Was Bloody car. Becoming "do it once.."

[mwmackenzie]

Found this while trawling SELOC.... http://forums.seloc.org/classified.php? ... ad&id=9242

Due to Engine Conversion.

Engine is 2003 from 53 plate, standard 156bhp including gearbox, ecu etc.

Covered 28,000 fault free miles. Fully Lotus Serviced.

In storage at Maidstone Sports Cars.

Cheers

Mark

[fd]

Unless it's losing water you haven't said anything that could not be attributed to cold weather . . .

Fd

I much prefer your version fd than Robin's but I have a feeling in my water... Also I use the car every day and it's never done this before... OK it's been a bit reluctant to start very occasionally but this is different...

Nothing you have said changes my view . . . old grannies tales and feelings in your water doesn't explain where all this steam came from but the coolant level has not dropped . . . and batteries fail in cold weather, lots of them . . . you may want to convince yourself there is something wrong but with zero evidence . . . it's kinda hard to jump on the bandwagon everybody else seems to love jumping on . . . if you don't do >30 minute runs every journey you can easily see mayo in an engine with very low ambient temps . . . almost any engine will do this . . . all winter long . . . if not used for long runs . . .

$0.02

Fd

[pete]

Unless it's losing water you haven't said anything that could not be attributed to cold weather . . .

Fd

I much prefer your version fd than Robin's but I have a feeling in my water... Also I use the car every day and it's never done this before... OK it's been a bit reluctant to start very occasionally but this is different...

Nothing you have said changes my view . . . old grannies tales and feelings in your water doesn't explain where all this steam came from but the coolant level has not dropped . . . and batteries fail in cold weather, lots of them . . . you may want to convince yourself there is something wrong but with zero evidence . . . it's kinda hard to jump on the bandwagon everybody else seems to love jumping on . . . if you don't do >30 minute runs every journey you can easily see mayo in an engine with very low ambient temps . . . almost any engine will do this . . . all winter long . . . if not used for long runs . . .

$0.02

Fd

The majority of the journeys it does are 30 minutes or so down the motorway, a closer examination this morning showed some coolant loss, with air in the system.

The nice man in the big yellow truck couldn't start it either so it's disappeared to Ali's, we shall see if I'm right or you are. But it's me*.

Pete

*I reserve the right to edit this thread if it's you, possibly adding words that make me seem smarter. And better looking.

[robin]

As I said earlier you do need to confirm the problem before diving in and buying a new engine

Cheers,
Robin

[pete]

As I said earlier you do need to confirm the problem before diving in and buying a new engine

Cheers,
Robin

Of course I will.

Ali has had a look insde the engine. Apparently number 3 cylinder isn't supposed to be full of water like that.

[robin]

Are you sure?

Oh well ... next step head off then and see what's actually gone wrong.

Cheers,
Robin

[pete]

Are you sure?

Oh well ... next step head off then and see what's actually gone wrong.

Cheers,
Robin

And the answer is.... Soft head.

Anyone got a spare VVC head knocking around?

[steve_weegie]

Pete, i've got a vvc head here that i started working on as a project, but its in poor condition.... At the very least it would need new valve guides inserted and the seats re-cut, followed by a skim... Even then there are no guarentees

Is the head too soft for a skim + shim?

[philthy]

Is the head too soft for a skim + shim?

That will more than likely make it worse.

a few on ebay-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rover-MG-Lotus-1- ... dZViewItem

Although this says colection, I sent my head to Dan for £7 using http://www.interparcel.com

[pete]

Is the head too soft for a skim + shim?

That will more than likely make it worse.

a few on ebay-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rover-MG-Lotus-1- ... dZViewItem

Although this says colection, I sent my head to Dan for £7 using http://www.interparcel.com

Thanks for that, the prices seem a bit steep though considering what you can get a full engine for. Ali's looking for me to see what is about...

[robin]

Anybody know how to spot an EU3 vs EU2 VVC head? Or perhaps there is no difference (though there is a 20BHP difference, so must be something in the head that's better?).

[robin]

P.S. Pete, for 275 I would probably stump up the cash and buy it ... you can always sell it on if you end up doing something more drastic to the car? In fact I would probably buy it off you for whatever it cost (you never know when you're going to need a head!).

The only thing is, I would arrange for the head to be purchased, shipped to DVA for inspection/hardness testing (this doesn't cost very much) and then returned under his 7-day guarantee if it's pants. Will cost you maybe 30 quid in courier charges, but not a lot more than that ... you would probably want to agree this course of action with the seller, but he seems genuine bloke and there is no reason why he ought to care.

Cheers,
Robin

[tenkfeet]

Pete, sorry to hear of your problems , there is a barnd new K series VVC in the seloc classifieds.

Is the soft head just a bad luck / high miles or is there a bad batch ? I can remember reading about it but it escapes me . My car is very close in age to yours.

[hiscot]

Anybody know how to spot an EU3 vs EU2 VVC head? Or perhaps there is no difference (though there is a 20BHP difference, so must be something in the head that's better?).

robin this is what has been posted ,tricut valve seats detail improvements to the valve throat/seat area gaining a measurable amount of airflow.
plus mems 3 runs more advance and other small detail changes
i understand mems 3 can be fettled to alter fuel and ing advance some folk posting good gains weather true or not ???

[pete]

Pete, sorry to hear of your problems , there is a barnd new K series VVC in the seloc classifieds.

Is the soft head just a bad luck / high miles or is there a bad batch ? I can remember reading about it but it escapes me . My car is very close in age to yours.

50k otherwise no ideas.