tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Okay, the latest in the saga of getting my '79 Vermillion Red MGB ready for the summer. Remember she blew her stack last week & scalded my stomach (https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/287631/page/1#Post287631) & was running rough so I dinked around with the timing to get her smoothed out.
....Well, today, I replaced the original Opus distributor/coil & aftermarket Crane XR700 with a Pertronix distributor & Pertronix Flame Thrower coil (the Opus is notorious for failing - usually the amplifier assembly - & its been in there since the car was new) because I thought the indicators from our last drive (power loss) was possibly timing related (when I checked the timing with my light this afternoon, it was 3-degrees off - not bad for timing it by ear the other day!). I also wanted to head off possible problems if the Opus was going bad.....so, after setting the timing with the light, she ran like a bat out of...(you know where)..with that new ignition - impressive!
...except the tachometer didn't work...I can't remember but I think way back when I installed the Crane, I had to change a couple of tach wires; so, no big deal...
...then, while zipping down the road, she went "flutter"...then "POP, clack, bang" & lost all her power
So, I limped her back to the garage & pulled the valve cover...#5 rocker had jumped off the pushrod & lodged the pushrod between itself & the edge of the pushrod hole...so, I replaced the bent pushrod, retorqued the head & rocker assembly, & adjusted the valves....then, I took her for a drive....ran like a bat out of....
...then, while zipping down the road, she went "flutter"...then "POP, clack, bang" & lost all her power
I limped her back to the garageagain & pulled the valve cover one more time...the #5 rocker had jumped off the pushrod & lodged the pushrod between itself & the edge of the pushrod hole!
So, I've either got a bad tappet or worn cam!! & if the tappet's bad, you can bet the cam's worn!
She has 102,169 original miles on her & the engine's never been opened or pulled (I've done valve jobs & normal maintenance but nothing serious)....so, after I get back from Europe in July, its time to pull the engine & refresh it....oil pressure is about 60psi hot, 50 or so cold so it won't be major, just new rings, bearings, cam.
....Well, today, I replaced the original Opus distributor/coil & aftermarket Crane XR700 with a Pertronix distributor & Pertronix Flame Thrower coil (the Opus is notorious for failing - usually the amplifier assembly - & its been in there since the car was new) because I thought the indicators from our last drive (power loss) was possibly timing related (when I checked the timing with my light this afternoon, it was 3-degrees off - not bad for timing it by ear the other day!). I also wanted to head off possible problems if the Opus was going bad.....so, after setting the timing with the light, she ran like a bat out of...(you know where)..with that new ignition - impressive!
...except the tachometer didn't work...I can't remember but I think way back when I installed the Crane, I had to change a couple of tach wires; so, no big deal...
...then, while zipping down the road, she went "flutter"...then "POP, clack, bang" & lost all her power
So, I limped her back to the garage & pulled the valve cover...#5 rocker had jumped off the pushrod & lodged the pushrod between itself & the edge of the pushrod hole...so, I replaced the bent pushrod, retorqued the head & rocker assembly, & adjusted the valves....then, I took her for a drive....ran like a bat out of....
...then, while zipping down the road, she went "flutter"...then "POP, clack, bang" & lost all her power
I limped her back to the garageagain & pulled the valve cover one more time...the #5 rocker had jumped off the pushrod & lodged the pushrod between itself & the edge of the pushrod hole!
So, I've either got a bad tappet or worn cam!! & if the tappet's bad, you can bet the cam's worn!
She has 102,169 original miles on her & the engine's never been opened or pulled (I've done valve jobs & normal maintenance but nothing serious)....so, after I get back from Europe in July, its time to pull the engine & refresh it....oil pressure is about 60psi hot, 50 or so cold so it won't be major, just new rings, bearings, cam.