Now I have opened a can of worms by getting my engine running I have a big job to do.. The engine has very clattery valve gear.. (I did post a video of it in the FB group). Today I did a proper investigation with a new set of gauges and across all 16 valves.. The results are not good. and are as follows..
cylinder 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4
valve a b a b a b a b
inlet .009 .008 .023 .012 .026 .020 .006 .007
exhaust .021 .021 .024 .023 .012 .014 .018 .013
So it looks like the valves need re setting. I've done many XK engines using bucket an shim tappets in the past and early Golf GTI engines but it looks to me like the entire cam carrier has to come off the lotus engine to do this. It also looks like the exhaust cam carrier may be difficult to remove with the engine fitted in the car. Any advice on getting this job done, Tim Engle has mentioned on FB to err on the side of keeping the clearances wide. aside from this issue the engine appears to be water and oil tight and starts easily enough an is defiantly pumping lots of oil about to the top of the engine!
Valve clearances
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Valve clearances
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...
1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel
1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel
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Re: Valve clearances
Yep - the cam carriers have to come off the do the shims. Doesn't look like it will take too much to get them in shape. Do the trial assembly "dry" - no sealant - it is about 0.0005" when applied for final assembly. One thing recommended when rebuilding the top end (cylinder head off) is to put a restrictor in the oil flow to the cam gear. Check the cam end float while you're at it, and don't forget that the cam wheels will leak oil without bedding the fasteners on silicone (cams are gun drilled)!
Pete
Pete
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Re: Valve clearances
I did mine back in 2009 viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2235&p=22987&hilit ... ces#p22987
Cheers, Phil
Never take life seriously, nobody gets out alive anyway!
Never take life seriously, nobody gets out alive anyway!
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Re: Valve clearances
Did you have to make any allowance for the sealant?Tanz wrote: ↑Mon Apr 11, 2022 17:31I did mine back in 2009 viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2235&p=22987&hilit ... ces#p22987
Of all the things I have lost I think I miss my mind the most...
1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel
1952 MG TD
1957 MGA 1500
1959 Austin Healey Sprite
1975 MG Midget 1500
1990 Lotus Excel
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- Location: Norwich
Re: Valve clearances
Depends on the sealant in use, but if it's the one Lotus recommend (or the replacement for it) they are "zero thickness" meaning it's less than a thou' so no need to allow for it.
- Alan_M
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Re: Valve clearances
Some good sources of info from Tim Engel
Excel worksheet to keep record what you’re doing together with lots of good advice/method
http://www.holycows.net/Lotus/Shim_Worksheet.xls
Excel worksheet to keep record what you’re doing together with lots of good advice/method
http://www.holycows.net/Lotus/Shim_Worksheet.xls