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#Post#: 28016--------------------------------------------------
Acid Queen - The blinging of an engine.
By: Drew 5292 Date: June 21, 2012, 6:00 am
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OK! OK! OK!
Some may recall a couple of years ago, BenS of this forum was
kind enough to offer-up, for free, a Stage 1 V8 hard-top motor,
with current MOT and tax. Fortunately (after a bit of prompting
from Mr Scruff), I was the one who grabbed it.
Not without certain problems, mainly a detached upper
shock-mount and a couple of patches on the chassis which needed
remedial attention, it was and remains a sound motor...tho'
without the required work actually done, as of yet.
Mr & Mrs Scruff and Westy were kind enough to collect from
Sheffield and drive it down here to mine, with me making solemn
pledges to Ben that I'd eventually do the right thing by the
bus.
Shit happens and a frustratingly long period of time has passed,
but I'm finally on the warpath with conquering this motor my
quest.
Now, the vehicle came as dual-fuel, which may seem great on the
pocket. But, over here in Franceland, if the conversion kit
wasn't fitted here and doesn't have a Gallic certificate, it
ain't passing an MOT. I'm also not a fan of LPG as it has a high
calorific value and in an engine which needs special attention
given to the temp., burning a fuel with such a heat rating and
the setting-up of the engine to allow this is one more concern
which one doesn't need. Others may have an alternative
mechanical point of view, but that's mine. I also believe that
if you want the engine and exhaust note of a V8, you should live
with the bill. Fags aren't cheap; but if you smoke, you accept
the wallet-bumming.
So, boiled down, it was always going to have the LPG kit removed
and that went off to Skoze (I think...he hasn't yet confirmed
he's received it, anyway). It was also reported by Scruff that
there were cam-orientated rattles akin with the known problem of
the hydraulic lifters giving-up. So I knew that with all this,
there was also some engine work to be done.
Fortunate occurrence #2 was Scruff giving me his old 3.5 V8
(from PRX). This had never been run on LPG, had previously been
in a London Ambulance LDV Convoy and only had 60,000 miles to
its name. The only downside was one of the banks had blown its
head gasket. Other than that, good unit and something which I'd
be happy to transfer to 'Acid Queen'.
So why the sudden action and commencement of reportage? Well,
FenTiger had been giving regular updates on the revival of his
Stage 1 SW, which went to LATP, which got me slightly jealous
and also a bit ashamed that now't had thus far been done on
'AQ'. Nothing like this to spur one into action. Except, there's
a current 'Hangar-18' blockage in the form of my tractor,
for-which I'm awaiting summary parts to rebuild the top of that
engine and get it earning a keep. But stuff can be done in the
meantime in preparation. Equals = remedy the ex-Scruff engine so
that it's all kitted for dropping in.
To this end and to honour my pledge to Ben, I've decided to
spend a good amount of cash on having a sweet engine, rather
than a galvanized chassis. I can either repair the present one
or the substitute I have in the wings. And the sweet engine
attention is all coming from the highly reputable Turner
Engineering.
Basically, I'm sending-off the two present heads, which they
will then skim, re-valve and 'gasflow' to bring them up to what
they term their 'Performance' level, which gives excellent
response through the rev range. I've also ordered new hydraulic
lifters (the old ones are showing a little coving from the cam
lobes), push-rods, cam and drive gear, timing chain...the whole
shooting match. Assembled and mated to the Range Rover geared
LT95 which is in the vehicle, I fancy I'll have myself the ideal
weapon to engage in the battle of substantial towing over
motorway mileage. Lots of torque at the bottom and a few more
horses at the top, should I require.
So, time to take Scruff's old engine apart.
Here's the kit...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Acid%20Queen/DSCF4390.jpg[/img]
The timing-chest and water-pump housing, I'll probably transfer
from AQ's current engine, as the latter part has some cute
scoring on the inside, suggesting a pump has gone at some point.
