Head gasket gone,bit of advice please:)

[Hotwheels.]

Hi all,
My car had one of the original super duper Autocraft rebuilds done with the uprated copper head gasket which has now gone tits up for whatever reason. For some reason,i recall from the back of my mind that to replace the gasket is an engine out job...is this true or am i thinking of something else,talking a load of tosh,and the engine can stay in situ? Thanks in advance,
Mart.

[ian-r]

engine out apparently. have never heard of anyone doing it in situ. Would be interested to try though. Apparently its the exhaust manifolds that get in the way and you struggle to get the crankbolt out. However there was a thread here recently where someone has removed the bolt and crank pulley in situ with jacking the engine up etc. I will have a look see if i can find it.....

[FrancoTam]

Hi Mart,
I am in the same situation as I too had the famous Auto Craft rebuild and I too had the copper head gasket that has failed.(first one they put in was not the copper gasket that failed after 2 days even though they told me it was).
I am just about to take the car down to Richard at Dulfords who is going to fit the newer style multi layered head gasket which is supposedly a lot better.
Have you decided what to do with yours yet?

[boardinscotland]

FrancoTam said:

Hi Mart,
I am in the same situation as I too had the famous Auto Craft rebuild and I too had the copper head gasket that has failed.(first one they put in was not the copper gasket that failed after 2 days even though they told me it was).
I am just about to take the car down to Richard at Dulfords who is going to fit the newer style multi layered head gasket which is supposedly a lot better.
Have you decided what to do with yours yet?

Get the new oil pump they have developed for the speed 6 while your engine is out. I have the first one. thought it was 30psi but is more like 40psi on hot idle and close to 70psi on full throttle. So little sewing machine noise. And no I dont work for them, just think it is a worthwhile investment.

g

[FrancoTam]

Thanx for the tip, sounds really good. I don't like seeing oil pressure drop below 10psi no matter how hot the car is. How much are they?

[smithyl23]

There was never a problem with oil pressure on sp6's, just the amount of oil pathways into the top of the engine. You dont need massive pressures as your not trying to lift the oil from the bottom of the engine up to your head like most other cars.
Increasing the pressure alone is not the answer.

Edited by smithyl23 on Monday 6th April 11:39

[boardinscotland]

smithyl23 said:

There was never a problem with oil pressure on sp6's, just the amount of oil pathways into the top of the engine. You dont need massive pressures as your not trying to lift the oil from the bottom of the engine up to your head like most other cars.
Increasing the pressure alone is not the answer.

Edited by smithyl23 on Monday 6th April 11:39

I had all the work done on the head for the modified pathways too. Sorry just to add a little more it is also a large increase in pumping capacity so you get a better and faster flow of oil. Think it was £350 for the pump.

Greig

[smithyl23]

boardinscotland said:

smithyl23 said:

There was never a problem with oil pressure on sp6's, just the amount of oil pathways into the top of the engine. You dont need massive pressures as your not trying to lift the oil from the bottom of the engine up to your head like most other cars.
Increasing the pressure alone is not the answer.

Edited by smithyl23 on Monday 6th April 11:39

I had all the work done on the head for the modified pathways too. Sorry just to add a little more it is also a large increase in pumping capacity so you get a better and faster flow of oil. Think it was £350 for the pump.

Greig

You've increased the "amount of oil pathways" to the top end of the engine??
The speed 6 suffers from oil starvation due to the lack of oil pathways to the top end, not because of insufficient flow/pressure.

[boardinscotland]

smithyl23 said:

boardinscotland said:

smithyl23 said:

There was never a problem with oil pressure on sp6's, just the amount of oil pathways into the top of the engine. You dont need massive pressures as your not trying to lift the oil from the bottom of the engine up to your head like most other cars.
Increasing the pressure alone is not the answer.

Edited by smithyl23 on Monday 6th April 11:39

I had all the work done on the head for the modified pathways too. Sorry just to add a little more it is also a large increase in pumping capacity so you get a better and faster flow of oil. Think it was £350 for the pump.

