Say hello to Olga the 144

john h · Nov 27th, 2017, 12:45

Hello all,

It's been months since I updated about Olga, but there has been a lot going on. I will split the progress into sections; firstly:

Engine & engine bay

Engine

I took the head to be pressure tested, skimmed and converted for unleaded. Whilst it was away, I cleaned up and repainted the engine block

Some rust in engine bay needed dealing with

I had the brake servo professionally refurbished. The bakelite part inside was broken. I repainted servo/master cylinder mounting

refitted

The first time I refitted the head I foolishly re-used the original head bolts. They looked OK, but this one was obviously weakened. It snapped below the block top surface, which was worrying!

Proving the value of social media, I put out a request for help, and a Facebook friend who rebuilds engines suggested getting an anti-clockwise drill bit to remove the snapped off part. I didn't even know they existed, but it worked perfectly. The technique is to drill a small central pilot hole, then use a larger ant-clockwise bit. When it bites into the metal it unscrews the remainder of the bolt. Zero damage to the thread in the block.

I refitted the head, again, with new bolts. (I have since read that it's good practice to convert the B20 to studs. I'll do this if/when the head needs to come off again).

I had several failed attempt to get Olga running right, before I realised that the original combined inlet and exhaust manifold had a crack. This caused poor running buy allowing a big vacuum leak into number 2 cylinder, which would also affect number 1 by leaning out the front carb, and the whole engine by reducing vacuum advance.

When I removed the manifold, the cracked part parted company.

I decided to bite the bullet and bring forward an upgrade I had planned for the future. I fitted a B18 style inlet manifold (which has better flow, without the B20's emission control secondary butterflies) and a tubular 4 into 1 exhaust manifold.

Ryan and I removed the original fibre timing gear

It was very reluctant to come off!

For reliability, I replaced it with an aluminium gear

Nov 27th, 2017, 12:45	#21
john h VOC Member Last Online: Yesterday 08:16 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Huddersfield View Photos By: john h	Hello all, It's been months since I updated about Olga, but there has been a lot going on. I will split the progress into sections; firstly: Engine & engine bay Engine I took the head to be pressure tested, skimmed and converted for unleaded. Whilst it was away, I cleaned up and repainted the engine block Some rust in engine bay needed dealing with I had the brake servo professionally refurbished. The bakelite part inside was broken. I repainted servo/master cylinder mounting refitted The first time I refitted the head I foolishly re-used the original head bolts. They looked OK, but this one was obviously weakened. It snapped below the block top surface, which was worrying! Proving the value of social media, I put out a request for help, and a Facebook friend who rebuilds engines suggested getting an anti-clockwise drill bit to remove the snapped off part. I didn't even know they existed, but it worked perfectly. The technique is to drill a small central pilot hole, then use a larger ant-clockwise bit. When it bites into the metal it unscrews the remainder of the bolt. Zero damage to the thread in the block. I refitted the head, again, with new bolts. (I have since read that it's good practice to convert the B20 to studs. I'll do this if/when the head needs to come off again). I had several failed attempt to get Olga running right, before I realised that the original combined inlet and exhaust manifold had a crack. This caused poor running buy allowing a big vacuum leak into number 2 cylinder, which would also affect number 1 by leaning out the front carb, and the whole engine by reducing vacuum advance. When I removed the manifold, the cracked part parted company. I decided to bite the bullet and bring forward an upgrade I had planned for the future. I fitted a B18 style inlet manifold (which has better flow, without the B20's emission control secondary butterflies) and a tubular 4 into 1 exhaust manifold. Ryan and I removed the original fibre timing gear It was very reluctant to come off! For reliability, I replaced it with an aluminium gear __________________ XX Last edited by john h; Nov 27th, 2017 at 15:06.

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