Engine rebuild pt3...

Replacement con rod cap bolts arrived Saturday morning - so I cleaned and oiled up all the bits and refitted pistons 1 and 4 with new bolts and torqued them up to
45 Ibs ft without any problems.

Fitting two of the cylinder head bolts into block as guilds, cleaned the surfaces and fitted the head gasket and head - tightening the nuts and bolts in the correct order.

After positioning the crank back to TDC on 1 and 4, I started fitting the timing chain and gear assembly. I will refit the original chain tensioner and check to see if it needs replacing.

3hrs

Engine breakdown... pt5

Off with it's HEAD!

Having read my TR7 repair manual a couple of times, I started by removing the camshaft cover and unbolting the timing chain top sprocket from the camshaft.

Then I started loosening the cylinder nuts and bolts in the order from the manual. After removing the nuts I used my large bladed screw driver and adjustable spanner to remove the studs, but the two outer studs wouldn't undone.

Using my hide hammer I hit around the flange to break the seal. With the two studs still in place this made it very difficult to lift and the timing chain was also rubbing on the casting. After some gently persuasion (not) the head lifted off.

I was pleased to see very little water corrosion to the aluminium head - after having a couple of conversations other TR7 owners who's cylinder heads had been badly damaged.

A quick visual inspection of the bores also looked good, the block and crank were replaced back in 1985 due to a thrust washers failure.

3.5 hrs