Post-Swap Engine Problems

[PaulN]

Hmm. Looks like my reluctance wasn't unfounded.
Call from NW's - they have 'had a look at it' and confirmed HVL problem.
6 hours labour (if you have a look at the service labour times document in the downloads area, this seems about right) and they say that they may need up to 4 new lifters at £15 a piece - to be ordered for delivery tomorrow.
I have told them to proceed, but yet again reminder them that it's a brand new engine and I can't see how they will need parts.
They said that they would begin work on it.
Clever diagnosis of 4 new lifters given that they haven't actually begun to strip the engine.

They estimate £700 +VAT


unbef*ckinglievable

...and all because I ran out of time to do it myself before Donington.

F@cking Hell Sy,

I thought £390 for a good check over and an A serivce from our Dealer was painful!

But your engine bay looks lovely and you will have an as new car.

Cheers

PaulN

Ps Your engine bay does look lovely..... thought it was worth saying twice.

[Sy V]

Thanks Paul and Paul.

Don't be surprised if there's a f*cking For Sale sign on her at Donington, because this is getting ridiculous now.

I am so pissed off, I actually feel nauseous.

[PaulN]

Thanks Paul and Paul.

Don't be surprised if there's a f*cking For Sale sign on her at Donington, because this is getting ridiculous now.

I am so pissed off, I actually feel nauseous.

Is your yellow stripe for sale?

Just Joshing ya.

Cheers

PaulN

[Enright]

Hmm. Looks like my reluctance wasn't unfounded.
Call from NW's - they have 'had a look at it' and confirmed HVL problem.
6 hours labour (if you have a look at the service labour times document in the downloads area, this seems about right) and they say that they may need up to 4 new lifters at £15 a piece - to be ordered for delivery tomorrow.
I have told them to proceed, but yet again reminder them that it's a brand new engine and I can't see how they will need parts.
They said that they would begin work on it.
Clever diagnosis of 4 new lifters given that they haven't actually begun to strip the engine.

They estimate £700 +VAT


unbef*ckinglievable

...and all because I ran out of time to do it myself before Donington.

Nooo!
That's daylight robbery, and probably completely unnecessary.
Damn, I have a bunch of those things sitting in my spare head.
All they need is recharging and they'd be good to go.
Can't you just let it be noisy until it gets to Donington, and then do the job straight after?
A tappety engine's going to be OK for a trip across the Midlands and back - surely.

Look Sy, I've got Friday off already.
Can't you take a short notice holiday?
I'd be happy to pop over and help you do the job as long as my fuel costs are covered.
That's going to be a lot less than £700!

[Sy V]

Neil

That's a great offer, but I really can't.
I'm afraid I'm just going to have to bight this rather sour bullet.

I must see if I can find out what their standard hourly labour rate is - so that I can recommend them to my worst enemies.

...and to be honest, it's not just tappety mate. It turns heads from people walking away from you on the pavement as you're driving up behind them.

[Sy V]

Do you think CL would get the hump on Saturday, if I sat in a corner of the Hall and did a spot of begging?

[muley]

Sy,

Sorry to hear about your latest challenge. It's a bit late now but you could have borrowed my snotter for Donny and fixed your new engine at your leisure ...

I'm starting to wonder if the noise isn't an HVL but something more sinister (hope not!) - it's just that you did some some ancillary bolts loose - hopefully the previous owner didn't slacken off a big end or main bearing just for laughs - but maybe you checked all that before you slung the lump into your car.

Enjoy Donny anyway,

Cheers

Jim

[Sy V]

...hopefully the previous owner didn't slacken off a big end or main bearing just for laughs

Yeah, what a laugh I would have if this turns out to be true!

- but maybe you checked all that before you slung the lump into your car...

In the words of our resident Joker: "Did I bollocks "

[GeoffSmith]

That isn't a joke and I sympathise.

I just hope that they have given you a worst case bill and that it will not turn out to be not quite so serious. I mean, how can they tell it's four new lifters if they haven't stripped it yet?

