Flaminia PF coupe resurrection

[Kevinlincs]

Well, I gave it my best shot and failed.
The heads are stuck fast, seemingly been on since 1963 and never taken off. There are a few studs each side that are corroded solid.
New plan is to flush out the waterways as best I can with a pressure washer and rebuild it back up.
I've checked the crankpins and shells and they aren't bad so will go again.
The bores have cleaned up OK by using thin oil spray and pulling the pistons up and down, the very small amount of corrosion soon went and the pistons were soon sucking and blowing away merrily.

Not ideal as I was set to do a full strip and rebuild but apart from taking an angle grinder to the heads and sourcing new ones I can't see what else to do.
At least I now know that it will all rotate.

The alternative isn't really an option, scrap the engine and car.
This way it still has a fighting chance.

Not given up yet...

[Dave Gee]

 

  Kevin
   
   I have spare heads and engines should you need them


  Dave

[Kevinlincs]

Thanks Dave, appreciate your help, email sent.

Meanwhile I brought the sump and oil pump home to clean them in my larger parts washer in my shed which has parafin in which works great at oily stuff.
There was a thick layer of congealed old oil in the sump, scraping it up with a plastic scraper ended up with almost half a litre of sludge, which does tend to try to turn back to oil once disturbed!
The oil strainer was thick with it all, I've left it in the parts washer to soak it all once stripped down, the gauze was thick with it all which actually turned blue in colour when cleaning, the oil stains that is not the strainer!
One thing that may answer the poser of the broken oil pump drive though, the pump itself was pretty much seized with the old oil.
Maybe the few degrees I got the engine to turn was enough to crack it, the staining I noted under the broken off piece from it being sat in oil? Either way it needs another drive, hopefully Dave will be able to rescue me there.
Once it had been dunked in the parafin it turned slightly so after a soaking and a strip down it should be fine.

[Mitka]

Wow! Nice to see progress ✌️

[Kevinlincs]

Progress of sorts Mitka! But yes, progress.
This afternoon I had some time off work so got the engine outside whilst on the stand and pressure washed the waterways out, there was a big build up of general filth and scum, powdery mostly which can clog waterways. As I'm not now taking the heads off (not for the want of trying) then I need to do what I can to try and do my best to get it running. The waterways actually cleaned out quite well, some flaky bits came through the water pump mount so it's flushed to some extent. I did take the spark plugs out after and have a look with my boroscope to see if any pistons were now supporting lakes, thankfully all still dry! Doesn't still mean the head gasket couldn't have failed between the waterway and oil galeries of course, but at least there isn't a huge hole to the bores. Again, no guarantees that once it's running and warmed that things will take a turn for the worst, but we'll overcome that if needs be.

A gasket set is on order and Dave is on the case for the other bits and pieces needed so coming along.
My GTV parts will be ready next week so that will take the following weekend or two so maybe by then the parts will be at hand to build it back up.

I've brought a few more parts home to clean, rocker covers for example. Should they be a crackle black finish? Mine were filthy and with a wash and blow off with the airline they flaked off revealing shiny aluminium. Were they ploished or as I suspect, in the crackle finish.

[frankxhv773t]

Rocker covers are a crackle black finish (the picture is very definitely not mine). My fingers are crossed that things will turn out OK building up the engine with the heads in situ.

[Kevinlincs]

Thanks Frank, thought they were from the pictures I've seen.


A few people have raised eyebrows at my plans.
I know the engine is a gamble building it up as is, but the alternative to doing it this way is just to cut the heads off as far as I can see.
Maybe once it's had a heat cycle or two it may release the grip of the studs.
Maybe if I'm lucky it will run, maybe not.
The alternative is to sell it as a parts vehicle.
I'm not in the market to spend thousands of pounds at the engine doing a full rebuild with the can of worms that it would become

I reiterate, if anyone wants to buy it from me now, or later then ask. It's not expensive! But the more time and money I spend the more expensive it gets.

I probably won't get at it for another few weeks so if someone comes along with a little over £2k they can have it, and do whatever they deem the correct for the car. Me, I'm just trying to do the best I can to save it.

[Parisien]

Kevin, you've a pm

P

[Richard Fridd]

My spare pair of rocker covers have lettering in exposed alluminium. The casting is different to the pair on my car particularly noticeable in the area of the stud holes. There again the valve gear is different also.

  Richard

[frankxhv773t]

If it hadn't been seized Kevin you would probably have tried to coax it into life. It doesn't seem radically different to patch up what you can dismantle and give it a go with the heads untouched.

[lancianut666]

Hi all
When I dismantled my Appia engine I had great difficulty removing the head and after a lot of failed attempts I made a head puller plate by using a head gasket to mark out the positions of the head studs and drilling and tapping accordingly to the stud thread sizes. I had a few problems fastening the plate to the head but once this had been achieved the corrosion etc stood no chance against the force all the screw threads could exert on the tops of the studs in the block. I know people have used this method and it should be easier to make than one for the Appia engine as the head is much larger to cover all four cylinders.
Clarkey

[Kevinlincs]

If it hadn't been seized Kevin you would probably have tried to coax it into life. It doesn't seem radically different to patch up what you can dismantle and give it a go with the heads untouched.

Exactly my thoughts Frank, almost like I've nothing to lose in trying this for the sake of £100 or so of gaskets to refit what I've got apart.
With a slim chance it will be OK, I accpet it may not be OK, but at this stage I'm happy to try this rather than opening a big can of worms and damagimng either the heads or block, or both!
If it turns out to be a fail then I've lost little more than time and at least the engine isn't "seized" now which was off putting for most.
If anyone then wants to embark on a full, no expense spared rebuild then at least the basics would be there.

[Richard Fridd]

From C&SC 1990 (Martin Buckley).

  Richard

[Kevinlincs]

There has been a development with the car, all to be revealed.

[Richard Fridd]

Sounds good. Did this involve an oxy/ acetylene torch and ice remedy? There are obviously spare engines/ parts in the VL spares section.

  Richard