Carbs and intake manifold off, taking us into the valley...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Acid%20Queen/DSCF4395.jpg[/img]
Heads off...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Acid%20Queen/DSCF4397.jpg[/img]
...with a fair bit of petrol coke needing a'cleaning from the
top of the pistons...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Acid%20Queen/DSCF4398.jpg[/img]
The bores are in a fine, undamaged state though, with no
unwanted scoring. Because, as Scruff kept the oil nice and clean
and the London Ambulance Service would have serviced regardless
of cost, it comes as a given that all the detergents in the lube
would have have done their job and the viscosity maintained.
Heads cleaned, for my own personal integrity, awaiting crating
and sending to Turner's...
[IMG]
HTML http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Drew-5292/Acid%20Queen/DSCF4399.jpg[/img]
Note the excellent bit of joinery :)
Once the Fergie is out of 'H-18' and AQ is installed (next week,
if Old 20 Parts pull their socks up), I'll get some nice pics of
the Stagey, which presently sits behind my Ifor with a forest of
nettles around it :o
More later!
#Post#: 28020--------------------------------------------------
Re: Acid Queen - Here we go...finally!
By: Wooden Date: June 21, 2012, 6:15 am
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Top news Drew, I for one will be watching this with interest.
:thumbs:
Good use of old wine boxes there??
#Post#: 28021--------------------------------------------------
Re: Acid Queen - Here we go...finally!
By: brianthesnail96 Date: June 21, 2012, 6:21 am
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About bloody time too 8) Gonna be a cracking motor this.
#Post#: 28023--------------------------------------------------
Re: Acid Queen - Here we go...finally!
By: Drew 5292 Date: June 21, 2012, 6:27 am
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Not wine boxes, Wooden (ironically). Plank off-cuts from recent
roofing work.
Wine boxes make matchless CD stackers.
#Post#: 28024--------------------------------------------------
Re: Acid Queen - Here we go...finally!
By: mr.scruff Date: June 21, 2012, 6:32 am
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:thumbs:
I wonder what the V8 that's in it now is like inside... :o
#Post#: 28026--------------------------------------------------
Re: Acid Queen - Here we go...finally!
By: Drew 5292 Date: June 21, 2012, 6:44 am
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I've had the left bank rocker cover off and it's a bit grubby,
to be honest. And according to an excellent site which Toby
linked me to, that ain't a good sign for the general health of
the unit. However, once it's out I'll shelve it and at a point
of recreational shed in the future, I'll spanner it apart and go
all 'Doctor On The V8' with it.
Bizarrely, the third V8 engine I have at my disposal, one from a
source which has now gone sour and which I was told by a third
party is a bit shagged; I had the covers off that and the
rocker-shafts are silver...like new. To the point where I'll
probably use them with the new Turner top end. Not that the ones
from your engine are bad; au contraire...still beautifully
bronzed, to be honest.
Choices! Choices!
#Post#: 28028--------------------------------------------------
Re: Acid Queen - Here we go...finally!
By: Yorkie V8 Date: June 21, 2012, 7:08 am
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8)Excellent stuff and another V8 thread to watch! :thumbs:
Is the ex-ambulance V8 of the high (9.35:1?) compression
variety?
I bum Rover V8's! ;D
#Post#: 28029--------------------------------------------------
Re: Acid Queen - Here we go...finally!
By: Lucy Date: June 21, 2012, 7:09 am
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Some things to thing about with the timing cover and oil pump,
later v8's have deeper gears on teh oil pump giving better flow,
the original oil filter housing will will fit this, but the
drive for the dizzy is different, which comes on to
recommendation 2 which is a 35dlm8 electronic dizzy, unless
you're a particular fan of points.
I'm sure you're aware but check the rocker shafts for scoring
under the rocker arms themselves, can push them along the shaft
a little to reveal the surface they've been operaing on.
Cams on v8's are prone to a bit of corrosion too if they're left
standing for a while as condesation gathers on the underside of
the tin valley gasket and the lowest point where it drips off is
directly above the camshaft.
#Post#: 28033--------------------------------------------------
Re: Acid Queen - Here we go...finally!
By: FenTiger Date: June 21, 2012, 7:17 am
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:thumbs:
#Post#: 28034--------------------------------------------------
Re: Acid Queen - Here we go...finally!
By: NUGGETT Date: June 21, 2012, 7:24 am
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8)
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