Keep the faith.

Geoff

[algirdas]

Dear Sy:

Please excuse me if this has already been suggested, but have you taken an engine stethoscope (or long rubber hose) to the cam cover and then other parts of the motor to isolate the racket?

As queer as it may sound (and, trust me, your friends will get a kick out of watching you play doctor), I have been pretty successful in isolating engine issues (noisy water pump bearings, loose valve tappets (on a twincam), disintegrating generator pulley, etc.) using an engine stethoscope.

Just an idea to make sure 700 dinars gets you the result you are looking for and genuinely need and not just help these monkeys make month-end payroll.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[DaveT]

Do you think CL would get the hump on Saturday, if I sat in a corner of the Hall and did a spot of begging?

Prime spot will be at the entrance where the queue builds up. You could do a spot of juggling or morris dancing for them.

How about an Obi 1 Synobi posed sat on a piece of stripey.


Seriously mate- hope its all sorted for you.

D

[Sy V]

This pains me, but I'm going to brain dump here so it may not be in any logical order.

Bottom Line First.

Stripey will not be at Donington.
We will not be attending either Friday or Saturday night meals. I hope folk will understand that I really couldn't face sitting down to eat with a host of friends who are reveling (quite properly and naturally) while I'm just gutted.
Similarly, I can't face the fact, that I'd end up explaining what's happened time after time to every well-wishing person. Frankly, I'd rather not talk about it, right now.
I've attended one Donington without Stripey in the past, and I promised myself I'd never do it again.
I may show up during the show on Saturday.
Hopefully Ailwyn will have the girl's tickets and the various parts that I have for other members - don't worry about payment (at this time) where appropriate.
If not, I will drive everything up to the services on Saturday morning, in time for the convoy roll.

I would also like to say that I apportion no blame to Nick Whales for my no-show - they've done their damnedest to sort things, but to no avail.

The new engine is toasted.
It's hard to identify the exact cause but either:
a. It was fitted to a car, problems were apparent and it was removed and sold to me as a new perfect engine, or
b. It was nobbled in so much as, various measures were taken to make its use difficult (we spotted some signs but others were not so apparent, or
c. Because of our self-imposed deadline, we chose to trust its integrity and fitted it without due care and attention/ispection and, on starting it up, we've shagged it well and proper. Actually, this last one's a fact (we chose to fit and trust rather than strip and inspect) and should be noted for future.

The exhaust and inlet cogs were one notch displaced.
I am not yet clear on the damage that may have been caused, but recharging/changing the worst HVLs has not (apparently) cured the problem.
The rattle persist, even now that the cogs are in sync.
It would appear that serious damage has been done to valves/pistons.

Time now (rather than dwell on it) is to move on.

More details when I have them.

[algirdas]

Dear Sy:

My sympathies.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[Nige]

Sincere sympathy Sy. Understand why Donington is a none event for you now, hope to see you but if not no worries.

[Monty]

Thats bad news Sy,

Hope u change your mind and come and join us friday nite and wash it all away with well at least for the weekend

If not, i`m sure we`ll keep our fingers crossed that it can be sorted.

[Enright]

Just been chatting with Nige and Ailwyn about this.
Gutted for you, and really sorry that you won't be able to make it.
It won't be quite the same.
But I can understand your feelings. I'd feel the same way.
Hope we can help you get it sorted soon, or at least offer some encouragement.

[Specky]

Sy,

Sorry to read about your misfortune I can only empathise.

Tomorrow is another day and hope you have a change of heart. (I Second Monty)

TTFN

[Russc]

Sorry to hear about the car hope it all sorts itself out ok. No worries about the lift.

Russ

[Doug]

que horrible, Simon!

I don't see why you wouldn't go and hang out with the heard though? We could just make a rule that whoever ask you about Stripey's health gets a punch to the gut. Surely there's other thing to speak of.

another possible cause is that I was secretly thinking of the jump over there again for the show and that may have killed Stripey again