AidanT

Can you add some pics? Would be interesting to see

Thanks Great advice will do this Sunday Cheers Btw, is County a good chain manufacturer???

Hmm just got mailed back from Canleys and they swear by them - I get most of my kit from them. Maybe you got a fake ???? We have only ever sold the Rolon branded 105131 timing chains (thirty plus years), never had an issue with quality. Tensioners come from the same supplier, and the same sort of timescale. Canleys Regards This is provisional Johny! I've not even taken the cover off yet - As said I will be adding more pics over the weekend to get everybody's view Aidan

Should have said - any recommendations on chain manufacturer? i see there are quite a few Rolon's in the market place - no idea if these are German or even if its like Lucas - a name and not a real manufacturer (Shopping list growing ! 😁) thanks Aidan

I've seen a full kit on Paddocks for a duplex system with German Chains, but its around the £100 mark - Is it worth the investment? The car however will not be a daily whilst I own it so it will never do a massive mileage I will buy the chain etc, once I have added pictures on here and got your opinions on both it and the sprockets; I will check the chain as per the manual before I remove it Nigel I want to do this properly, but don't own any of the kit to measure anything apart from a micrometer and feeler gauges. The head is being done professionally, so I may end up taking it to a machine shop in any case, but if that's the case I want to have the knowledge to be specific on what I want them to do, That's where your opinions are important here. Once all is sorted, I will obviously need help putting it all back together again !!! Aidan

Other questions for the weekend. In continuing to strip, do I need to remove the crank to check the main bearings and shells? Will I need to re- time from scratch when I replace the timing chain? Finally is there a real issue regarding tensioners? If so, are there sources for good ones? Thanks Aidan

I will at least have a chat with the machine shop. I will need the flywheel skimmed in any case as it has a coat of rust on it, so a visit is inevitable Btw, what's that coating you have to clean off things like replacement brake discs? Aidan

Once I have pulled all the pistons, would you be able to tell from a video with me moving about? Only reason for this is what looks like a ring of rust under one of the shells - one of the early pics Chicken and egg situation, how would I know if the bores are std? Stepped top rings sound like a good idea!! 😁 The top of the pistons are stamped with a number / letters. Is this of any use or interest? Btw, one has a different letter code! Aidan

Your spot on Pete, but this will go into the car, as the current mk2 saloon engine is tired. I also want to clean up the engine bay while the engines are swapped. How would I know what size rings to get?? Or maybe just a hone and new rings?? & Polish the crank as a middle ground. End point is a reliable runner and the experience! I will whip put the head studs Thanks Aidan

And as promised another pic of no 6 bore (landscape)

Thanks I will see what's what with the pump Am about to send off the head, should I remove the rocker shaft studs? Do they need to be put back in the same position OR replaced ?? Thx Aidan

Is there anything I can do with a standard micrometer gauge? I thought of the bore diameter but maybe not No worries if not. Aidan

I think I'm going to strip it completely. Then I will take a load of pics put them o here and get a vote on machine or not. There's obviously lots of experience on here with different views but maybe good pictures will sway it one way or another. Back to my measuring stuff, grateful for diagrams as I get a little lost with some item names Thx Aidan

Thanks Rob, Being new to this and an accountant I like to get the best bang for my buck. That being said I don't want to do it 3 times ! And want to have a reliable engine at the end I wasn't keen on spending 2750 on an Ivor Searle, but happy to spend when I need to and when things are beyond my skill set Aidan

Thanks- I will add it to the shopping list Full gasket set, New oil pump, new studs bolts and washers for head. Anything else????

Thanks Roger that makes it pretty clear It sounds to me as if I need to pass this over to a machine shop - There's one locally (12 miles away) which will mean getting it out of the garage into the moderns hatch somehow, and get them to lift it out. I will have a call with them when ready to see what they can do for me. So on the basis then that they sort crank pistons/rings and head, what's left for me to do? Next few basic steps please 😊 I will of course continue to clean the block up as much as I can, - probably a good idea I get the shop to dip the block as well though Head will be sent off next week per the e-bay provider mentioned above Thanks Aidan ps - I do have a basic micrometer screw gauge - so if there is anything I can measure let me know what and how

OK, sorry but what's the difference between hone and re-bore? I'm really getting a little confused with this now. Can take the block along with crank and pistons to a local machine shop, well saying that, I will probably need some help it isn't next door! But then new pistons? rings? How do I know what to get? Or do I trust the machine shop to do it for me? Grrr too many questions!

Noticed the pic above isn't great, will take another tomorrow I am marking everything up inc orientation Question Looked at the manual again, but what should I do next? Thx Aidan

I think that's just the brake cleaner that's not wiped off and has dried again This was just an initial clean Aidan

Thanks Rubber hammer tap and it's out There are comments above re no 6, so I pulled the piston. Here are the pics Aidan

Thanks - will try - quick tap with a hammer maybe?? Sorry can't call you non-member Aidan

Hi Roger Engine purchased second hand, was told the engine was good but no idea on history. John Bonnet knows the guy I purchased from and said he was a good source and reliable. Mike Papworth also knows him Tried a compression test but failed, however I know now the head leaks so now not surprised Please come back on the oil pump, that's my next removal Thx Aidan

More pics

I think that's just the brake cleaner that's not wiped off and has dried again This was just an initial clean Aidan

Roger I think that's a cleaner smudge - I have put my fingers all around and the only possible issue I can feel is a ring around the top of no 6 (the top pic) So more questions and please remember I'm a novice at this What do I need to do to remove the pump? Taken the feed tube off but not made any difference to the pump itself