SKCC - Southern Kit Car Club. A Club for kit car owners across Southern England. Kent, Sussex, East Hants, Surrey, Berks, Middlesex, London

Not left the garage and already there some engine work required.



Noticed when car is running there is oil gathering in the trumpets of the throttle bodies so hoping it is just valve stem oil seals.
As I never split a zetec Matts coming over at the weekend to show me how’s it done, change the water pump, cam belt, tensioners etc.so I am getting it stripped down in preperation
Might not get it all done at weekend if we decide to grind the valves a bit but will be good to get it all done and probably send the TBs away for a service if I can find someone that will do old units.
Also just noticed a crack around the exhaust pipe where it enters the box so will have to get that tig welded with maybe a gusset mod as well.

I wouldn't wish my engine luck to anyone so hopefully yours is better than mine turned out to be. Mine's getting there and now starts and runs fairly well, so I hope yours won't take long either. Good luck Rich, It'll be great to meet Eleanor and see where my car should head next

Jason

So a big thank you to Matt who came after yesterday to remove ,replace parts of the engine as planned.
Matt quickly set to checking the existing cam timing, then onto getting the pulleys and front cover off with me eager looking on having never much played with twin cams or any zetecs. Once head was off he managed to strip out all the valves and after a quick spray over with brake cleaner then set about giving all the valves a quick spin with some fine valve grinding paste to check the seating.
He also changed the water pump and we checked to make sure the rest of the bits were right.
All that in a couple of hrs, in the afternoon I took the head to work and put it in the auto parts washer steamer that rotates the parts as heated cleaning chemical gets squirted at it for two 30 mins stints to make sure all the grinding paste was removed.
Back at home I also managed to get all the valve stem oil seals off and cleaned under them as well.
All ready for reassemble by me and then get Matt over to screw it all back together again once I have a couple of other things sorted.

That wash has done a good job of it hasn’t it. Give me a shout when you are ready to rebuild it

Started the head rebuild this afternoon with fitting the valve stem oil seals, then refitting the valves, springs, top cap and collects.
Matt said this was tricker than most heads as the collects are positioned a bit more restrictive than most, quite small and twice the amount I was used to.
Had a strange looking spider join me for the first one, having got stuck in the plastic cup.
This took me the best part of two hrs with the aid of grease, two screw drivers and Longnosed pliers, followed by the followers lightly oiled and a clean of the block and lightly oil the new bolts, head gasket fitted and a while later it was fitted and torqued down.
Fitted a couple of more things that will not impede the remaining works, but now need to get the TBs in a box having removed the linkage and inlet manifold for their service and also managed to separate the exhaust manifold from the box as the later needs a mate to tig weld up a crack in it.
Once all back we can get it all back together.

Bit more progress recently, TB going back on and few other things fitted.

https://youtu.be/d8vZH5qPU0g

Great video Richard, be great to get it fired up and running.

Matt came round yesterday and finished the rebuild of the engine obviously including the timings of the cams.
It started quite easily much to our surprise and seems to be a little better, now need to arrange a session at the ECU suppliers.
I learnt a few things along the way already and will eventually strip and rebuild a spare engine I have empowered by Matts help.

Crikey, I think Matt was out repairing a relatives car today, he ought to give up driving coaches and become a mobile mechanic

Glad to hear you are making progress Richard

So I got in contact with ME motorsport this week to discuss taking the Locost to them near Bath for the ECU set up in August, obviously they will make adjustments to the TBs as required and any majors may have to be rebooked.
I am trailer it there to deliver only on a Saturday so it there for the Monday to save me taking a day off.
Have a few things to do beforehand such as adjusting the camber of drivers side and tracking by eye as was so far out it as skipping on and off the lorry we used for the journey to the protective coatings place.
Feel I should go over a do a nut and bolt check beforehand as well as it not been mot or driven since complete rebuild and when they do any power runs at the session sure they do not want a pro shaft letting go.
Get some cans of juice in there
Tidy up the passengers side and maybe plop a seat in there.
Not sure if to leave the bonnet at home to save the risk of it getting damaged whilst there.