liners here. It happens to be one of RPi's hobby-horses, with some reason on the 4.6, but this is a 3.5 and I'd prefer to see some data on how common head defects are. Since it is now tied down to one cylinder, I do agree it is unlkely to be inlet manifold.

There's still the matter of the cam wear to explain tapping noises and we don't have a clear idea what state the potential replacement engine is in.

I think my prescription remains buy a bottle and use the spare time bought to have a look at the cam in the spare engine. Once the state of that is known, then a repair plan for whichever engine can be made.

You really don't want to be using the TR as daily driver for any length of time!

Chris

 

[Pilkie]

Copied from a lengthy discussion on another forum,giving a basic way to diagnose the liner fault!

""Unless the engine has been run for a long time then the visual symptoms are not obvious and the visuals could also be that of a leaking head gasket......... pressurizing of the coolant system (particularly evident in the top hose), and a header tank that smells like an old exhaust pipe..............
Probably the safest check is a compression test............... if the compressions are more or less OK, then suspect a liner to block problem................ if the compression on one or two cylinders are way down then suspect a head gasket problem!!"

Seems thats what I have!
It is a rare occurance as the 3.5 block has thicker ally casting than the 3.9's etc,but it can happen.
It could be that the tapping is the tappets and not the liner,but water still oozing up the liner side!
Ive decided that I am going to buy myself a snake camera for Xmas,and have a good look inside when its hot and under pressure!
Now to decide which camera is best,and can I find,buy one,in the Bristol area today??
And NO!!
I really dont want to be using the TR very much in this weather,especially as its damp,and there is now salt on the roads!!

 

[mrtask]

The chap I bought my now departed organ donor '73 P6 from had fitted a rebuilt engine after he had a problem with a slipped liner in the original engine. It does happen, if not often. Hope the temporary fix works until you get your spare engine refurbished.

 

[Pilkie]

A temporary and working solution has been done to give me more time to sort/check out the spare engine,and get the MG to a point where I can roll it outside for the day,"must be dry"for when I do the engine swap!!
As I have fitted a std expansion tank mod,the pressure when released by the rad cap bubbled into it,but as the rad cap was a 13lb there was enough pressure build up before it blew off to slow down circulation and to force water into No4 cyl.
Ive fitted a 7lb cap,which allows the water to circulate better as the pressure is less,also allows any air that gets in via pressure build up to rise to the top,so when it blows off,it just bubbles into the expansion tank!
Ive just been for a 10m drive and all is working as hoped!
Ive also ordered a bottle of Irontite ceramic head and block sealant for £20 and will bung that in when it arrives.

I was thinking of making/adding a bigger expansion tank,with pressure gauge but closing the bonnet would of been a problem! !

 

[John]

That's one quality expansion tank, as is said, "Necessity is the mother of invention".




John.

 

[Pilkie]

UPDATE!
After bunging in a bottle of irontite ceramic sealant,and leaving it in,all is well 4 months later! 8) Good stuff!!!
Hardly a drop of water used,runs great,temp normal,pressure normal,heater ok!
An added benefit of this job was the valley gasket rubber seals were leaking badly,so they were renewed,now there is no oil leak and the oil level has remained the same since I did the job.
Now all is well again,its time to do its spring new oil & filter service.