SWERVE - 1978 Ute (HellPatrol)

[Swerve]

Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:55 pm

Yep colder air from the front of the engine bay, also has a open close vent on the front of the tube to close it off, which is mounted on the edge of the radiator

Is that a standard thing or has someone put it in?

Standard

On HP



On OJ no actual vent

[Swerve]

Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:46 pm

Well just fininshed todays work on HP. finished fixing rust in the crossmember and painting (wink)

Also reinstalled the cutch cover from underneath, tried to fix the exhuast leak, no good, will just pay someone

Also tidied up the electric in the cab, fixed the windscreen defroster as you need that for rego. Taped up old LPG plumbing pipes. Fixed drivers door stop also.

Also tried to get runing (tune up) and gave up, runs like a bag of $hit. Will let my mechanic tune it !. Mechanic will also arrange the exhust leak so all going well this week she will be registered !!!!!

YEAHHHH

Bad stuff, looks like there is a oil leak near the back of the head Doesnt matter as I wil start prepping a spare engine and drop her in with a clutch that works !!! Will also fix my clutch issue and will kill two birds with one stone, this can wait till later (6months or so). Also the fuel pump is leaking but I have three spares and three rebuilt kits

Steve

[Swerve]

Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:21 pm

Well picked up HP from the exhaust shop !!! Sounds much better and so quiet !!!

BUT !!! he also said it sounds like another leak from the engine around the head. This also confirms my fear !! After having a look at the engine AGAIN. I have a oil seaping leak from the rear rocker gasket abover no 6 cylinder. This to me says rocker gasket and nothing else. There is no spray or air (using hand to feel) at the rear of the block between the firewall. No other obvious external leaks.

My logic then turns to the head and valves. This car has been running on gas and chances are the head does not have hardened valve seats so these would wear out. I guess if I get a cylinder compression test this should show up the valves not sticking properly ? I don’t care if there shagged as I have three spare engines laying around my yard (good to be me) Just cant say I’m looking forward to changing another head. At least I’ve done it before now !

Any other ideas ? Also the oil is not milky so coolant not getting in there, also the coolant looks fine.

Steve

[Swerve]

Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:54 am

Thanks Esteban and John !! You two are always a great source of help when things go wrong !!

Well after my conversation with John 5:30pm my time but like (2.30am his I think) I went outside in the dark armed with my bottle of starter fluid spray. Once I warmed her up gave a spare around the rear of the Carbie and what do you know ……… Her idle increased
I then proceed to pull of the carbie and place gasket go under the carbie, bolted her back together and fingers crossed !!! Well she still did it GRHHHH

Appying logic I still have a vacuum leak and she isn’t in the gasket between the manifold and carbie. So I must have either a crack in the intake manifold or a bad manifold gasket.

Will need to wait until the weekend and do some more fault finding with starter spray to hopefully pinpoint it. Will also adjust the valves on the weekend.

PS- To answer johns question she does have headers.

[Swerve]

Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:02 pm

Like all faults it's probaly the combination that kills it.

1- I know the fuel pump is leaking
2- I know there is a vacum leak NOW
3- It was set up for gas and chances are the valves need adjusting

1 or 2 of the faults maybe wouldnt be a issue, but when all three happen, $hit flies. Have the spare pump out and ready to fit ! wil see what changes. Will then adjust the valves, see what changes, then chase the vacum leak. Hopefully after point 1 and 2 she is all good

Have to wait untill the weekend and will go from there !!! Need daylight !! working under a torch in the drice suxs

[Swerve]

Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:05 pm

Well exciting developments today !!!
1- Have changed out the fuel pump and no more leaks (no difference to running crap issue)
2- Adjusted valve clearances (no difference to running crap issue)
3- Adjusted spark gap clearance (no difference to running crap issue)
4- Installed NEW rocker cover gasket, OLD one was worn flat with the metal edges, no wonder it was leaking

Now when I installed the plugs I noticed I had two different plugs then the rest. I placed these in cyl 1 and 2 for easy access.

