7a 20v problems

[8690q]

Hi,

My 80 20v avant is sounding poorly. It was going well then suddenly it's sounding rough and driving with little power. I say it was going well but it has been using oil and smelling a bit after a good hiding lately.
A couple of years ago I had a camshaft snap in this engine giving nearly the same symptoms as now. I checked the compression and it was down at near 0 on cylinder 2 which was what happened when the camshaft snapped except low compression was on the number 5 cylinder that time.
I've got it stripped down and the camshaft is still in one piece. Cylinder 2 valves are oily and dirty when viewed throught he intake ports.
Does this sound like a head or block problem as I'm reluctant to strip it any further till I know if I can get a head gasket as sourcing one was the biggest holdup last time.
Is an NG engine gasket the same as a 20v 7a as that would be handy seeing as Andy10v has offered me one if I need it.

[mcandmar]

Have you checked the timing marks to make sure the belt hasn't slipped? It may be possible you have just bent a valve, i had a valve spring let go on my 7A which caused a valve to bend. From memory the head gasket is unique to the 7A due to the larger bore of 2.3litre block.

[8690q]

I have also checked the timing but forgot to mention it, sorry. It was spot on.

Isn't the NG a 2309cc ?

[Cottis]

NG Engine code is 2309 cc up from the earlier KV coded 2226 cc.

[andy10v]

The NG gasket is for a 2.3, are oil the oil and waterways the same for the gaskets?

Did you fit a new headgasket and bolts the last time?

I take it currently assuming carbon deposits from leaky valve stem seals are preventing the valves from seating?

I guess other options would be head gasket blown out or ring failure?

[mcandmar]

If timings good, and compression is down you dont really have much choice mate. You could pull the cams and manifolds off and pour a little fuel into each port to see which valves are leaking, but your going to have to pull the head to do anything about it. Sucks either way.

[SA BOY]

Head gaskets are all the same 2.3 2.5 and 2.6 petrol, std bore 82.5mm. If you stuck for a head gasket l have several Victor Reinz

[8690q]

Wee update on this.

I got the cylinder head off today and the head gasket has blown between two cylinders.

I stuck a puddle of oil on each of the pistons to check it stays there and I'll test the valves for leaks tomorrow.

If no leaks would anything in particular cause the gasket to burn out there or just normal head gasket failure ?

If I find no leaks I would like to just get the engine back together with a new gasket as we can't work as a one car family too much longer. Anything I should be checking before getting new bolts and a gasket and sticking it back together ?

[andy10v]

You would normally check the block and head are flat.

If you have time to fit new valve stem seals it will stop the oil running down the valve stems.

[8690q]

It lives

Life's been a bit upside down and I've had the CRV to kick about in so no great rush but I finally got the 7a back in one piece and fired up.
It has no exhaust fitted due to me dropping the original v6 one to fit the stainless one I had made for our old v6 avant. I had a half hour of no start till I figured I had the dizzy fitted at random. After realising my mistake I was pretty confident it would fire right up so shouted on my boy to turn the key. It did fire right up and he pat his shants and just about left through the sunroof

During the time it's sat out the back with it's engine in bits I've fitted all new bushes, discs and pads to the front, new front wings and have new discs, pads and wheel bearings for the rear and the stainless exhaust to fit. it will be like a new car to me once I'm done. Black leather interior will be next I think then get the rear arch corrosion sorted.