XFLOW Problems

[paulandabbe]

I have been having problems with a 1600 xflow, It came in a project car, it would start and smoke very bad, filling garage with smoke and running badly, I had relapped the valves a few years back and fitted all back together, it appeared to be ok but has a noisy camshaft. So I have just taken off the head to check, bore number 3 is clean, the others look normal. Any ideas, compression test was a lower on three, had spark on all four plugs. Why would this cylinder be clean compared to the others? 😕 

[paulandabbe]

Would anyone know if i'm on the right track?

I placed the head on its sides and filled the inlet and outlets with water, I have no leaks on the valve seats, but I noticed the level dropping, it appears to be leaking through the valve stems as in the video, the viscosity of water would be more than oil, and the car smokes bad when it gets warm, I'm thinking that the hot oil would go into the combustion via the valve stems and smoke.  The valve stem seals have travelled up the valve stems too.

Would it be best to get the head to a engineers for them to sort or to just get a second hand one? Or is the head just scrap? thanks in advance to any answers👍

Small video if it helps

[anglia58]

the way you test that, they all will leak, your head will be fine, your oil problem will be number 3 piston, and maybe the other ones, they put a new piston in it, probably becaurse the other one burned out, the other ones could also be damaged,  now for the solution, put your head with the old gasket back on the engine, just hand tight, then don't put the tumblers on, put air on the cylinder with a home made sparkplug with a tirevalve, or buy something the same, put breakcleaner on the back of the valves, put air onn it, if the valve has some bubles it's good, a lot of bubles or spitting, they just don't seal, you also will hear if your piston will leak, i use a tire meter, it will pump to 6,5 bar, if the pressure drops slow it's fine, if it drop fast and the valves don't spit, your piston rings are gone and maybe the piston is burned,    by the way your pistons are 1300 ones, it's a nice cheap go faster trick, it will give 10,5 to 1 ratio, in stead of the 9to 1,    the camshaft can make noise like there is someone hitting it with a small hamer on the inside, probably a gnome with a hamer,  it could be a piston slapping around or a big end bearing on it's way out,

advice, take the engine apart, pistons first sice up, use 1300 ones, new camshaft and followers, camshaft bearings if they look fine you don't need to replace them, bigend and crankshaft bearings if not damage replace,   the head if it seals use it, if you don't drive 10000 miles a year, you don't need hardend exhauts seats, if you let a shop fix it,  lap the valves with 600 grid paste, then they will seal, always check with air, i have head from differend shops, they are all crap, after lapping they are fine.

look on evilbay for prices, it's not cheap to fix an engine, you can do the work yourself, use a book and your fine, or ring a shop, best to sit down for a price.

cheap option, use a 1600 or 1800 sierra pinto, same horsepower, for 50 to 150 pounds, nobody wants those, if it's worn, throw it away and buy an other.

cheers marcel