6 replies to this topic

[JonCon3]

Hi All,

 

Picked up this beauty about a month ago from fellow RPR member Monkeey: 

 

 

She didn't run so it was time to dig in.... 

 

I found out the camshaft pulley pin broke so the timing belt was not spinning the cam. I pulled the head to investigate further. This is what i found:

 

 

 

Ouch.... so that head is toast.  Im thinking the engine was run with too little oil causing the cam bearings to burn and not turn easily, hence the broken pulley pin. This would make sense because the engine is caked in oil from a bad valve cover gasket.

 

Anyways, the plan of action now is to get a new cylinder head put on and get her running. Then I plan on a complete cleaning including taking most of the interior out. I really want to make this thing look new again.

 

Heres some more pictures:

 

 

mmmmmm.... new timing belt tensioner and water pump

 

Needs some work...

 

 

 

 

Some small valve dings on the pistons.

 

 

Anyone got a side marker light housing they're willing to part with?

 

I can't wait to wash this thing!

[PuddleSkipper]

Nice!! Two thumbs up for being Non-CRX build! I need some variety!   My SI did the same thing with the cam journal, I was so disappointed. You should check out wagon builds by OG Wagon, Sindrlla, and I think BigOrange also had one. Keep on posting!

[JonCon3]

Oh awesome. Thanks for letting me know about the other wagon builds. I'm so excited about this thing. It's surprisingly hard to find a EW1 cylinder head though.. I have a few options in the works that will hopefully work out.

[millcreek]

You gonna put some rings in it while that head is off?????

[JonCon3]

Cylinder rings? Probably not. Wouldn't i have to open the bottom end to do that? I'm hoping it will start up when i get a new head put on and then ill do a leak down and compression test to see the overall health and go from there. I've found a new head from a fellow RPR member so hopefully I'll be able to find out soon.

 

Quick update: I've bought new corner lights and installed them and then thoroughly cleaned the outside of the car (wash, clay bar). Ive also started cleaning the inside.

 

 

 

inside before

 

after

 

Im going to break out the steam cleaner soon to start really taking off the layers of dirt. I'll update when i can.

[JonCon3]

Update: I rebuild a cylinder head and installed it. Hooked up everything and it ran pretty poorly. I found a vacuum leak and checked compression. Compression was right around 175 for all cylinders. I put it all back together again and it ran much better but I had a coolant leak. Coolant was getting on to the exhaust and smoking.

I applied liquid gasket to the coolant hose piece that attaches to the cylinder head and noticed a bolt was missing from the distributor part that attaches to the head. So I had 2/3.. Doh! I'm going to re-attach everything and double check bolt torques and valve clearances. But after a few tweaks of the carb and setting the distributor timing, she should be road worthy once again!

I'll post some pictures in a bit.

Edited by JonCon3, 20 March 2015 - 12:21 PM.

[JonCon3]

Before valve grinding:


After:



Here's a video of the car running and idling poorly before I found the vacuum leak:

Edited by JonCon3, 19 March 2015 - 12:43 PM.