2.9 rocker cover.
Discussion
Well, i've been slogging away stripping off both the heads, all the manifolds are off. New gaskets bought, and no new stretch bolts! Went to my local ford dealer in jolly old Cambridge, 16 bolts £37.79p christ! Well you can't get everthing cheap. Same as Johno (mark)4 8mm bolt had sheared off with a 6 inch spanner as expected but i managed to drill them out and re-tap them ok. The head is in good nick as it should be with only 42000 miles on the clock, but the rest of the underneath seems like its been round the world 100 times. All the front chassis has been painted in original white and does look good now all the suspension is all back on. this job is taking a lot longer than I thought it would, and I would advise anyone considering stripping all the front off for reconditioning to think twice and seek advice because just to paint the front chassis properly really does mean taking everything off. I tried to paint round all the parts but you just cant do a proper job round all the steering, wishbones, radiator, rolebar etc, etc.
The sump is all rusty, so are the rocker covers. Managed to strip and repaint the sump but the rocker covers are driving me mad, there badly rusted and i can't make up me mind, So what shall i do with them then. Alloy, Chrome, what looks best!
whatever gets the vote I'll do it.
Any other idiots thinking of stripping the 2.9 top end and needs any pictures, let me know as i can use me digital camara and get them off to you (its still in bits now so let me know) Email address required.
Keep slogging!
All the best.
gadgit.
The sump is all rusty, so are the rocker covers. Managed to strip and repaint the sump but the rocker covers are driving me mad, there badly rusted and i can't make up me mind, So what shall i do with them then. Alloy, Chrome, what looks best!
whatever gets the vote I'll do it.
Any other idiots thinking of stripping the 2.9 top end and needs any pictures, let me know as i can use me digital camara and get them off to you (its still in bits now so let me know) Email address required.
Keep slogging!
All the best.
gadgit.
Gadgit,
I did also some "clean up" on the chassis and under the bonnet.
I used red engine coulour to respray the chassis (originally red as you may believe). Covered suroundings with newspapers and tape where needed. Used engine colour as the original colour was mostly destroyed close to the exhaust system. I applied some zinc on the bare metal prior spraying the colour.
Steering rack and, and steering column have been sprayed in black, before I put them back on the car.
Gadgit, I saw in your profile that you have also a 635 CSi. How does it compare to the S1.5: performance, roadholding on open road & track, reliability (old Bavarians are not supposed to be so reliable), fuel consumption (who cares?)
I'm probably not the only one, who's looking forward to your test review.
Cheers Patrick
Back to the old chestnut, BMW v TVR as requested, well what would have been nice is a TVR with BMW components as this would have made them reliable and fast. Most BMWs are heavy and thats where the performance is lost. the 635 CS1 is quick compared to the cars of its time, with a 0--60 in about 8 secs. Its a lux sports coupe which is different to an out and out sports car. I have had no major problems with the BMW apart form the odd rubber bush at the back end. the cars done 160,000 miles and the engine runs as smooth as silk.
As far as handling compared to the TVR, obviusly the TVR has the edge by quite a bit. The Beamer can't be flicked around like the S1.5 and tends to loose composure on rough ground and breaks away quickly due to the weight on the bends. On the other forums there are often comments where a griff or chim has has a dash with a big BMW and stuffed the beamer. The point is sometimes missed by both parties as people sometimes buy a TVR chim / griff, and reading these other forums, i find myself thinking they should have bought a M3. there's one on the chim site at the moment, where some chap has bought one and listed an enormous list of things that have gone wrong with it and asking if this is normal!
Now you dont get this on the S forum because most people are mending there cars or like me part restoring them and expected to have to do this at some time. Its a perverse way of enjoying yourself some may think, but i am enjoying it. Now my mate leebee on this sight is in a constent mode of upgrade, renew, and he's going to end up with something special, in fact it allready is but no doutb he has spent many hours under the car and enjoyed it!
I would say that if he bought a near perfect griff he would still want to improve it, and would end up under the car, covered in crap (so would I) I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm the same you see, I want a griff in the end but now i know how there built I'd be stripping it and cleaning everthing on the car to keep it in good condition. A friend of mine has just bought a chim, now i might be wrong, or he might be lucky, but he is not the sort to lay under a car, and maybe, just maybe he should have bought an M3.
It is comforting to have this wonderful site to see what is happening to other cars and a problem shared is halved when you read what others have gone through.
If we all had BMWs this would be the most boring site in the world! mostly they don't go wrong.
what shall i do with my rocker covers then!
All the best.
gadgit
As far as handling compared to the TVR, obviusly the TVR has the edge by quite a bit. The Beamer can't be flicked around like the S1.5 and tends to loose composure on rough ground and breaks away quickly due to the weight on the bends. On the other forums there are often comments where a griff or chim has has a dash with a big BMW and stuffed the beamer. The point is sometimes missed by both parties as people sometimes buy a TVR chim / griff, and reading these other forums, i find myself thinking they should have bought a M3. there's one on the chim site at the moment, where some chap has bought one and listed an enormous list of things that have gone wrong with it and asking if this is normal!
Now you dont get this on the S forum because most people are mending there cars or like me part restoring them and expected to have to do this at some time. Its a perverse way of enjoying yourself some may think, but i am enjoying it. Now my mate leebee on this sight is in a constent mode of upgrade, renew, and he's going to end up with something special, in fact it allready is but no doutb he has spent many hours under the car and enjoyed it!
I would say that if he bought a near perfect griff he would still want to improve it, and would end up under the car, covered in crap (so would I) I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm the same you see, I want a griff in the end but now i know how there built I'd be stripping it and cleaning everthing on the car to keep it in good condition. A friend of mine has just bought a chim, now i might be wrong, or he might be lucky, but he is not the sort to lay under a car, and maybe, just maybe he should have bought an M3.
