Cushing Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 Would you believe it, after all that hard work getting engine out and re-building it, and then getting in the car again, it's developed an oil leak on the lower cam housing. Not sure why, maybe I didn't use enough sealant on it. What's the best to use ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcan Grey Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 The cam tower to head sealant must be a very thin layer of an anaerobic sealant like Loctite 518 or 5188, or Permatex Anaerobic Gasket Maker. Quote Travis Vulcan Grey 89SE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
top-plumber Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 Torque settings in this area are crucial. My threads were weak and I couldn't tighten down enough so after about 100 miles a leak developed. Only way to fix is helicoil. I would recommend this as a matter of course when rebuilding anyway. Regards Wayne Quote Suspension, brakes, chipped, chargecooler rad and pump,injectors,ignition coils and leads, BOV, highflow cat and zorst, Translator and tie rods, Head lights, LEDs to tail lights and interior,Polybushes to entire front end, Rad fans, rad grill, front end refurb with aluminium spreaderplates and galvanised bolts. Ram air, uprated fuel pump, silicone hoses through out, wheels refurbed and powder coated,much more, all maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcan Grey Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 Yea, I had to helicoil many of mine, so I just did them all. Quote Travis Vulcan Grey 89SE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.oogieboogie Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 Put a new gasket on mine. Now seems ok Quote It's Oogies turn to boogie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushing Posted May 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Can you get a gasket for them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 There's no gasket for them, just the recommended jointing material. Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
top-plumber Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 I think Peter might mean cam covers not towers. Even if you were to make a gasket it would put all your valve clearances to cock.....as Travis said...... sealent Quote Suspension, brakes, chipped, chargecooler rad and pump,injectors,ignition coils and leads, BOV, highflow cat and zorst, Translator and tie rods, Head lights, LEDs to tail lights and interior,Polybushes to entire front end, Rad fans, rad grill, front end refurb with aluminium spreaderplates and galvanised bolts. Ram air, uprated fuel pump, silicone hoses through out, wheels refurbed and powder coated,much more, all maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.oogieboogie Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Yes sorry. Cam covers. Tried sealent on them but no good Quote It's Oogies turn to boogie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peteric Posted May 7, 2015 Report Share Posted May 7, 2015 I used permabond (think it was A136). Looks like what top plumber has in his photos. However i was still getting a leak in that area (between cam tower and exhaust manifold towards front of engine) and couldn't figure where it was coming from. Turns out it was weeping through one of the oil way bungs that are basically allen grub screws. These are originally loctited in i believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushing Posted May 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2015 I used Permabond, and a gasket type sikaflex on the pins/O-rings on the ends, but maybe not enough. I'll have to take it off and maybe think about heliciols. Thanks for the input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushing Posted May 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2015 Went to re-torque one of the cam housing bolts and it stripped :-( so engine's coming out again to redo the cam housings, going to helicoil the lot. What size kit should I buy ? i,ie which two thread size do I need ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushing Posted May 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 It seems that most of them have already been tapped out to 10mm, so now plan to get a M10 helicoil kit and see how that goes, wish me luck because if this fails it's a new head !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glynherron Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Had the cam towers been drilled to suit the M10 tapped holes? When I disassembled mine they were massively tight. Think they are only 20nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushing Posted May 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 I like the sound of massively tight, mine were torqued up to about 22nm and the lower tower leaked on the lower edge, maybe insufficient sealant or they were not de-greased enough. Drilling the towers out to 10mm will be ok, there is plenty of meat to do this. I will also check them for twist or warping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushing Posted July 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2015 Job done, and very pleased with the result. I used "Time-sert" M8 kit, much better than helicoils. Just waiting for new set of bolts and the Permabond. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.