Dean's Activa/XM/V6 and now Talbot blog

[Stickyfinger]

better ask Otterchops what she thinks

[Deanxm]

Walking away from a nice XM is one of,my real auto regrets, just as walking away from a nice CX......

But you ended up with Otterchops, so all is well that ended well.

Were these nice XM and Cx's known reliable and solid cars or were they glossy near purchases of a potential money pit? it could of been the later but i guess you will never know

And what on earth is "otterchops" (im hoping its not an affectionate name for the wife).

D

[Deanxm]

Dim moment, the car is called Otterchops, very individual.
In true chav style all my cars are called Betsey!

D

[Xantianut]

Ay up!!!

I suspect they were moneypits. I have my father's back of buying a junkheap!

Otterchops excepted of course.....

[Deanxm]

I think some of my insides are now poking out but i got the engine and box into the shed this evening after bringing it back last night, it want until 10pm i realised it wouldnt fit throughh the door of the shed with the headers on which was interesting but its done now.

Need to close that shed door and concentrate on finishing the bathroom now!!

photo(39) by Deanxm, on Flickr
photo(38) by Deanxm, on Flickr
photo(37) by Deanxm, on Flickr

D

[CitroJim]

What's going on with that engine then Dean? Do you have a V6 XM now then or are you doing a conversion on yours?

I've clearly missed an important bit somewhere!

[Deanxm]

There is a slight conversion on the cards, i think someone shouted "change places" and now a few engines are going to jump from one car to another over the next year

D

[CitroJim]

Excellent Dean I shall be watching progress with great interest!

[Deanxm]

ER or casualty or some rubbish was on tonight so i had to "go and clean up the mess from todays work down the garden"..................

Oil in the V from an unknown source, may be nothing
photo(41) by Deanxm, on Flickr

I performed a hand cranked compression test with all other plugs out (bloody hard going) most of the inlet valves arent seating well at all but look clean, higher compression cylinders have a tan colour to plugs, lower comp cylinders have black rich looking plug tips, one plug has rusted away.
photo(40) by Deanxm, on Flickr

Front bank return water way was (until i broke it out) completely closed off with a hard crust, there were some nuts stashed in the water pump outlet, gearbox bell housing and exposed spark plug recesses.
photo(42) by Deanxm, on Flickr

I need to get the crank pulley off to release the timing chain cover, the chain and guide blocks look very good which would confirm low miles, chains look very good too so will probably just clean and re-use, once the timing cover is off i can get the heads out of the way and check each of the bores to make sure there is no corrosion and the rings are free, if its all good i can start stripping the heads down and get them off to Fred for any required machining work.

Sad facts for the night, the 4HP18 autobox uses the same final drive and gear ratios for all injection, turbo and V6 engines, only changes were made the the bell housing adapter plate and valve body, all auto boxes use the same drive shafts aswell which i kind of knew but its nice to confirm it, that will make life easier.

The exhaust flange from the headers is also the same size as my injection engine, the injection 8v reduces pipe size after the cat where i guess the V6 does not so i should be able to fettle the new cat i got to fit if the one on YOG is a bit too tired.

Looking good so far.

D

[CitroJim]

ER or casualty or some rubbish was on tonight so i had to "go and clean up the mess from todays work down the garden"..................

I used to do the same... Could never stand those shows whereas all the rest of the family love them; Robyn especially... Should have known then she'd grow up to be a nurse!!!

Better to work on a V6 any time than rot in front of a TV Dean

Looking good so far.

It certainly is Enjoying this immensely!

[Deanxm]

Me too Jim, once it is stripped down I can see what's needed and start sourcing parts to re-build.

So far I'm going to need;
Heads skimmed
Head bolt set
Pair of head gaskets
Set of valve stem seals
Cam seals
Crank seals
Torque converter input seal
Driveshaft seal
Inlet manifold seals
Starter motor
Heat shields for above
ENGINE COVER
Icv
Full gasket and stud set for exhaust
Stat
Water pump?
Rotor, dist cap and red plug leads
Distributer cover
Belt set

D

[CitroJim]

You have all winter to sort that lot out Dean and I'm sure Matthew can be of massive assistance in securing all you need

Think of all the episodes of Casualty you now have the perfect reason not to watch!

[Deanxm]

Ive not been in the shed again this evening.

Follower and ballancer assembly, followers are all alloy
photo(48) by Deanxm, on Flickr

First look inside, this head was taken off first as its cylinders had the lowest compression (4.1-4.8-8.1bar respectively) and it looks good, im certain all the compression loss was due entirely to bad valve seats.
photo(50) by Deanxm, on Flickr

bad detritus buildup in the water jacket, the heds had to come off.
photo(47) by Deanxm, on Flickr

A quick wipe with a dry cloth on the piston crowns
photo(49) by Deanxm, on Flickr

The outcome so far from tonight, the crank pulley is toast, its cracked along the keyway slot right were the crank seal runs, oil pump is excellent, bores are excellent, no wear lip, no heav rust and hone marks still clearly there, piston rings are floating nicely and the water jacket is full of potentially catostophic crud.
Worth lifting the heads off.

D

[Deanxm]

Taste of things to come
photo(55) by Deanxm, on Flickr

Exhaust Port (Rough as a badgers)
photo(58) by Deanxm, on Flickr
Inlet Port (Nice)
photo(62) by Deanxm, on Flickr
photo(63) by Deanxm, on Flickr

Cylinder head
photo(56) by Deanxm, on Flickr

Things are moving on nicely now, will stall for a week now while i finish the last bits of the bathroom and spend some time with the little one but then back to it

D

[CitroJim]

Looking like new Dean