Thread: My first series 2a project

There is no stamp on there, so older type it is. Ill be using it again for sure especially given that ill revisit the engine again. At the very least its a repair job rather than something new.

Just to clarify, the older heads don't have the boss - it was not always stamped when it was 7:1, but the presence or absence of the boss is the identifying feature.

Well its all a moot point... after cleaning more thoroughly i spotted this and realised immediately why he had water in cyl 4. The wire i poked in the hole runs into the cooling chambers. Must of had normal water and rusted through an imperfect cast perhaps?

Luckily I managed to source another head in Tassie.

I haven't ever seen that, but I can't say I'm surprised. The casting may have been flawed or a bit thin, and, as you say, it may have had "normal" water in it. The operating manual says "Use soft water wherever possible; if the local water supply is hard, rain or distilled water should be used." Use of a special coolant was not specified until after the end of 2a production, and was not usual for any engines without alloy heads until probably the 1980s.

Got the other head and started cleaning it up. Will lap valves of course and i have already cleaned up the rockers. On BOTH rockers the shaft support on front (cyl 1) was blocked with crud. Im talking about the hole at the bottom of the support. If you havnt checked yours, perhaps do so, its easy to remove the rocker assembly.

cheers,

Continuing with the head work, I done some work on the first head before i noticed the hole. These vids are more to share my experience rather than a tutorial, cos I am learning myself. Let me know if i have done something wrong or pointers please.

Done quite a lot today on my flex day off, so cleaned the disco 300tdi engine deck ready for the head to go back on. Also cleaned the 2a engine deck (yes, both heads where off) and finished cleaning and installing the valves back on. Pretty much ready to install either this weekend or next. Remember that this cylinder head work and install is only temporary as i intent to do engine work in future which means pulling the head out again.

Still forging ahead with the engine bits, sorted out the engine block as best as I could for a short term fix! Let me know if I got something wrong pls.



I should ask, are these videos of any use to you? I am only posting thinking that it may be of interest.

Cheers,