406oc.co.uk

I've taken the plunge and ordered a fully recon head for my 406, 1.9td. I'm not a complete novice but this is the first time ive attempted anything this big. It worked out that a pressure test and skim on the old one was gonna be £80+VAT, so for the sake of another £150 sterlings i thought it was a good investment to make sure the head had all the valve seats and stem seals done at the same time, with new valves and what not. And its got a new cam in there too This means that i now have to strip the old head of the pump ect ect in order to send it off as exchange. The only thing thats bugging me about this whole job is the thought of having to get the timing sorted when i bodge.. (cough) um i mean bolt it all back together!! Is there a timing/ head removal guru out there that can walk me through the process!!?? Or... even better..!! If any one is local to Southampton who wants to come round and lend a hand for some beer tokens and a face full of dominoes pizza!!??

Sorry Col, Southampton is a bit far from Lancashire or I would have gladly come round to help.....don't drink so your beer would have lasted you a bit longer

Second best is that I can help you with the timing from afar.

After the timing cases are removed and before you strip off the head...set up the timing first.

You need 3x8mm threaded 2 to 3 inch long bolts and a pin to lock the crank at the flywheel and some tippex or a dab of paint.

Turn the engine until the bolt hole in the cam pulley lines up with a screw thread in the head when the 2 holes in the injection pump line up with the screw threads on the pump at the same time.

Screw a bolt through the cam pulley into the head to lock the cam pulley.

Screw the other 2 bolts through the injection pump holes to lock the injection pump.

Up behind the starter motor is a hole where you push a pin into the flywheel to lock the crank, push in your pin and lock the crank.....not that easy.

Using tippex or paint, mark the teeth on the bottom pulley where the timing belt fits on and mark the block in case the bottom pulley happens to move if the crank locking pin hasn't gone in properly.

Now you can release the tensioner and lock it back against spring tension so that you can remove the timing belt.

When you are fitting the head set the cam position so that the bolt on the cam pulley screws in at the right spot....take a picture of where the cam lobes are set when the locking bolt is in before you strip off the head so that you know for sure the correct position when you fit the new head.

Good luck, I hope this helps

Jasper you make it sound sooo easy! Lol I'll let you all know how it goes! Thanks for the advice.

You are most welcome I've been doing this job 41 years, I managed to learn a little now and then

What size is the pin for the flywheel bud? i might have an old drill bit that'll fit?

Bigcol wrote:What size is the pin for the flywheel bud? i might have an old drill bit that'll fit?

http://www.youtube.com/user/darrenjlobb ... fTnbjIJnCs

that should help as its near enough the same for a turbo one. also i have the proper kit for the job u can buy them from machine mart or a local motor factors should be able to get them.

Just out of curiosity where are you getting the reconned head from?

I may need to do the same at some point in the future, when I priced up the head kit and gasket, plus skim I could get a replacement low mile engine for less !!!

Gumby: Wigan engine services are supplying my head... Tel: 01942 321199. £245 all inc. I checked what machine work they do to them and to take my old head into a machine shop and get it done to this level would have cost £360+VAT!!
They post it free of charge and collection of your old head is also free with in 30 days of reciept of your NEW head.
Hope this helps
Col

Cheers for the info Bigcol, Euro car parts want £120 for the head kit plus gasket so that price all in is a bargain!!

Sorry Gumby, £245 doesn't include bolts or gaskets..just the head with a new cam fitted, i meant all incl of VAT. They can supply bolts ect. I'll still have to change over pump, injectors (which i'll send away to get cleaned), I think i priced bolts, gaskets and a timing belt kit up at about £120... but add a few quid onto that as i am going a bit further that a "mere" head gasket change!

Right guys quick update... I was brickin it this morning, but once i got stuck into taking bits off my car i was well away. I've got the cambelt off and all the timing locked off! Aux belt (which was kippered!) and top engine mount also off. Head is now almost ready to come off, just have to take off the injectors and lift it out. Thanks Jasper5 for the timing advice.. it worked out exactly as you said it would... the hole for the flywheel pin is tucked right up behing the starter motor. I just hope that the block isnt cracked after all this graft!!

Good stuff

The tightening info should be on a bit of paper in the new gasket set, but if you need any just ask.