I guess I’m going to call him “Leo”

[scot850]

Is your car running twin SU carbs? I'm not sure what they fit to these cars in the US. Some later cars got twin Strombergs.

One thing to watch for is the modern fuels can cause problems with the floats and the floats can become leaky.

Neil.

[DonnVa]

Is your car running twin SU carbs? I'm not sure what they fit to these cars in the US. Some later cars got twin Strombergs.

One thing to watch for is the modern fuels can cause problems with the floats and the floats can become leaky.

Neil.

I did some more investigating as what I thought was unburnt fuel in #3 really was a bit more complicated. I did a compression test and I got 0 on number 3. Stuck, probably bent valve. See picture. I took the rocker arm ass’ly off and freed it up, re-installed and adjusted valves too .016. That’s probably wrong, but I have no reference w/ the IPD cam. All the rods have a little bend in them and that one on #3, no more than the others. Some of the valves were at .014, some .015 and a couple at .018. It’s hard to reference a spec from the valve lashes. I drained the oil (it was full BTW), changed the filter and that little tank runs on all cylinders. Valves are noisy. I’m going to reassess it tomorrow. Probably a bigger job ahead. Anyway, we’ll see what happens. It’s kinda weird, it was doing fine in the limited time I ran it and that came on quick.

[scot850]

At least pulling the head is fairly easy. #0 years or more ago I could pull the head in about an hour. Other than a head gasket and thermostat gasket that is about all. Even removing and cleaning the valves is easy. I hate to say it, but I probably still have a valve compressor I used on those engines 40+ years ago!


Chances are a bit of oil leaking and car sitting for a long tie may have gummed up the valve stems. Clean them all off, oil and re-seat the valve and put it back together. Easy, Peasy.........!

I would have no issue tackling one of those old B series engines again. So simple.

Do you have the normal valve clearances for a standard engine? I would have just used the standard valve clearance. Surely the point is to lift the valve more, but then you still need a resting clearance, and Why would that change?

You did say you have some workshop manuals for the car? I can always see if I can find mine if you need info.

Neil.

[DonnVa]

Thanks, that’s what I was thinking too. I ordered a spring compressor. I’m going to pull the head and take a look. Im interested in seeing the condition of the valve, valve guide and valve lifter. I’ll know better in a couple days. If it’s just minor stuff or nothing, I’ll probably do some “while I’m in there” service as well.

[abscate]

Great piece of history and a provenance of the finest citizen from central Delaware that
I know.

Those SU carbs have a little oil reservoir you need to keep filled if I recall correctly?

[scot850]

Correct! There were arguments in the UK whether you should use a light oil ( like 3-in-1) or engine oil or ATF, can't recall which.

By the way, I don't live in Delaware.............?

Neil.

[DonnVa]

Great piece of history and a provenance of the finest citizen from central Delaware that
I know.

Those SU carbs have a little oil reservoir you need to keep filled if I recall correctly?

Yeah, that seems to be a big debate on various websites and YouTube. But, I’ve settled on the SAE 20 side of the debate. Why? I don’t know, I just did. Lol

Anyway, I’ve got everything stripped away and the head is ready to come off. I’m going to wait until Saturday afternoon to pull it. I can tell you that the intake of the head is filled with black tar.

[abscate]

20W per my MG friends , and it isn’t critical. 10w-40 orATF work fine

[foggydogg]

No clue about that pushrod, but as you already know, the car sat for a number of years.
Unless ipd says otherwise, I would stick with the stock clearances, which I think are .016 and .018.
Glad you're enjoying the car, and I'm sure Leo is too.
Just a reminder, the A/C still has 12 in it, and made icecubes the last time I used it.

[DonnVa]

No clue about that pushrod, but as you already know, the car sat for a number of years.
Unless ipd says otherwise, I would stick with the stock clearances, which I think are .016 and .018.
Glad you're enjoying the car, and I'm sure Leo is too.
Just a reminder, the A/C still has 12 in it, and made icecubes the last time I used it.

Thanks JC. I didn’t open the A/C system. The valve that stuck is an intake valve and that black goo coating all of the intake area of the head is like tar. I think the valve got stuck to the inside of the valve guide. I did some reading and E85 fuel comes up a lot as the culprit. Unless I come up with something before I put it together, like from IPD, I will just go with .016 and .018.