It is comforting to have this wonderful site to see what is happening to other cars and a problem shared is halved when you read what others have gone through.
If we all had BMWs this would be the most boring site in the world! mostly they don't go wrong.
what shall i do with my rocker covers then!
All the best.
gadgit
Hi Gents
Ive just had new shocks, springs & 2 trailing arms fitted by Lee and I'm in the process of tinkering with the set up as well as sanding and tidying the chasis coating.
I too get as much enjoyment out of lying under the S as I do in driving it.....So why did I use Lee you ask..... well it would of taken me too long to complete those jobs myself & the good weather is just around the corner. Plus of course Lee is a good chap and doesnt overcharge !!
Cant wait to see Lee's green S when its finnished, rear disc conversion looks good. Pity he's not going on Sunday.
Ive just had new shocks, springs & 2 trailing arms fitted by Lee and I'm in the process of tinkering with the set up as well as sanding and tidying the chasis coating.
I too get as much enjoyment out of lying under the S as I do in driving it.....So why did I use Lee you ask..... well it would of taken me too long to complete those jobs myself & the good weather is just around the corner. Plus of course Lee is a good chap and doesnt overcharge !!
Cant wait to see Lee's green S when its finnished, rear disc conversion looks good. Pity he's not going on Sunday.
oooops sorry, I forgot to answer the main question..
I have painted my rockers silver Hammerite which has done a fine job of stopping the rust etc.... in the long term I would consider buying polished heads, but not chrome as you'll be forever polishing them as the engine bay obviously gets messy or else they wouldnt runt in the first place.
I saw some for sale (a pair) polished rocker covers for £170 recently.
I have painted my rockers silver Hammerite which has done a fine job of stopping the rust etc.... in the long term I would consider buying polished heads, but not chrome as you'll be forever polishing them as the engine bay obviously gets messy or else they wouldnt runt in the first place.
I saw some for sale (a pair) polished rocker covers for £170 recently.
Europa (www.europaspares.com) sell plished alloy rocker boxes for 2.8 and 2.9. The 2.8 are £169 and the 2.9 £175, filler cap is £29.30!! they sell annodised capscrews (choice of colours) (14 required) at 1.25 each!! Would make a nice christmas present (over several years).
I has my steel rockerboxes chromed on the cheap by a supplier (£30 pr) - they look good but a little rust is showing round the clamps for the HT lead clips.
I assume the alloy ones would help reduce tappet noise - anyone got them?
I has my steel rockerboxes chromed on the cheap by a supplier (£30 pr) - they look good but a little rust is showing round the clamps for the HT lead clips.
I assume the alloy ones would help reduce tappet noise - anyone got them?
There are lots of companies that will chrome you existing rocker covers, shouldn’t really cost more than about £50 from what I’ve seen of other parts they chrome. I was thinking of painting mine when I do the exhaust manifolds. Probably will paint them silver or possibly red. Alloy would look good I think but £170 would be better spent elsewhere.
Gadgit,
what about removing the old colour chemically (don't know how to call that slimy stuff in english), grinding them with very fine sand paper, then polishing them with metal polish and spraying them with a transparent heat resistive varnish. I might do that to my covers.
Patrick
what about removing the old colour chemically (don't know how to call that slimy stuff in english), grinding them with very fine sand paper, then polishing them with metal polish and spraying them with a transparent heat resistive varnish. I might do that to my covers.
Patrick
quote:
Well, i've been slogging away stripping off both the heads, all the manifolds are off. New gaskets bought, and no new stretch bolts! Went to my local ford dealer in jolly old Cambridge, 16 bolts £37.79p christ! Well you can't get everthing cheap. Same as Johno (mark)4 8mm bolt had sheared off with a 6 inch spanner as expected but i managed to drill them out and re-tap them ok. The head is in good nick as it should be with only 42000 miles on the clock, but the rest of the underneath seems like its been round the world 100 times. All the front chassis has been painted in original white and does look good now all the suspension is all back on. this job is taking a lot longer than I thought it would, and I would advise anyone considering stripping all the front off for reconditioning to think twice and seek advice because just to paint the front chassis properly really does mean taking everything off. I tried to paint round all the parts but you just cant do a proper job round all the steering, wishbones, radiator, rolebar etc, etc.
The sump is all rusty, so are the rocker covers. Managed to strip and repaint the sump but the rocker covers are driving me mad, there badly rusted and i can't make up me mind, So what shall i do with them then. Alloy, Chrome, what looks best!
whatever gets the vote I'll do it.
Any other idiots thinking of stripping the 2.9 top end and needs any pictures, let me know as i can use me digital camara and get them off to you (its still in bits now so let me know) Email address required.
Keep slogging!
All the best.
gadgit.
Hi,
I bought a pair of alloy rocker covers from europaspares to my S3c. I had to grind the underside of the alternator to make the RHS cover fit. Also,the RHS the cover was delivered with one of the boltholes missing (!) Subsequently I carefully used gasket compound to limit possibility for oil leakage. Seems to have worked OK. Once fitted the covers really look great !(although expensive - I think the money was better spent than new tiles for the bathroom)
John N, Oslo
I bought a pair of alloy rocker covers from europaspares to my S3c. I had to grind the underside of the alternator to make the RHS cover fit. Also,the RHS the cover was delivered with one of the boltholes missing (!) Subsequently I carefully used gasket compound to limit possibility for oil leakage. Seems to have worked OK. Once fitted the covers really look great !(although expensive - I think the money was better spent than new tiles for the bathroom)
John N, Oslo
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