Niall's 2000 306 XS A.K.A Craig

[Niall]

My 1.8 had chronic oil-burning issues, turned out to be the oil control rings. Have you checked that this isn't the problem on yours? Don't know how much easier it is to do with the head on/off. I know you can test oil seals on valves by pouring a little petrol into them, maybe it's the same with piston rings? Otherwise it's a leakdown test, which looks like you might need specialist equipment.

It's not. You generally develop a slight bit of play in the pistons when the rings go and there's none. Also, there has been oil and coolant sitting in the cylinders for the past 2 days and that hasn't gone anywhere!

Poodle, I'm getting tempted to sack it. There's a chance now it could need a new block....

[ginge191]

keep the block mate, refurb it, turbo it and get a derv as a daily!!!

[Niall]

keep the block mate, refurb it, turbo it and get a derv as a daily!!!

I've already got a derv as a daily! Lol

Had a bit of a problem last night. Bolted the head back on (new deals are much better fit and seem to be much tighter. Old ones look nothing like the Peugeot ones lol) and the bolt in top left wouldnt torque up properly. Next thing, the water pump is seized. Removed the water pump to find a bolt has broken through into the water pump housing
Don't know what's happened yet as its not the head bolt. Only thing I can think of is a bolt has dropped down the bolt hole whilst I had the head off.

Thankfully, I found a cut through diagram of the block and it doesn't go through any water or oil ways so I'm going I have a proper look tonight and see if it can be left as is (hopefully the head bolt sits just above the new hole). If its bad news, I've just found a entire engine in Hendon for 150 quid.

[samass]

hmm that sounds like fun! hopefully its sorted, if you need to drop a new lump in, im happy to help, did mine so have a rough idea of what im doing!

[Niall]

Cheers Sam! Much appreciated.
Have just gone and had a look in th day light and it's good news.
I found the piece that broke off and there is actually a hole in it anyway. The reason the bolt went through was a massive f*ck up on my behalf as there should be a spacer under that bolt (even though service box doesn't show it!). The actual bit of metal that broke off is only about 2mm thick so that will be why I didn't even notice when torquing it up!
Going to get a new bolt in there, new water pump as a wrecked my nice new one and carry on building it up!

[samass]

no worries dude, coming into a bit of free pre exams post deadlines, and ill have time off work too, winnarr!
sounds good anyway, hopefully thats it! *touch wood*

[Niall]

no worries dude, coming into a bit of free pre exams post deadlines, and ill have time off work too, winnarr!
sounds good anyway, hopefully thats it! *touch wood*

I did actually almost buy an engine today but thought better of it and thought I would be patient. Might still buy it as another project to build over a long time then wack it in with a 6 box and maybe some form of positive manifold pressure

[samass]

THAT
would be a good idea

[Scott]

I was reading that wondering when you might have some form of good news! That's kinda good to hear mate, bring the waterpump back and just say it was faulty and seized.

[Grant]

I was reading that wondering when you might have some form of good news! That's kinda good to hear mate, bring the waterpump back and just say it was faulty and seized.

Theres a hole in the side of it with part of the metal sheared off lol.

Would do well to blag your way through that one... :pray:

[Niall]

I was reading that wondering when you might have some form of good news! That's kinda good to hear mate, bring the waterpump back and just say it was faulty and seized.

Everything went so well until first start and I realised the seals were bad. Then it went down hill from there

Hoping to get the new bolt and spacer in the head tomorrow. Water pump is on order but can't get it till Friday as funds have run dry. Hoping to have it back on the road Saturday afternoon providing there's no more disasters!

[Ed Doe]

That's the pug way though isn't it? If everything's gone to plan so far something bad is about to happen!!

[Niall]

That's the pug way though isn't it? If everything's gone to plan so far something bad is about to happen!!

Haha yep it is!
Things seem to be getting better now (famous last words!)
Got the new head bolt in with spacer this time and that torqued up really nicely unlike last time. The hole it made is bunged up. The part that broke through was about 1mm thick and the head bolt would of sat dead flush on top of it so I've pikey'd it up style and put a bit of PTFE tape on the bottom of the bolt to stop the water going back up the threads (not that it will be able to but just to be double sure.
Everything else is on now so just waiting on a water pump then can time it up and start it for the first time.....again!

Going to run it like that and then in a couple of thousand miles (assuming it lasts that long), take the water pump off and inspect the damage and see if it's still ok!

Also will be buying a new engine on Saturday so will be doing some work on that for a new project

[Scott]

If there's boost involved with the new engine then pencil me in for a few weekends worth of win helping out

[Niall]

If there's boost involved with the new engine then pencil me in for a few weekends worth of win helping out

I'm not going to confirm that there is no boost involved in xu7jp4 version 2

[samass]

Good news! Also count me in if you need an extra pair hands with the engine, deffo game!

[Niall]

I haven't got that much coffee and bacon for a meet to build my car! Haha

[samass]

Im sure Scott could drop by cosco enroute....

[Scott]

Mate if you buy the bacon I'm volunteering Kim to make the sarnies

[Matt]

I could pick up some bacon on my way up

[Niall]

Mate if you buy the bacon I'm volunteering Kim to make the sarnies

Right jobs a goodun then. Better start investing in lots of turbos and piping.....oh and a omex

[Scott]

Why not megasquirt it? I'm sure Jonny has one which he's not using?

[cwspellowe]

LOTS of turbos?

[Niall]

Why not megasquirt it? I'm sure Jonny has one which he's not using?

Could use that. Haven't really looked into management at the moment. Turbos, piping and other various bits I have done a bit of looking into but I'm still unsure what turbo to go for. Will need to be low boost as I'm not buying new forged internals. Would have to be custom made as no one stocks them for the 1.8

Chris, only the 1 turbo unfortunately

[Jonny b]

Sorry bud sold my mega squirt management to Dum Dum ages ago

[Niall]

Epicness of the fuckup



How it is now. Hard to see in the pic but the bottom of the headbolt sits on the bit that I've broken out. That was only a couple of mm thick! Thankfully it's just broken the bottom of the bolt housing and it hadnt broken through any waterways!

[Atterz]

Ive heard of this happening before on Dixons race car that used the same engine as this! The way they fixed it was by using liquid metal on the affected area and it worked well.

[Niall]

Ive heard of this happening before on Dixons race car that used the same engine as this! The way they fixed it was by using liquid metal on the affected area and it worked well.

I was going to but there's not really any need. It doesn't go through to anywhere.
The headbolt threaded the hole so I might make a core plug to put in there if I can be bothered.

[Ed Doe]

Will need to be low boost as I'm not buying new forged internals. Would have to be custom made as no one stocks them for the 1.8

Chris, only the 1 turbo unfortunately

Totally not trying to piss on your parade at all, but you may need forged pistons to get any decent power gains due to the increased cylinder temps with turbo'ing. Ruan will inevitably be along shortly to correct me, but I'm sure this is the general principle, as there is a lot more variance in how the boost comes in, which can cause lean/rich running....

[Scott]

From what Ruan's been saying though you can get up to 300bhp on standard internals, so I'd assume up to that point if you have the correct AFR and it's all mapped correctly, that it shouldn't start melting things?