Author Topic: Europa TCST  (Read 74947 times)

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Offline TurboFource

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #480 on: Monday,February 28, 2022, 01:36:53 PM »
My sons are not helping much ….. :-\
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #481 on: Sunday,March 06, 2022, 12:44:47 PM »
After getting my chassis off the saw horses before it was too heavy to easily do so, I decided
"Today is the day to see why TCST was pulled off the road in '78 for low compression in one cylinder".
Being turbocharged with stock valves I was hoping/expecting it burnt an exhaust valve.... well it burnt number 1 exhaust valve ??? Pistons tops look good, some carbon and a couple of dead flies :confused:
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Offline Kendo

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #482 on: Sunday,March 06, 2022, 01:10:08 PM »
How do you anticipate correcting for that? (Aside from replacing the valve. ;D)

#1 is also on the end of the engine. Is cooling worse there?

Offline BDA

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #483 on: Sunday,March 06, 2022, 01:33:41 PM »
Yea, that would cause low compression!   >:(

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #484 on: Sunday,March 06, 2022, 03:11:01 PM »
I am only measuring .004" clearance on that valve which is too tight,
It was probably not closing all the way when things warmed up to operating temp
and the valve got burnt......I hope to upgrade to a better material to withstand
the increased heat etc. from being turbocharged.
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Offline cwtech

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #485 on: Sunday,March 06, 2022, 07:03:51 PM »
Kraig, I know the clearances were set to spec when assembled. 

I'm just wondering what changed to affect the valve lash.  .....If the valve got that hot to erode that much metal, could the heat have allowed the valve to stretch ????   .....Could the valve seat have been pounded deeper into the head? 

How are the cylinder walls?   

Offline jbcollier

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #486 on: Sunday,March 06, 2022, 07:46:54 PM »
That’s a pretty standard “burnt” valve.  Carbon build up or pitted seat leads to localized low heat transfer and the valve overheats.

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #487 on: Monday,March 07, 2022, 03:27:56 AM »
CW,
I believe you set them to the correct clearance.
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #488 on: Monday,March 07, 2022, 01:30:17 PM »
Made adapters to relocate anti-roll bar mount to lower shock mount bolts (they longer hit calipers).
Welded drains to rear Koni's like I did on the front ones.
Removed DIY cartridge water pump that CW created before they were available,
impeller did not come out with pump....coolant leaked onto auxiliary shaft gear....
parts I see in oil pan look fine......old antifreeze makes quite a mess....
« Last Edit: Monday,March 07, 2022, 01:33:43 PM by TurboFource »
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Offline cwtech

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #489 on: Monday,March 07, 2022, 03:06:38 PM »
I used the original cast iron pump impeller. 

Is the up-rated water pump bearing still free?

Were the O-rings on the cartridge still intact? 

Can you tell where (how) the coolant got to the sprocket?

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #490 on: Monday,March 07, 2022, 06:15:17 PM »
CW it leaked here.....see the corrosion between the cover halves? It was probably a very slow leak (for over 40 years),if  it was running it probably would have just burned off and never been noticed.

Bearings still turn....I don't recall an o-ring...will look tomorrow.
« Last Edit: Monday,March 07, 2022, 06:19:03 PM by TurboFource »
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Offline GavinT

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #491 on: Monday,March 07, 2022, 11:25:45 PM »
Made adapters to relocate anti-roll bar mount to lower shock mount bolts
The adaptors look neat but why not use a longer bolt to include the rod end and a spacer?
What am I missing here?

Offline TurboFource

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #492 on: Tuesday,March 08, 2022, 03:28:21 AM »
The rod ends are 3/8 (rated at 5100lbs) and the bolt is 1/2”
« Last Edit: Tuesday,March 08, 2022, 03:30:37 AM by TurboFource »
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Offline cwtech

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #493 on: Tuesday,March 08, 2022, 04:12:13 AM »


The small tapped  (10-32 ?) holes visible in the pic were used to fasten the insert with the o-rings to the cartridge.  ...That insert (or what's left of it) should be removed from the cover.  ...The impeller was on the engine side of that insert.

http://www.lotuseuropa.org/images/WorkshopManual/PartManual/tce.pdf   
....Scroll down to Section ED where the insert (ref # 9) can be seen .  ...The O-rings fit on the insert and seal the coolant from the timing chain area.
....One O-ring was located in the front cover, the other O-ring was located in the timing case back plate (Section EA- Ref # 38).
....Failure of the gasket between the back plate and the block would also allow coolant to reach the oil pan.

...I suspect the insert corroded away and that is where the coolant leak occurred.




Offline TurboFource

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Re: Europa TCST
« Reply #494 on: Tuesday,March 08, 2022, 04:54:25 AM »
I do see the o-ring between the timing cover halves
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!