So…finally we are there. The big V8 engine is having its day. The car came in on Saturday evening. It consumes oil like a traditional paraffin lamp. It needed new valve seals. We approach this valve seal replacement the same way, with cylinder head on.
Armed with my manual we began dismantling it. More than I bargained for. By midnight I had not even removed the cylinder head cover on any bank!!!.
Harness after harness after another plug. It was my first V8 so had to figure out what to remove, what to leave behind. No notes no photos, all by photo memory of what comes from where so that when putting back we don’t throw up hands in frustration. Through to Sunday afternoon I had not started work on the first valve. Well, by 8PM yesterday I was on cylinder 2, 8 valves done. There are a good 32 valves so we have xx to go. Do the math.
I plan to finish valve work by Thursday (working evenings after my office job), put it back together through Sunday morning. Fire it on Sunday afternoon and go for a test drive.
I think after this it will now be routine work, not “project”. It has been a steep learning curve. Very steep. And it takes guts to dismantle an engine, having never attended a mechanics lesson in life…
This one is a friends car. I just demand beer, lots of beer. But I charge modestly, or have been charging modestly. Now that am not experimenting any more ill go full commercial.
iko mechanic aliwai fungua engine ya peugeot pick up ya mzee ,aliwacha parts zingine chini wakati alimaliza kuifunga,akasema hizo ndio zinaharibu gari.akatuambia ameendea “ka-twero” anakuja!! bado tunamgoja!!! that was in 1992!!!
So update!!! Did cylinders 3 and 4 bank 1 yesterday evening. The last cylinder is hell as it is at the back.
Today I start bank 2 cylinder 4 as it is the hardest. I hope to complete the seals replacement tomorrow. Thursday I start putting it back. Ill time it on Saturday evening after returning from my nocturnal escapades…Sunday I must fire this engine.
