We've made a start...

[BigWeeeze]

Hello all! Hope you are well!

After months of tidying out the garage to make way for the Z3 restoration, I've finally started stripping her down... I starting to realise where alot of my free time is going to be spent.
So far we've removed upper and lower intake, fan housing and radiator, wiring loom, belts and tensioners, thermostat, water pump, amongst other things.

Almost every intake and vacuum hose is split / not even connected. Injectors are yukky. Signs of neglect everywhere.

I this morning removed the valve cover to find old, sludgy oil inside the cover and some surface rust on the upper most cam lobe. The car had been sat for about 5 years before I acquired it. Could this be caused by condensation inside the cover over that period of time?
Another thing I noticed is that some of the cam lobes have been wearing down on the side of the lobe more than others, if you know what i mean? Is this down to natural wear and tear, or maybe an oil starvation issue?
I have checked the "squirters" inside the valve cover and although rather sludgy, the aren't actually clogged up.

I also have a leak coming down from the gearbox its going to be coming out anyway as she needs a clutch...

Would be delighted to hear everyones opinion on the state of the cam. 2nd hand ones seem fairly inexpensive, and would much rather have her all sorted while shes apart.

Thanks in advance everyone

 

[Zephyr]

I would take them to a polishing machine.

 

[BigWeeeze]

I would take them to a polishing machine.

My plan is to get them out this weekend and have a closer inspection after cleaning. When you say take them to a polishing machine, you mean like a engineering / repair shop?

 

[Zephyr]

Yes. There are special camshaft polishers.
The process is called microfinishing, shouldnt be expensive, around 50€ for both in my country.

 

[BigWeeeze]

Yes. There are special camshaft polishers.
The process is called microfinishing, shouldnt be expensive, around 50€ for both in my country.

That's good to know, thanks very much. I'll check out my area and see what I can find.

 

[IainP]

I just use a felt wheel with some metal polish.
To make a locking tool for the camshafts check google for the dimensions, a piece of 25mm angle is all that's required to make one.

Post your location in your profile, you may have someone close with some of the tools for working on the M44, me if you're in Scotland.

 

[BigWeeeze]

Got the camshafts out today. Both cams and journals don't look bad at all, just the one cam lobe on the inlet shaft. Quite abit of pitting.

Inside the head is also really dark / sludgy. The engine bay is already pretty stripped down, Should I consider maybe taking off the head to get it cleaned and skimmed? Or would I be better off cleaning it up abit and doing regular oil changes after its back together?
There is also some slight wear / scratches on 4 or 5 of the tappets. Are these something I should replace as a full set of 16?

On a positive note, the crank bolt and pulley both came out without a fight

Any thoughts would be much appreciated

 

[Stevo7682]

I may be able to help out with some of your engine internals if you decide to replace any of it.
Stephen.

 

[IainP]

Got the camshafts out today. Both cams and journals don't look bad at all, just the one cam lobe on the inlet shaft. Quite abit of pitting.
View attachment 304485

Inside the head is also really dark / sludgy. The engine bay is already pretty stripped down, Should I consider maybe taking off the head to get it cleaned and skimmed? Or would I be better off cleaning it up abit and doing regular oil changes after its back together?
There is also some slight wear / scratches on 4 or 5 of the tappets. Are these something I should replace as a full set of 16?

View attachment 304487


On a positive note, the crank bolt and pulley both came out without a fight

Any thoughts would be much appreciated
[/QUOT

I would be careful about trying to clean up in situ, all of the rubbish will end up in the sump and potentially go through the engine unless you run some solvent down through the sump and out. If you are getting oil flow to the top end I would be inclined to leave well alone, and do a couple flushes with a mix of cheap mineral oil and flushing oil.
Unless you can get stuff done at trade prices taking the head off will get expensive. Needs bolts as well as gaskets. Relapping 16 valves takes an awful lot longer than you think too, they’re hardened seats. You can have them recut, but that’s not cheap either with 16 of them.
I normally run a soft felt wheel with a soft metal polishing compound over all the mating surfaces of cams and any followers/rockers/tappets, you’ll be amazed how the surface comes up. Any obviously deeply scored at that point are scrap, but the corresponding cam lobe will also be damaged. That will be much more obvious. If it’s not damaged, I just replace the rocker.
Do replace the rocker gasket and seals, the M44 is notorious for rocker oil leaks.

 

[BigWeeeze]

I would be careful about trying to clean up in situ, all of the rubbish will end up in the sump and potentially go through the engine unless you run some solvent down through the sump and out. If you are getting oil flow to the top end I would be inclined to leave well alone, and do a couple flushes with a mix of cheap mineral oil and flushing oil.
Unless you can get stuff done at trade prices taking the head off will get expensive. Needs bolts as well as gaskets. Relapping 16 valves takes an awful lot longer than you think too, they’re hardened seats. You can have them recut, but that’s not cheap either with 16 of them.
I normally run a soft felt wheel with a soft metal polishing compound over all the mating surfaces of cams and any followers/rockers/tappets, you’ll be amazed how the surface comes up. Any obviously deeply scored at that point are scrap, but the corresponding cam lobe will also be damaged. That will be much more obvious. If it’s not damaged, I just replace the rocker.
Do replace the rocker gasket and seals, the M44 is notorious for rocker oil leaks.

Thanks for the in depth response! I think this will be my way forward. Clean the cams, caps and rockers, tappets are getting replaced, bang it all back together and do some regular oil changes, and maybe have the rocker cover back off in a year or so to see how things are looking.
I'm currently taking out the front end and renewing all of the suspension components, so will be cleaning up the timing case and renewing seals as I go.
Also replacing almost every vacuum hose as they are all split or broken.
I knew this project would be fun

 

[Stevo7682]

Hope that all works out if you do end up needing some internal bits get in touch i have just about every bit of an m44 engine bar 3 bits , the crankshaft the block ( have all piston etc) and the cylinder head casting ( have all the other bits cams lifters , casing etc)
Stephen.