Greig

You've increased the "amount of oil pathways" to the top end of the engine??
The speed 6 suffers from oil starvation due to the lack of oil pathways to the top end, not because of insufficient flow/pressure.

Dulfords have just rebuilt my engine as it was an early Tuscan and had the usual problems of the speed six. They have rebuilt it to the lastest spec with new cams, finger followers etc and modified the oil pathways. As part fo the rebuild they have developed a new oil pump as seen here

http://www.pistonheads.com/tvr/default.asp?storyId...

This increase in flow is just another part of the continuing development of the speed 6. It should also help the cooling effect for the engine as it is flowing faster. (i think)

G

[icraigmy]

FrancoTam said:

Hi Mart,
I am in the same situation as I too had the famous Auto Craft rebuild and I too had the copper head gasket that has failed.(first one they put in was not the copper gasket that failed after 2 days even though they told me it was).
I am just about to take the car down to Richard at Dulfords who is going to fit the newer style multi layered head gasket which is supposedly a lot better.
Have you decided what to do with yours yet?

Hi Andrew, good to see that you still have the Tam. Have'nt heard from you in a while. Your Tam is in safe hands with Richard and his team at Dulfords.

Why not go for a 4.0L upgrade/rebuild ?;)

[FrancoTam]

Hi Ian,
Yeah it will be good to have her back on the road again, joining in all the Bristol TVR fun. I havn't had the car on the road since October for two reasons, 1: It was quite nice to keep her off the salty roads and 2: I just don't have the money to sort her out let alone 10k on a 4ltr conversion.
Will be out with the Brizzle lot as soon as she is ready. Cant wait!!!

[icraigmy]

FrancoTam said:

Hi Ian,
Yeah it will be good to have her back on the road again, joining in all the Bristol TVR fun. I havn't had the car on the road since October for two reasons, 1: It was quite nice to keep her off the salty roads and 2: I just don't have the money to sort her out let alone 10k on a 4ltr conversion.
Will be out with the Brizzle lot as soon as she is ready. Cant wait!!!

Look forward to seeing ya and the Tam. There is another Tamora in the Brizzle gang now. Barry (lives in Weston) has a blue one.

[FrancoTam]

Nice! I really can't wait to get back out, especially with this weather getting better. When is the next meet?

[Barry Ashcroft]

Our next Monthly Meeting is on Sunday 19th April and it's an old favourite, the Bristol regions West Bay Fish and Chip run, we will be travelling from Bristol to Shaftsbury for a quick spin up Zig Zag Hill and then on to Weymouth followed by West Bay.

To bring a new twist to the route there will be a new route home from West Bay the guarantees to offer some new and exciting roads for all. So pack your bucket and spade as we are off to the coast....

Meeting Points:
Meeting point 1
Run will leave the Willy Wicket at 09.30am sharp Sunday morning, so get there in plenty of time to say hello and top up that fuel tank.

Meeting point 2
Everyone will meet at the Warminster Services just off the A36. We will stop for a toilet break and quick chat before everyone from the Willy Wicket joins us ready to head off 10:30.

[FrancoTam]

Hi Barry,
My car is going to Dulfords for the headgasket to be done and also new improved oil pump(I already have the extra oil feed to the head) on the 14th. They want the car for a week so if it is ready then I will deffinately be out to play, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. I have done this drive with the gang before, it is a top drive.
Hope to see you there

Edited by FrancoTam on Thursday 9th April 08:43

[Jediworrier]

Hotwheels. said:

Hi all,
My car had one of the original super duper Autocraft rebuilds done with the uprated copper head gasket which has now gone tits up for whatever reason. For some reason,i recall from the back of my mind that to replace the gasket is an engine out job...is this true or am i thinking of something else,talking a load of tosh,and the engine can stay in situ? Thanks in advance,
Mart.

The head can be removed with the engine in situ, I've done it. Removing the pulley's fun but apart from that no real probs.