Went for a drive and she felt better BUT now feels like I’m missing a cylinder. Also as the exhaust is fixed I can make / feel/ hear what is going on.

Then I thought about what John said to pull a cylinder, cylinder 1 and 2 made no difference or so small you couldn’t feel it, cylinder 4,5,6 are really noticeable. I might add I wasnt getting any SHOCKS on 1,2 compared to the painfull 4,5,6

I quickly changed the leads from spare ones on Mr Bog and she feels better AGAIN. Have some stuff on order from Repco and will be installing new plugs and leads on Saturday. I am 100% certain this will resolve my running crap issue

I think back when I did work experience as a kid as a mechanic and on EVERY tune up we changed plugs, leads, oil etc. I forget being such a tight arse to change some simple things first !!


UPDATE - Just also changed the 2 BAD plugs with Mr Bog and she runs great, just feels like the carbie is a little rich now, the CRAP affect is all over. I am still running the GAS spark plugs in Cyl 3,4,5,6 and Petro plugs in 1,2 so not ideal, but ALL NEW will be installed on Saturday !!! Cant wait as this means I should be right for Registration Blue Slip Monday, and be legally driving her Monday !!! YEAHHHHH

[Swerve]

Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:25 pm

Well we went down south this weekend to do some house repairs and decided to stay Sat night as well as the wife got her way.
However I said we had to leave at 6am this morning so I could work on HP. So home at 9am Sunday and straight to work. I fitted the new plugs and leads and went for a test drive. Driving better but pretty sure the carbie needs a tune. Will leave that to the mechanic, still have a oil leak at the rear of the block, Stuff it and will deal with it later.
I also have a braking issue which I thought was the front brake as I have a really bad pull to one side. After locking it up I also thought I had a rear problem, plus locking at the rear of the hub, it looked like a brake fluid leak. So after pulling apart the rear left drum and cleaning, was covered in grease and crap whet for a drive, tested her and still pulling one way.

Pulled both front drums and the front left had a leaking wheel cylinder, after checking my spares (NONE LEFT) and no chance of getting one this weekend (Sunday ), plus couldn’t be stuffed pulling a used one from Mr Bog, I decided to lightly sand the bore as you could easily feel the corrosion, back together, bleed the system, adjusted the drums and she’s all good.
Also installed a radio today (from Rocket) so have some tunes and not looking at a hole in the dash, still need to buy some speakers, but have a crappy speaker rolling around the floor.

So in short she is already for Blue Slip (Roadworthy) tomorrow to get her registered (and a tune)

Steve

[Swerve]

Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:50 pm

Well HP still at the mechanic and having issues as only Cylinders 4,5,6 are firing ????

There working through it and hopefully will have it sorted soon ! arghhhhhh

[Swerve]

Tue Aug 04, 2009 2:35 pm

FIXED !!!!!!!!!!!


Um we had a VACUM leak on the front of the manifold !!!!!

He will show me the bolt hole when I pick it up, just need to pull a new ignition barrel and key as he won't pass rego without it !!

Steve

[Swerve]

Wed Aug 05, 2009 2:30 pm

now there is a first a vacum leak stoping the firing of 3 cylinders
must have been a monster leak
i told you to spray every where around the intake and carby !!!!LOL
Glad its fixed he got you for a sticky ignition switch man you guys got it bad

Yeah picky buggers here in Oz.

Also the biggest rip off known to mankind

RTA Cost $330
CTP Greenslip (Insurance) $569
This compiles your basic rego - $900

Then add insurance for third party property damage another $350 odd dollars.

Best off she stil runs like shit !! He reckons the leak was the issue and it still feels the same !!! The bolt missing was one I took off mid last week when I did some other work, one of the two bolts holding the air cleaner on.

The fault is No 2 cyinder has 35 psi on the compression test, so either a valve or ring. Better still after driving up teh road for rego today the front wheel cylinder has blown agan so I will need to swap that bugger !!! But at keast I can drive her legaly YEAHHHH