Lowrider Dave's V6

[Lowrider Dave]

It's alright mate I know you were just joshing, I just thought I should share my reasons - I'd be the first to admit I'm less than 100% on my glove wearing habits!

[Lowrider Dave]

Finally received the oil cooler pipes int he post this week from some guy on Migweb, but one of the pipes had a fubarred nut, bent into unusable shape. Not pleased.
But as luck would have it, the fubarred pipe is the good pipe on my original set, so I can make a complete set from two half knackered ones! Rebuild will commence tomorrow as long as the heavens don't deem in necessary to drown the garage.

[Lowrider Dave]

Cracked on with it today. Fitted the oil cooler pipes, then replaced both rocker cover gaskets, O rings and new Iridium spark plugs. New thermostat and water transfer pipe and then wrestled in the radiator - about 6hrs worth of work.

[humbucker]

nice plugs dude, but im guessing the following pic was of one of the existing plugs as that plug cavity looks pretty unhealthy?!



the ol' cam cover leak rearing it's head... make sure you only tighten the cam covers back up to 8Nm, any tighter and you'll encourage another leak. good work with the other bits, engine's looking nice and clean

[Lowrider Dave]

It was a pic of what I found on the rear bank when I took the cover off - took me a while to soak out the oil. The middle plug wasn't as bad but still needed cleaning and the third was bone dry! I was careful with the tightening of the cover and generous with the black stuff (but not too much), so fingers crossed it'll be okay.
Chuffed with the progress, I even managed to get the rad back in and secured with those funny metal clips!

Took my time with the cam covers, cleared off the old sealant, degunked the cover and 'back to blacked' them before replacing them. Oil cooler pipes got a quick brush with the wire brush on the drill. Everything else has been cleaned up and has new gaskets for rebuild. Wanted to get it ready for Wednesday when I'm doing a VXR day at Thruxton, but I think that's being optomistic - I still have to do the Forte/flush routine and put run some oil through. A lot hinges on the weather.

I noticed a slight wear on the outer edge of the cams - is this normal?



Replacements for the rusty airbox bolts:

[Lowrider Dave]

Small undate. Since partaking in VXRs Track Day at Thruxton last month, I trapped a nerve in my spine which has seen me signed off for 4 weeks. I can't use my right arm, so any activity is out of the question. I was in blinding agony for the first week, I am now 'just' in constant pain! I can type with my left hand now so thought i'd do a quck post before the pain kicks in. Nothing worse being off work and knowing the car is almost complete...! c ya later.

[Lowrider Dave]

Small update.
Still suffering from June's injury so no further work has been done.
With less than 2 months until I hit the highways of EU-land on my rally I need to get the old girl back together and sorted, failing that, a cheap banger for under £250 might have to do! (offers appreciated!).

[HAIRIBO]

Nasty, get well soon mate, Back pain is not a nice thing.

[Lowrider Dave]

Nasty, get well soon mate, Back pain is not a nice thing.

Cheers, indeed it is not nice at all!

[Lowrider Dave]

After 7 weeks on inactivity due to trapped nerve in my spine, I throw caution to the wind and attempted to further the reassembly, got reasonable far before I decided not to over do it.

[humbucker]

looking very clean indeed dave, keep up the good work, taking your time over it looks like its paying off

[Lowrider Dave]

Went to change the fan ceramic fuse thing. I had this to fit:


But the car has this:


Oh dear. Anyone got a spare I can buy off them please?

[Mikebmth]

Keep plugging on dave, looks a clean motor...

Will look forward to seeing her in the flesh once complete!!

[Lowrider Dave]

Filled with water and oil and hooked battery up - after a few seconds turning over she fired! I let her run for a few minutes before switch off. Oil on the downpipe was creating a bit of smoke, but no obvious leaks - will need to let it run to temperature but want to get the blower resistor in, scuttle, wipers and lights all back on before the next test.
Interestingly, as the front is on axles stands I noted the wheels rotate slowly whilst the engine is running!

[iangsi]

[quote="Interestingly, as the front is on axles stands I noted the wheels rotate slowly whilst the engine is running![/quote]

All front wheel drive cars do it, if you stop one wheel the other speeds up !

[Lowrider Dave]

[quote="Interestingly, as the front is on axles stands I noted the wheels rotate slowly whilst the engine is running!

All front wheel drive cars do it, if you stop one wheel the other speeds up ![/quote]

After all these years, I'd never noticed that before!

[Lowrider Dave]

Dusty


New resistor


Elephant's trunk


Elephant's trunk seen from insinde the scuttle area


The reason to cut off a bit from the end of the trunk...
Build up of rubbish:



Scuttle back in place


Engine bay now everything is back together


The car as it is now. Found I couldn't bolt up the pass. side of the bumper without taking the water bottle out. Once bumper bolted on, couldn't replace water bottle without removing foglight! Waterbottle back in, can't replace top bolt on foglight as not enough space for my fingers! I now find I didn't connect the foglights before putting the bumper on, so I've tied up the wiring out of the way until I can be bothered, ie. when it gets a respray in November. Bumper seems out of alignment anyway.

[humbucker]

very tidy indeed dave, engine bay looks really clean

[jimmy]

Nice work there mate

[Lowrider Dave]

Thanks! I like a clean and tidy engine bay. Pity the V6 has so many bits and pieces to make it look untidy! best get that engine cover back on

[humbucker]

yeah its a pretty unattractive engine when you compare it to a LET or XE. no wonder they hid it with a cover! i have the alloy cam covers on mine but i think i'll be returning to the plastic cover when the rebuild comes, complete with a painted engine cover. much nicer.

[Lowrider Dave]

I plan to have the cover sprayed when I have the respray done

[Lowrider Dave]

Ran her for the second time, this time to temperture and the thermo kicked in okay as did the fan. Topped up water.

Now need to refit bonnet, fix off side slow puncture I didn't realise I had and take her for a drive.

Ordered new door mirrors and front indicators.

Spotted a white 4 dr this morning on the M27.

[Cavalier342]

Good progress there mate, she's looking beautiful
Andrei.

[Lowrider Dave]

Got the bonnet fitted at last, so it's ready to roll. Need to flush oil and water again, but a few local runs and an eye on a slow front puncture and alls good. Pics to follow.

Oh yeah, managed to bag a set of Vectra super touring 16" alloys from ebay for £150! I'm presuming they'll fit