Iain T

The new oil pump has been deburred and the end float is 2 thou so I'm hopeful the pressure will be good and hold up when hot. Worry gauge arrived today. The engine should be in by Monday!

The ones from Chris Witor at £50 + vat seem a good buy! Iain

I will be getting him to measure the end float and gear clearance. Once bitten...... Iain

Nick, sorry my 5 and 6 is your 1 and 2 so perhaps this explains it? I saw the bock yesterday, it's completely stripped and they said they have checked all the oilways. The engine guy now regrets not putting a new oil pump in........I didn't tell him not to! A rooky mistake for such an experienced company. The supplier of the new pump is apparently, allegedly, hopefully fine as he has put them in several racing and fast road Triumphs. Iain

Nick, the crank has been reground today I'll ask about the mains. I had a long conversation with the guy about dodgy pumps but he reckons the ones he buys are fine! However I will be making sure everything is checked. Iain

It's called pre-detonation🌋

By that time on a motorway blast you're f*****! What is the point of a warning light set that low? Barmy. Good information is king! Will someone please tell the government.......sorry I digress. I'll report back ASAP. Iain

Engine is stripped, again! Big ends on 5 and 6 buggered so definitely oil starvation. Everything else measures ok including the cam journals. Cam is as it should be with scrolls and flat. CCTV showed no oil way obstructions. The oil pump and/or pressure relief must be unserviceable. Weird as the disassembled pump looks good with little marking on the cap or body??? New parts ordered and will be fitted tomorrow then on the bench the engine will be turned over and the pressure measured. Apparently when checked previously the pressure went up to 65psi then dropped off. What bugs me is the oil warning light never came on! I can only put it down to yet another Jigsaw gremlin come back to bite me even though the engine and pump had only done about 5k miles prior to me having it rebuilt..... As partial relief of my paranoia I was going to fit an oil pressure gauge anyway. Just as well I felt as though something was harsh and wrong in a few more miles the engine could have seized with possible devastating results for the car and me!!! Hopefully all goes well tomorrow🤞 Iain

It's engine out time! Engine guy said it's the only way to find the problem. I just hope it's not a very worn cam rear journal because that's terminal for the block other than line boring and fitting cam bearings.... I still have my fingers crossed for crud in the block🤞 Iain

Mark, exactly one reason I want to go and visit the engine guy. He has specialised in heads for 40 years so I assume he has many widgets to clear oilways etc. I did try poking with some MiG wire but it was 1mm diameter so not flexible enough. Iain

There isn't a cam bearing in my engine. I think for most 2 litre 6 pots cam bearings were never fitted from the factory. It would have been something to check but I await today's report! As it's supposed to be peeing down this afternoon I might pop down to the engine guy. It can now only be restricted block oilway? The pump has good pressure so probably not the main suspect. Iain

Nick, yes I am aware and my new bushed rocker arms are probably of closer tolerance than original. Do you think I'm being too paranoid? Iain

The engine builder is quick, he wants to find the problem! He has a couple more tests to do tomorrow before engine out time. Iain

Engine builder spoke to Ken Newman, scroll and flat definitely in the cam so it must be a restriction in the block? Iain

Heads off it's not a blocked oilway so as there is good oil pressure it can only be the cam? Suggestions please......quickly! Iain

Thanks Pete👍

Pic uploaded this time??!? This is the Bastock Tr6pi cam I took out. Is this cast in flat for the oil feed? Seems odd as I would have assumed it would be machined. Or perhaps I'm being to much of an engineer! If it is then on a billet cam this flat would have to be machined as one of the separate ops. All the balls still in the air! Iain

Will do, bit pissed off as I just paid £180 for bushed shaft/rocker assembly and seems as though I have been running it dry(ish) for 100+ miles. Iain

I agree Newmans have an excellent reputation which is why I purchased from them. My engine's problem is probably blockage and nothing to do with the cam. Iain

No thanks Pete! If it turns out to be the cam (it's only a possibility) then I presume they will supply a new correct cam. Iain

Unfortunately no, there is oil around from misting but no pooling or splattering. Should know the answer by the weekend and I'll let you know. Iain

Thanks, it's down to the engine guy to find the fault I'm just trying to help with possibilities. Taking the head off is next to check for oilway blockage. If the oilway is clear then it's either a camshaft out or engine out and strip down. Fortunately not by me! I'll phone Ken Newman tomorrow to get his take on the no flat possibility. Iain

Update, oil pressure is 65psi when hot so the pump seems fine. A new billet cam from Newmans was fitted, wonder if that could be the issue? I have taken photos of my old Bastock cam, is this the flat you mean? Damn won't upload photo, but it's a 10-12mm long flat area (not a slot) on the journal. Iain

I'm getting more paranoid by the day! Having spent a sleepless night thinking about oil flow to the rockers, sadly true. I ran the engine with the rocker cover off and couldn’t see any oil flowing out of the rocker arms so I took my reconditioned shaft assembly off and cranked it over for some time. The result was more like a dribble than a strong flow. Car is being trailered to garage tomorrow for checks, they said they can sometimes poke some thin MiG wire round or an air line to dislodge crud. If not and the oil pressure, the oil light goes out quickly on cranking, is ok it's head off time😡 Iain

I haven't climbed in the boot yet, I assume the tank hose can be changed in situ? Iain