The V8 Owners Forum -

Hi all, just signed up to what looks like a great site. I found it as i have a bit of a problem at the mo with my TVR Wedge. It's a J.E. Engineering 4.5 conversion & I've lost compression on one of the cylinders & it makes a loud HSSSTT as you turn it over. I've just started stripping it down so being a relative novice I'll be welcoming any advice or tips.

EDIT>>> please don't link to pirate material as we can get in trouble

Has anyone had this loud hSSSTT accompanied by lossed compression?
Thanks

I would go for head gasket failure, and it's very straightforward to strip the engine down enough to see.

Chris.

Head gasket would be the first place I would look too but I'm hoping you can get the manifolds off without too much trouble. On the Chims and griffs its generally quicker to take the engine out then try to get the manifolds off in the car.

Did you buy the car like this or did it go as you were driving? If it was while you were driving what happened?

Hi chaps. I'm hoping it's gasket. It happened on the dual carriageway following a car in the outside lane @ about 60, he pulls over so I take 4th, about 3.5k rpm & rat tat tat tat......

So far...



The culprit from the top;

pwd95 wrote:
EDIT>>> please don't link to pirate material as we can get in trouble

Sorry no prob.

& the culprit is........




Ok, a couple of questions...

1. Is skimming the heads an absolute must?
2. If I'm using like for like head gaskets will the preload be affected?
3. How do you set the preload?
4. Do you have to use new bolts?
5. There's only two rows of bolts, is it true that the outer row can be left off or only done up with a lot less tourque.

Ta in advance

Wyn

1. No but it depends if the head was damaged or not

2. if you use comp gaskets (that's what you have fitted) preload will stay the same assuming you don't skim the heads.

3. put a bit of wire the right thickness between the plunger in the lifter and the circlip that holds it in. Have a search for more detail as this has been covered many times.

4. If they are the newer stretch bolts then yes you should replace them. Many people don't but technically you should. Personally I would upgrade to ARP studs and help save blown gaskets in the first place.

5. Correct yes its true.

Looking at the pics you have late 10 bolt heads,which dont have the outer bolts which can be left out or left semi lose.The gasket pictured has only 4 bolts around each cylinder,these heads are the redesigned ones which eliminate the outer row bolt problem.You need to fit all the head bolts and torque them equally.I have just stripped down a late 4.6 which had several loose bolts on late 10 bolt heads in the outer row center with similar damage to yours starting to form on both gaskets,though it was still running.
I am going to use studs or earlier bolts to try and avoid it happening again.
Doug

Thanks for your replies chaps.
Only 10 bolts were in the head so I must assume that the problem bolts were left out in the first place;....

Ok from the last pic you posted they are 14 bolt heads but as you say thay have had the outer row of short bolts left out.Were there caps blocking off the holes for them?The gaskets in your pics are the later 10 bolt type meaning either tvr left the outer bolts out or the gaskets have been replaced at some stage.To be sure I would be fitting studs to prevent any chance of the bolts getting loose in the future.
Doug

Thanks for your replies so far chaps.
The heads are away now for skimming, re-assembling & cleaning.
I've ordered a gasket & shim set from RPI.
Has anyone got an actual idiots guide for bleeding the followers, checking the preload & priming it all back up?

Thanks again
Wyn

try here mate:
http://www.rpiv8.com/engine-4.htm#pre-load

i must get a section set up on the forum for such things as setting preload and bleeding lifters hopefully with pictures etc.
maybe it should be called Technical or something,

pwd95 wrote:Thanks for your replies so far chaps.
The heads are away now for skimming, re-assembling & cleaning.
I've ordered a gasket & shim set from RPI.
Has anyone got an actual idiots guide for bleeding the followers, checking the preload & priming it all back up?

Thanks again
Wyn

here you go this should help you out, started just for you but hopfuly will help loads!!!!

http://www.v-8.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=16873#16873

Fantastic, just the job. Thank you very much. Might invest in a set of adjustable rods.