Opel Manta Project update 30/05/2009

[Suz]

Hey guys

Have managed to kick Jay off PC for five mins so can post update!!!!!! :-D

Last night/early hours of this morning :-D :-D following the advice of Gary removed the head from the car (so much for driving her for a while before she was dismantled!!!!!)

Managed most of it myself although did have to invest in the help of Jay to get the headbolts out (they're tough little blighters).
Have got new head set on order, new headbolts and a sump gasket (as top half of the engine out thought would take the other half out and clean it up too, mind you as will have whole engine out might strip it completely and rebuild )

Oh and thanks Gary for the MSN advice given to Jay while he was doing some research for me (Well trained or what!!!)

Going to have the head skimmed to be on the safe side as head gasket appears to only be sealing round the edge and was leaking in between cylinders. Common problem with the 2.0L CIH engine is a banana shaped head. Tomorrow nights job providing Jay finishes garage refurb tomorrow :whip: will be to strip the head completely and check valves and camshaft just got to hope don't need new valves [-o<

[Ross]

It looks in good condition to me.

If you can increase the CR there's a bit of free power for you. The pistons look det free so it will take lots more on decent fuel. Perhaps a wee bit rich :?

Bloody well done though Suz. 8)

[duncan]

It doesnt look too bad as Ross says - I would be tempted to send the head off for cleaning, polishing etc to clear the waterways as they look a little rusted up.

[Ben]

Nice job Suz, very impressed!.

I'm going to wake up Jo and get her to fit a 2.7 stroker kit to mine - I'll hoover the lounge or somthing .

But seriously good on you for getting on with it.

[Suz]

Tonight managed to strip the head down so I can send it off to have it skimmed and cleaned up.

Would appear that on cylinder 3 & 4 the exhaust valve lifters were stuck and a couple of the valves were sticking in the guides too.

Now have taken valves out I can see that the only cylinder with any pressure when Gary did the pressure test, was the only one in which the valves were sealing.

On a plus point the cam seems to be newer than the rest of the engine. No signs of wear and no movement in the carriers. The engine incidentially I found out today is from a manta a lot older than my car.

Got to turn engine tomorrow to confirm that piston 1 & 4 are in as good nick and the other two.

I am going to remove and clean the sump out but am now really in two minds as to whether to have the whole bottom end to bits.

Anyone got any advice on this? I don't want to pull it to bits for no reason but I also don't want to leave it if it is worthwhile.
The other thing is if put it back together and have only done the head and it doesn't start then I know it will be a problem within the head, if I rebuild the whole engine it could be anything causing the problem. Then I will probably have to have whole thing to bits again to sort it out.



stripped head


Cylinders 1 (left) and 2


Cylinders 3(left) and 4

[ScoobieWRX]

I like the way you've laid and marked everything out...very methodical :thumb:
You sure you're not a mechanic?
I would have said there is no point in dismantling the bottom end if it isn't knocking and it all still feels fairly tight and quiet/rattle free. If you do then you may as well rebuild the bottom end and chuck in some new big end and small end shells/bearings. Just don't forget the assembly lube!!

Or if you're feeling really flushed i can see some nice forged items burning a huge hole in your pocket!! Cracking job!!

[Suz]

Point to note for now and future parts for this are getting very thin on the ground
Pistons no longer available and most other engine parts are ald stock only and take some finding :x :x

[ScoobieWRX]

I bet you're more likely to find parts for it in Germany or the continent generally than you are here. It wouldn't surprise me that there are still parts available in places like Poland and Eastern block as those poor buggers can't really afford new cars so they keep their old ones going for much longer than we do.

You can always have parts made for you anyway so there's never anything you cannot eventually get but that does get expensive.

[Suz]

Hey guys

Have to say after losing heart yesterday with the whole thing after discovring my engine was from an older car and poss not converted to unleaded, tonight has cheered me up no end.

Had a good look at the block tonight and from look of things has recently been rebuilt(and well) :thumb: so no need at all to even consider removing the bottom end. Looked at bores properly and they still have the marks where they were honed last time so can't have had much use since was last done and the pistons have no side to side movement either
Have cleaned up couple of the valves to and they appear to be the hardened valves suitable for unleaded I'm assuming where fitted during rebuild, and will be fine cleaned up so not got to buy a new set
Also jacked her up and had good look underneath and it would appear to be a lot more solid than I was expecting.
Managed to sort indicator prob to so they all working.
Removed a redundant fuel pump the had just had the pipes cut and rerouted to an electric pump.
Also have painted the block so she looking very pretty now!!!!! :-D :-D

[ScoobieWRX]

Result :thumb: