My worst fears.......confirmed!

[Dangerous Dave]

So my 850 has been losing a lot of coolant lately (see my other thread) coming out of the expansion tank with mega pressure.

Today I did a compression test, and cylinder 3 is down to 8 bar, and cylinder 2 is at 12 bar (all the others are at ~13bar)

So looks like I've got to rip the head off again. Dammit. Must get the head skimmed this time.

Anyone know of anyone that can skim the head around the Oldbury/Dudley (or further afield) area? How much does it cost roughly?

[siamblue]

Sorry to hear that mate, if you want my opinion and don't need the car in a hurry, get the head, turbo and manifold polished and ported, at least then you will see some extra gains for all of your hard work,

Gary

[Dangerous Dave]

Tis my only mode of transport unfortunately, and I've already slightly ported the manifold and a bit of the turbo exhaust housing to match (see here http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthread.php?t=22911 ) hopefully getting a spare ecu to play with ;-) so should be able to get some more out of that turbo even though it is a tiny one

Am gonna try and do the valve seals though. Hopefully it won't take long to do.

[p fandango]

think i paid about £200 for a top-notch engineering shop to skim the head & check it over on the 5hitroen, it came back like brand new

sorry to sound calus but any chance of some pics while you've got the head off, i've started building my own engine & the block is the next step.

fingers crossed it goes well for you

[cameron]

How much does a compression test cost ?

I keep topping my expansion tank up every 2 -3 days lately :(

[smithy]

Tis my only mode of transport unfortunately, and I've already slightly ported the manifold and a bit of the turbo exhaust housing to match (see here http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthread.php?t=22911 ) hopefully getting a spare ecu to play with ;-) so should be able to get some more out of that turbo even though it is a tiny one

Am gonna try and do the valve seals though. Hopefully it won't take long to do.

the is an engine place on bidford road aston bham i will pm you there number ive had work done by them and are very good

[nobananas]

Just a basic head skim shouldn't cost more than 40-50 quid. Our machine shop can usually skim them with the valves etc in situ (depends on the heads design and be sure to blow through everything with compressed air afterwards to clear any swarf) but if you are going to do the seals you will be pulling the valves anyway. If you are in a hurry as it's your daily runner it might be worth just getting the machine shop you use to strip the head, skim it (a pressure test is often a good idea unless you are 100 percent sure you just have a gasket failure) then rebuild it with new seals (if you buy the head set and bolts from them they can use the seals from the set and then give you the rest). Having the valves and seats re-cut is also a good idea and you could even go for a three angle re-cut but obviously you will be looking at a few hundred quid after all that so best make sure they quote you on the work first.

[Dangerous Dave]

How much does a compression test cost?

I have a compression tester I bought years ago from halfords. Just plug it in and turn the engine over with full throttle (I removed all the plugs and unplugged the injectors).

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_19 9553_langId_-1_categoryId_165557


sorry to sound calus but any chance of some pics while you've got the head off, i've started building my own engine & the block is the next step.

I have a couple of pics from the last time I did the headgasket....but I'll do some of the stripdown for you.

Head cleaned up
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s101/bomb192uk/volvopics/DSC03400.jpg

Water in cylinder #4
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s101/bomb192uk/volvopics/DSC03408.jpg

[siamblue]

If i was going that far with the engine then i would do the rods at the same time, then the world is your oyster for power ;)


Gary

[Dangerous Dave]

Just got no money at the moment (as have a lot of people I know) so just getting it running is my priority. I can always take it apart another time (or get a spare engine to mess with)

[Alan M]

I know a friendly machinist in Tyseley that will just skim the head once disassembled for around £30. If its close enough Bomb let me know via pm and I can put you in contact with them. He can usually do it while you wait and watch aswell and will just take the minimum required for a perfectly flat face. If you require a pressure test though that will have to be done elsewhere I'm afraid.

[Dangerous Dave]

I've found a local company that deal with cylinder heads, and will skim it for £25. They are a head specialist, but I'm paranoid something will be wrong.

[nobananas]

I've found a local company that deal with cylinder heads, and will skim it for £25. They are a head specialist, but I'm paranoid something will be wrong.

I wouldn't worry too much, I'm always paranoid something is wrong and expecting the worst that way I can be pleasantly suprised when all is well and not too disapointed when it turns to cr@p !

[Dangerous Dave]

Cheers buddy, will see what happens.

[Volvostorm]

In most cases a quick skim work,s fine, unless you have really boiled the engine, there shouldn't be any other damage.

Fingers crossed it all goes well mate :)

[Mental Wealth Doctor]

Oh no mate, gutted. but recon she's gonna be ok, they are some hardy beasts these 850's

[Bob France]

I had the head bent on my old T5,due to faulty low water sensor.I had the skim done in Poland [don't ask] and she is still running as sweet as a nut,now with 200 k on the clock.As the man said, hardy engines,even the mechanic[who rallies cars] couldn't believe it when the old girl fired up first turn of the key after the rebuild,don't you just love Volvo's!!!

[Dangerous Dave]

Hopefully its not too bad as the level sensor is working and I've been keeping it topped up. Though now the coolant tank is smelling more like the petrol tank.

[PaulZX]

if you're still looking, try Coventry engines in Earlsdon, Coventry... I know they do good work, at fair prices....