(Above post continued)...
Before everything could back on, the valve clearances needed checking. Only the one was obviously noisy, but it seemed prudent to do them all. I used the jack up a front wheel and turn it to get TDC method for each cylinder in firing order.
The preheat ducting took well to new temp paint paint from my old stock (forgot to photograph...) so after yet another lot of scrubbing - this time all the black plastics with all purpose cleaner - it was finally all ready to go back in:
During all this I'd also taken the opportunity to remove one of the two inline fuel filters and direct the hose correctly up to the carb. It needed a bit more trimming to get it a bit further from the (hot) exhaust ducting:
To seal the cam cover nuts - and stop one of those original leaks - I replaced the very much squashed rubber washers. I used a little pack of sump plug washers I picked up as SC, but I'm not happy with the results as the internal diameters are too large. They're doing a great job atm, but I'm going to get some better ones in future.
Just to be sure, I sourced a new o-ring for the distributor. Popping in to Repco, I had the actual distributor in my hand, the service bloke faced his computer ready to type and asked for a VIN. I said I didn't have it with me (I had thought they might want one but forgot to bring it - and the VIN for this car is weird...) and so he relaxed and aid he couldn't do anything without a VIN. You can't half tell we're in the 21st century...
I returnd the following day with the VIN - which their computer couldn't cope with - but was ready to actually suggest they grab some o-rings of this [holding up the old one] size and we could pick one. Though the suggestion appeared to be a novel one, the gentleman this time did just that and we quickly found a perfect fit. Didn't stop them from making me buy a whole set of three for a total of $21!
So with everything back in, we have a cleaner, quieter and smoother engine. Took it for a run and it was a happy little beastie! (But, boy - that body roll! ). The valves will need another go. The manual wanted a the feeler guage to have a "stiff sliding fit" (snarfle snarfle snort...) and judging by the bit of noise on a couple, I reckon I'll have to be a bit stiffer....
The photo below compares the bay when I first bought it (before any washing) with where we are now:
Cheers,
Tony.
Before everything could back on, the valve clearances needed checking. Only the one was obviously noisy, but it seemed prudent to do them all. I used the jack up a front wheel and turn it to get TDC method for each cylinder in firing order.
The preheat ducting took well to new temp paint paint from my old stock (forgot to photograph...) so after yet another lot of scrubbing - this time all the black plastics with all purpose cleaner - it was finally all ready to go back in:
During all this I'd also taken the opportunity to remove one of the two inline fuel filters and direct the hose correctly up to the carb. It needed a bit more trimming to get it a bit further from the (hot) exhaust ducting:
To seal the cam cover nuts - and stop one of those original leaks - I replaced the very much squashed rubber washers. I used a little pack of sump plug washers I picked up as SC, but I'm not happy with the results as the internal diameters are too large. They're doing a great job atm, but I'm going to get some better ones in future.
Just to be sure, I sourced a new o-ring for the distributor. Popping in to Repco, I had the actual distributor in my hand, the service bloke faced his computer ready to type and asked for a VIN. I said I didn't have it with me (I had thought they might want one but forgot to bring it - and the VIN for this car is weird...) and so he relaxed and aid he couldn't do anything without a VIN. You can't half tell we're in the 21st century...
I returnd the following day with the VIN - which their computer couldn't cope with - but was ready to actually suggest they grab some o-rings of this [holding up the old one] size and we could pick one. Though the suggestion appeared to be a novel one, the gentleman this time did just that and we quickly found a perfect fit. Didn't stop them from making me buy a whole set of three for a total of $21!
So with everything back in, we have a cleaner, quieter and smoother engine. Took it for a run and it was a happy little beastie! (But, boy - that body roll! ). The valves will need another go. The manual wanted a the feeler guage to have a "stiff sliding fit" (snarfle snarfle snort...) and judging by the bit of noise on a couple, I reckon I'll have to be a bit stiffer....
The photo below compares the bay when I first bought it (before any washing) with where we are now:
Cheers,
Tony.