johny Posted August 26, 2023 Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 yes that was my postulation but why did it wait until then to do it? Ahhhh but was the end cap in place, though loose and held on by the rocker cover, so that then on removing the cover it fell out somewhere and the rocker was free to slide along? However was the prior loss of compression on the same cylinder pure coincidence🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted August 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 I drove it for 16 months every day like that lol. And God knows how long it was like that before I owned it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted August 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 I bought the car from Mike Papworth from Coventry. I'm sure you guys know him. He's a gearbox chap. I haven't kept his phone number to grill him about the car though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted August 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 The zero compression is the other end on cylinder 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 26, 2023 Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 Ah sorry read original post as cylinder 1 so 4 is more understandable. Any chance the rocker shaft end cap fell out as you removed the cover? Could it be in the engine bay or garage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted August 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 19 minutes ago, Kelv said: I bought the car from Mike Papworth from Coventry. I'm sure you guys know him. He's a gearbox chap. I haven't kept his phone number to grill him about the car though. He advertised it as a 1300 engine and told me it was a 1300. It doesn't matter if it's not a 1300 though. She's bloody nippy round the welsh lanes. Plenty of power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted August 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 13 minutes ago, johny said: Ah sorry read original post as cylinder 1 so 4 is more understandable. Any chance the rocker shaft end cap fell out as you removed the cover? Could it be in the engine bay or garage? All I did was lift the rocker cover up and didn't see, feel or hear anything dropping. But it definitely could have done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted August 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 (edited) I found it on the road under the car. So while the engine was running with the rocker cover off it was able to slip off. Bloody hell. Edited August 27, 2023 by Kelv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted August 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 26, 2023 Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 Thats it and there should be some sort of short coil spring with it that pushes back against the rocker and of course a pin that may or may not have ever been used... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted August 26, 2023 Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 Nothing wrong with the 1147cc engine, I have one in my spitfire OK in a bit higher state of tune but a great little engine. there should be a sprung washer between the end cap and the rocker. It looks like the rocker shaft has been rebuilt as all of the pedestals have a recess for a screw originally this was only the rear one, which is not a problem as they are the only ones available now and it makes no difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted August 26, 2023 Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 (edited) why was the pedestal seemingly loose you can see it jumping up/down indicated a lack of care at some time and the missing pin is probably been sent to the sump , pleased you found the end cap the top keyhole plate is with the weeny valve spring so very easy yo remove by hand a quick whack with a misaligned rocker escaping rocker would quite easily pitch the cap off why the valve guide is adrift could be the result of the dropped valve punching it out following piston collision needs a good look see rather than guesswork Im certain Bern will get to the root problem pete Edited August 26, 2023 by Pete Lewis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted August 26, 2023 Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 I think the pedestal appearing to move is likely just a trick of the light, but is probably the least of the issues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 26, 2023 Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 but I can see the end of the rocker shaft (minus its cap) moving as well. Probably just needs the pedestal bolt(s) tightening.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted August 26, 2023 Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 possibly but it has to come off anyway so not really important now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 26, 2023 Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 just another bad sign and I wonder what the head bolts were torqued up to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 26, 2023 Report Share Posted August 26, 2023 I wonder if the vibration of the loose rocker shaft shook out its end cap pin.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted August 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2023 I heard you could fit a 1500 spitfire engine into Heralds. That would be sweet. Has anyone ever put a more modern engine into a Herald? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted August 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2023 (edited) 21 hours ago, johny said: Thats it and there should be some sort of short coil spring with it that pushes back against the rocker and of course a pin that may or may not have ever been used... Doubt I'll find that spring unless I use my magnet fishing magnet on the road around and under the car. Worth a try. Edited August 27, 2023 by Kelv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted August 27, 2023 Report Share Posted August 27, 2023 1500 is a very easy swop as it is basically the same engine, only downside would be the 4.11 gearing is a bit low for the less revvy 1500. MX5 has been done as has Ford https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=140&t=2012020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted August 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2023 Interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 27, 2023 Report Share Posted August 27, 2023 You might be lucky though and only need a new head gasket, exhaust valve (pretty likely the original is now bent...), rocker spring and end cap pin, plus valve guide re-fitting🤞We'll know better when the head is off, cylinder inspected and the engine turned by hand... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted August 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2023 Fingers and toes crossed 😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wagger Posted August 27, 2023 Report Share Posted August 27, 2023 On 26/08/2023 at 11:18, DanMi said: the rocker shaft end cap is missing so the rocker will have moved and hit the valve cap rather than the valve stem thus dislodging it. The noises described will have been the valve dropping and clashing with the piston then. Stripping will reveal the worst I guess. Bent valve, broken piston, bent or broken conrod and (maybe) a twisted crank. All the result of a missing part. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted August 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2023 Oh dear. Wish I had left the rocker alone. Hey ho! Such is life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now