K Series Head Crack

wizzo337 · 7th October 2019, 09:47

Ok. Bit of an odd one here.
Ive had a bit of an oil leak from where my K Series 1.8 Cam Carrier bolts to the Cylinder Head, so I pirchased the correct Loctite Sealant took it all apart, Cover off, Cam wheels and Belt off, Cam Carrier off and Camshafts out. In the fwd edge of the head just in from where the Alternator mounting fits was what appeared to be a crack in the casting.
I sealed the carrier and put it all back together, I need the car for work, and took it up to the local tesco for a jet wash to get rid of all the NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD- on the front of the engine. There is still a slight leak as you can smell it from where it drops onto the exhaust manifold. So next week it will be a head change, managed to source one at a decent price.
Has anyone on here had a similar crack on the heads mounting face for the Cam Carrier, and more to the point, has anyone ever had one welded/repaired.
Any info would be appreciated, crack is about 3mm in length, I will take some photos at the weekend when it's removed.

T-Cut · 7th October 2019, 11:04

Sounds like a case of over-torquing the carrier bolts at some time. It's essential to torque every bolt on the engine exactly to spec.

TC

JOHNDQ · 7th October 2019, 12:10

My 25 had same problem can only be down to poor workmanship in my opinion. Luckily I had a scrap head so swapped the cams and ladder over as the original cams where to loose with the ladder of the scrapped head

wizzo337 · 7th October 2019, 12:36

I'm impressed it lasted this long to be honest.
There has always been evidence of a leak in this area since I got the car 3 years ago for a princely sum of £285.00 done about 35,000 miles virtually trouble free.
I can see that the head has been off before because a couple of the securing bolt heads look a bit shabby. Got new bolts coming this week along with a gasket and valve guide oil seals. Going to lap the valves in with fine paste to make sure they seal good on the replacement head and fit it.
I do love these engines, most people hate them, but they are so easy to work on.

JOHNDQ · 7th October 2019, 21:40

Agree I'm after a ZT-T at the minute but if hasn't got a K Series I'm not buying

COLVERT · 7th October 2019, 21:57

There are firms about that can successfully weld up this type of crack.

dattrike · 23rd October 2019, 09:11

These people are recommended on the VMCC site I use for laser welding

http://www.e-m-p.biz/

Nothing to do with me BTW

wizzo337 · 1st March 2020, 19:09

Still not got round to my head replacement.
Car still running fine. Something more important came up. I bought a 54 plate ZT 1.8 Turbo with hgf, so that is now at the top of the list for her and me to be getting on with. Also needs the radiator replacing so it's going to be front of car off for the radiator and to improve access, and head off to look at the damage. Rinsed the engine out and it spins over nice and quiet so I'm presuming it's not done any mechanical damage. It's mint and only cost me £375, so even if I have to change the engine, it was worth it.

wizzo337 · 1st March 2020, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by COLVERT

There are firms about that can successfully weld up this type of crack.

I'm going to look into this as soon as the ZT is fixed. Thanks.

7th October 2019, 09:47	#1
wizzo337 Loves to post mg zt Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Ely Posts: 288 Thanks: 55 Thanked 87 Times in 52 Posts	K Series Head Crack Ok. Bit of an odd one here. Ive had a bit of an oil leak from where my K Series 1.8 Cam Carrier bolts to the Cylinder Head, so I pirchased the correct Loctite Sealant took it all apart, Cover off, Cam wheels and Belt off, Cam Carrier off and Camshafts out. In the fwd edge of the head just in from where the Alternator mounting fits was what appeared to be a crack in the casting. I sealed the carrier and put it all back together, I need the car for work, and took it up to the local tesco for a jet wash to get rid of all the NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD-NAUGHTY WORD- on the front of the engine. There is still a slight leak as you can smell it from where it drops onto the exhaust manifold. So next week it will be a head change, managed to source one at a decent price. Has anyone on here had a similar crack on the heads mounting face for the Cam Carrier, and more to the point, has anyone ever had one welded/repaired. Any info would be appreciated, crack is about 3mm in length, I will take some photos at the weekend when it's removed.

7th October 2019, 12:36	#4
wizzo337 Loves to post mg zt Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Ely Posts: 288 Thanks: 55 Thanked 87 Times in 52 Posts	Head I'm impressed it lasted this long to be honest. There has always been evidence of a leak in this area since I got the car 3 years ago for a princely sum of £285.00 done about 35,000 miles virtually trouble free. I can see that the head has been off before because a couple of the securing bolt heads look a bit shabby. Got new bolts coming this week along with a gasket and valve guide oil seals. Going to lap the valves in with fine paste to make sure they seal good on the replacement head and fit it. I do love these engines, most people hate them, but they are so easy to work on.

23rd October 2019, 09:11	#7
dattrike Posted a thing or two V6 2ltr auto in copperleaf +CDTI Auto in Royal Blue on loan to Son Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire Posts: 1,707 Thanks: 105 Thanked 476 Times in 267 Posts	These people are recommended on the VMCC site I use for laser welding http://www.e-m-p.biz/ Nothing to do with me BTW __________________

7th October 2019, 11:04	#2
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,752 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	Sounds like a case of over-torquing the carrier bolts at some time. It's essential to torque every bolt on the engine exactly to spec. TC

7th October 2019, 12:10	#3
JOHNDQ Regular poster MG ZT-T Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Bedford Posts: 44 Thanks: 7 Thanked 26 Times in 11 Posts	My 25 had same problem can only be down to poor workmanship in my opinion. Luckily I had a scrap head so swapped the cams and ladder over as the original cams where to loose with the ladder of the scrapped head

7th October 2019, 21:40	#5
JOHNDQ Regular poster MG ZT-T Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Bedford Posts: 44 Thanks: 7 Thanked 26 Times in 11 Posts	Agree I'm after a ZT-T at the minute but if hasn't got a K Series I'm not buying

7th October 2019, 21:57	#6
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	There are firms about that can successfully weld up this type of crack.

1st March 2020, 19:09	#8
wizzo337 Loves to post mg zt Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Ely Posts: 288 Thanks: 55 Thanked 87 Times in 52 Posts	Still not got round to my head replacement. Car still running fine. Something more important came up. I bought a 54 plate ZT 1.8 Turbo with hgf, so that is now at the top of the list for her and me to be getting on with. Also needs the radiator replacing so it's going to be front of car off for the radiator and to improve access, and head off to look at the damage. Rinsed the engine out and it spins over nice and quiet so I'm presuming it's not done any mechanical damage. It's mint and only cost me £375, so even if I have to change the engine, it was worth it.