Had an terrible afternoon- more car related trouble. :cry:
I've spent most of this week refitting the engine and ancilaries back into my Alfa Giulia. I've spent every spare hour of the last six months building that engine- best of everything up to full race spec. I can't bare to look at the bills it's wracked up.
Anyway, this afternoon it was ready for starting. Checked everything again for the fifth time, turned it over with the plugs out to get the oil pressure up, plugs back in, checked for a spark, switched the fuel pumps on and cranked it over. Race motors don't like starting but eventually it coughed into life- happy days. No leaks, everything just as it should be. Made a few adjustments to the carburetors- smashing, big grins all round. Ran it up to 3-4,000prm a few times- no problem. Then a rattle quickly followed by a bang and flames out off the carb trumpets then it stopped. Fuel dripping out of the carbs caused a small fire which was quickly extinquished.
Checked everything and tried to restart it but nothing. Cam covers back off to find that there were huge clearances between the cam and followers. No compression. Result? Bent inlet valves and probably broken pistons. Gutted!
I think I have made a mis-calculation somewhere. The valve to piston clearances were very very close but I thought it would be enough. Obviously not.
Can't pull it apart until monday now as I'm out riding tomorrow.
Will be under a very black cloud this weekend.
I've spent most of this week refitting the engine and ancilaries back into my Alfa Giulia. I've spent every spare hour of the last six months building that engine- best of everything up to full race spec. I can't bare to look at the bills it's wracked up.
Anyway, this afternoon it was ready for starting. Checked everything again for the fifth time, turned it over with the plugs out to get the oil pressure up, plugs back in, checked for a spark, switched the fuel pumps on and cranked it over. Race motors don't like starting but eventually it coughed into life- happy days. No leaks, everything just as it should be. Made a few adjustments to the carburetors- smashing, big grins all round. Ran it up to 3-4,000prm a few times- no problem. Then a rattle quickly followed by a bang and flames out off the carb trumpets then it stopped. Fuel dripping out of the carbs caused a small fire which was quickly extinquished.
Checked everything and tried to restart it but nothing. Cam covers back off to find that there were huge clearances between the cam and followers. No compression. Result? Bent inlet valves and probably broken pistons. Gutted!
I think I have made a mis-calculation somewhere. The valve to piston clearances were very very close but I thought it would be enough. Obviously not.
Can't pull it apart until monday now as I'm out riding tomorrow.
Will be under a very black cloud this weekend.
