Jump to content

Cavalier MK1 GL Saloon (Automatic)


mepbowles
 Share

Recommended Posts

Like the Elecrolysus bath 👍 

Yeah, it’s quite surprising how fast that fly rust (flash rust) takes hold when the oxygen hits the surface. Get that with after steam cleaning / chemical cleaning down at the garage. 
The cam ledge is more a sprocket retainer/timing mark part tbh, it does nothing for the chain retention as such, but never seen them bent (only missing lol) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cheers Herman, I figured it was fairly cosmetic. If I can get a free spare I will but otherwise pliers and grips will do.

I've got to get on the phone to get the head and block booked in and then crack on with stripping the head. I'm not sure I'll try electrolysis on it to save any machined surfaces. Perhaps just a little molasses this time or wire brushes and rust remover

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Happy days, I've been focusing on tidying the house, getting rid of clutter and rejigging my son's room but I had a nice surprise when I saw a large parcel arrive for me.

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

My £100 to someone from Ireland on Facebook has netted me an 8 weight crankshaft with bearings (just in case), stripped from his 1.6 that wasn't selling. I also got an exhaust heat shield and a timing chain guide that looks in worse condition than mine 😆

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

The heat shield looks a little crusty in places but It'll be a nice reason to fire up the sandblaster. I need to double check where, how and if it fits but happy days.

Now I have no excuse not to call up some machining folks to get the honing, balancing and hardened valve seats done.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

I started stripping the head today, removing the valves. After looking up how to use the tool, I set to work and valve 1 came out easily. Valve 2 (exhaust valve), was a pig and it bent the compressor tool. Valve 3 vent it further and valve 4 won't even come out because it's too bent to have meaningful pressure. It won't even fit back in it's box.

Are there any recommendations on valve spring compressors that won't bend?

Or could I hammer it back to square and heat treat with a blow torch?

I'll see if I can hound the seller for a refund but it's probably been too long.

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

 

  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

yes they tend to get a bit tight after years of beat cycles but a lot of the modern tools are a bit flimsy to say the least. 

try to find an old tool or easy enough to make one up that uses the rocker stud as the gm tool does. il see if i can find a picture 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, Jessopia74 said:

Make sure you smack the retaining cap with a hammer on both sides first to break the seating with the collets before clamping

I'm slowly coming round to the idea that smacking things with hammers is an acceptable practice. I thought the right application of force with the correct tool was the way to go but I forget the modern tools are made for modern engines that have been regularly serviced, not old engines set in their ways.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

34 minutes ago, mepbowles said:

I'm slowly coming round to the idea that smacking things with hammers is an acceptable practice. I thought the right application of force with the correct tool was the way to go but I forget the modern tools are made for modern engines that have been regularly serviced, not old engines set in their ways.

I been rebuilding engines for a long time mate and this was always 'normal' to crack the carbon seal on the Cap to collects

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

i have a pic of the proper gm tool but cannot post pictures . its basically a small plate with two holes in it .one smaller hole fits on a rocker stud and larger hole over valve cap .tighten rocker nut ,tap valve end and tighten further . valve cap comes off !

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

31 minutes ago, cam.in.head said:

i have a pic of the proper gm tool but cannot post pictures

this one:

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

Made it also myself. Easy to use. Edelschmiede sells them:

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks all. I tried straightening it but my vice is awful. I got it so that I could get them off and they came off so much easier after a good tap.

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

The cam doesn't look too bad either and should clean up well. I'm curious about the bits held in place with the circlips as well as the big Allen screws. I'm sure the manuals have something about them. Presumably the machine shop will want them out. Hopefully they don't want the cam bearings out as they look fine.

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

If can degrease it today/tonight I might swing by the shop in person with my block and head for a quote. Otherwise photos will have to do.

I might treat it to an electrolysis bath but I need to pressure wash my green bin first.

It's very satisfying to have the engine completely stripped.

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think I mean the valve seats though Haynes says there are none. The intake valves seem to just be stubs but the exhaust have a retaining ring of some kind and the top looks detachable. Euroservice also shows they should be different heights when fully stripped. I don't think I'll touch them as it's probably a step too far.

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

cant see pictures but if you mean SEATS then early heads do not have any (just machined  direct into head)and later ones have a machined insert ( possibly on both but definately on exhaust) not held with any circlips thou .

but

if you mean SEALS then early engines have a conventional sprung seal on the inlets and a stem sealing o ring on exhaust. later engines have a conventional sprung seal on both. technically different ( brown on exhaust,black on inlet)although replacements in overhaul sets are the same .the original black ones tend to go very hard and eventually fail. the brown ones last way longer but impossible to find!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Those are stem seals , only fitted to inlets. The exhaust have an o ring only on the shaft. They might be Rick hard, but they are rubber (or was) 

The machine shop won’t need the core plugs removed or the cam bearings. 
‘Cam lmk if you still can’t see pic I attached 

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 25/10/2024 at 11:49, gt/e paul said:

dont forget to fit the oil level raiser tube in the hole at the rear of the head

Yes I won't, I've been told it's just interference fit but feel a little skeptical about leaving a possible solid chunk of metal rolling around in there after a big bump

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is indeed a very tight interference fit.

I warmed up the area of the head up with a blowtorch and put the tube into the freezer.  One expanded and one contracted . I was able to place it over the hole and using a g clamp press it into position.  

I've also seen on forums people use a piece of 15mm copper pipe 

Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
On 27/10/2024 at 22:02, cam.in.head said:

thats pretty much all the oem one is realy !

ah i see i actually hadnt realised they had been fitted oem . i take it much later in production. ill have to see if my gt/e has one 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

31 minutes ago, gt/e paul said:

ah i see i actually hadnt realised they had been fitted oem . i take it much later in production. ill have to see if my gt/e has one 

Later had them, it’s like a wrapped tube of spring steel though. But earlier cars did not, so always worth a check 👍

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

they are a good idea in principle and obviously the reason gm fitted them was to reduce wear on SOME of the cam lobes but i wonder if the downside to having a bath of hot oil sat inside your cylinder head would be eccessive oil fumes at high temperatures or during a long motorway run like the 2.2 is sometimes prone to ?  . i dont recall a 1.6 or early 2 litre do this ? ? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...