Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
- scoobyh123
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
That was pretty much what i meant to be honest, just couldn't find the right worms at the time!
Deburring and polishing (even slightly rough polishing) the inlet tracts would definitely pay dividends - more than that could as you say be detrimental to low end torque. Cleaning up the throttle body and main plenum would help too, especially if you could get a bit more volume in the plenum. I can't remember if the inlet tracts can be split from the plenum on the T but if so, matching the joins would obviously help too.
Either way, getting everything as "right" as it can be will help the power, smoothness and response and almost certainly the economy too.
Looking forward to the road test report on this one!
Deburring and polishing (even slightly rough polishing) the inlet tracts would definitely pay dividends - more than that could as you say be detrimental to low end torque. Cleaning up the throttle body and main plenum would help too, especially if you could get a bit more volume in the plenum. I can't remember if the inlet tracts can be split from the plenum on the T but if so, matching the joins would obviously help too.
Either way, getting everything as "right" as it can be will help the power, smoothness and response and almost certainly the economy too.
Looking forward to the road test report on this one!
- traineefarmer
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
The inlet tracts don't detach from the plenum, but split half way to allow removal of the injectors. I'll be doing some cleaning and matching there too.
I'll have to take you for a spin. I seem to remember you mentioning a nice straight fenland "test track" near yours.scoobyh123 wrote:Looking forward to the road test report on this one!
Tom.
'97 Vitesse Coupe
'03 XC90 D5
'97 Vitesse Coupe
'03 XC90 D5
- scoobyh123
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
Sounds like a plan! The test track was much more convenient before i moved here but sure we can sort something out.
- traineefarmer
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
I removed the head today and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the piston tops and bores. There is far less wear than I was expecting to find on a 120k Longbridge built engine. Some honing marks are still visible and no vertical scoring. All good.
The turbo was looking in far worse health.
God knows what could have caused that sort of damage to the compressor wheel.
Here is the root of all my power loss problems. Completely buggered exhaust valves.
And here is some mystery damage on the head surface.
I don't know how this could have occurred. I certainly didn't do it removing the head and I can't see any evidence that the engine has ever been apart before. Could this have happened in the factory?
Not much to do now before I'm ready to reassemble. Most of the components like manifolds have been port matched and swapped onto the new head and a few more minutes with a variety of power tools will have the top of the block and pistons clean.
Also, I've made some nice new steel dowels.
The turbo was looking in far worse health.
God knows what could have caused that sort of damage to the compressor wheel.
Here is the root of all my power loss problems. Completely buggered exhaust valves.
And here is some mystery damage on the head surface.
I don't know how this could have occurred. I certainly didn't do it removing the head and I can't see any evidence that the engine has ever been apart before. Could this have happened in the factory?
Not much to do now before I'm ready to reassemble. Most of the components like manifolds have been port matched and swapped onto the new head and a few more minutes with a variety of power tools will have the top of the block and pistons clean.
Also, I've made some nice new steel dowels.
Tom.
'97 Vitesse Coupe
'03 XC90 D5
'97 Vitesse Coupe
'03 XC90 D5
- scoobyh123
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
More good work Tom - i expect some twigs or similar got past the air filter at some point and damage the compressor wheel - either way it's not good for balance and power from the turbo!
- traineefarmer
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
I see where you're coming from, but that would indicate that it had been run for a period with no filter and there's no other internal damage to show for this. I wondered if some pillock had stuck a screwdriver (or finger!) in there to check if the turbo was spinning.scoobyh123 wrote:More good work Tom - i expect some twigs or similar got past the air filter at some point and damage the compressor wheel - either way it's not good for balance and power from the turbo!
Tom.
'97 Vitesse Coupe
'03 XC90 D5
'97 Vitesse Coupe
'03 XC90 D5
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
That was in fact what i was thinking, it had been run for a while without an air filter - perhaps the turbo wheel chewed the foreign bodies to pulp before any further damage could occur?
The alternatives of a screwdriver or finger crossed my mind as well but discounted it as i really didn't think anyone coulc be that daft. Then again........
The alternatives of a screwdriver or finger crossed my mind as well but discounted it as i really didn't think anyone coulc be that daft. Then again........
- traineefarmer
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
Got it all back together and running today. It now runs and goes and a T series should.
A lovely nearly silent idle land an immense linear shove in the back when you get your foot down. It's going to need a few miles to bed everything in but improvement in drivability is fantastic.
A lovely nearly silent idle land an immense linear shove in the back when you get your foot down. It's going to need a few miles to bed everything in but improvement in drivability is fantastic.
Tom.
'97 Vitesse Coupe
'03 XC90 D5
'97 Vitesse Coupe
'03 XC90 D5
- scoobyh123
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
Excellent Tom! Goes without saying to keep an eye on the coolant level for a while just in case of any hidden air locks but i'm sure it will be fine.
Nice to hear it now goes like it was meant to!
Nice to hear it now goes like it was meant to!
- traineefarmer
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
Don't worry, that will be a daily check for a few weeks as will general leak and looseness checks. There's definitely a lock somewhere as about a litre less coolant went back in compared to what came out!
Tom.
'97 Vitesse Coupe
'03 XC90 D5
'97 Vitesse Coupe
'03 XC90 D5
- scoobyh123
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
Try running round for a while with the heater on its hottest setting - i've found the heater is prone to air locks when the system is drained.
Might pay to keep a pair of clean shoes ready in the boot for those "farm fresh" after work times though!
Might pay to keep a pair of clean shoes ready in the boot for those "farm fresh" after work times though!
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
traineefarmer wrote:Got it all back together and running today. It now runs and goes and a T series should.
A lovely nearly silent idle land an immense linear shove in the back when you get your foot down. It's going to need a few miles to bed everything in but improvement in drivability is fantastic.
Great news Tom, I noticed a big improvement when I did mine, no where near as much work as you've done but still a lot quicker. Trouble is now I like to hang on to second and third gears more and feel that torque steer.
Shaun
Mk2 Vitesse Fastback
- traineefarmer
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Re: Cylinder head refurb and improvements.
YES! It wasn't noticable when the engine was poorly, but when I first booted it in second, I thought I'd blown a tyre! I'm getting used to holding the steering a bit tighter now...
Tom.
'97 Vitesse Coupe
'03 XC90 D5
'97 Vitesse Coupe
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