So.. What did you do to your '5 today?

In fairness not much, a socket set and and a mains impact wrench I'd only bought that day. Just what they could carry on foot but there was much more valuable stuff in there I would have been gutted to lose.

Got some 5mm steel 90deg bent plates running top to bottom on both sides and shot bolts going directly into those. Anythings possible to break into but now it will be VERY noisy so probably not worth the effort. Annoyingly I've been meaning to get round to this for ages.........

In a continuation of my previous efforts, yesterday I...:

- realised I am an idiot and hadn't undone the rear bolt on the alternator tensioner block
- loosened said bolt and moved the alternator so I could take the auxiliary belt off
- wondered how exactly I'd fitted the alternator belt previously, given it wouldn't come out of the too-small gap between the water pump pulley and the thermostat housing??

- disconnected the (bastard tight) fuel lines
- removed CAS
- removed coil / HT leads connections

- removed water pump pulley
- removed alternator belt
- noticed my redundant air con pipework is only held in by a single zip-tie to the ARB(?)

- removed crank pulley (PITA to get to the bolts with the rad and fans in place)
- watched the crank pulley dished spacer fall off and then wonder which way it was fitted...

- removed cam cover
- removed cambelt covers x3

- rotated the crank to try to align and mark up the cam pulleys, looking at the cam lobes to check cylinder 1 valves were closed
- wondered why the exhaust cam pulley looked maybe 1 or 2 notches clockwise from the inlet cam pulley...

- rotated the crank to get the notch to the TDC mark on the case, looking at the cam lobes to check cylinder 1 valves were closed
- wondered why both the exhaust and inlet pulleys were about 4 or 5 notches rotated clockwise from where they should be when the crank is at TDC???

- marked up the pulleys' positions relative to the crank bolt 'just in case' (even though they seem wrong)
- unbolted the cambelt tensioner pulley, pulled it across to the left, re-bolted it in
- removed the cambelt

- wondered why the rear of the cambelt has been worn away, the front of the head and block is covered in black dusty stuff, and the water pump housing has a clean groove cut into it on the right hand side (!!)
- noticed that the idler pulley bolt was not fully secure, so the idler pulley could rotate 15-20 degrees in each direction

- fitted the cam pulley locking tool from Moss (really useful, I recommend)
- removed the cam pulleys

- removed the front sealing plate
- removed the thermostat housing
- wondered if the housing was missing a gasket between it and the block?

- removed cam caps
- removed cams
- removed, cleaned, numbered cam followers

By this point it was dark so I had to give up lol


Today I have been distracted by the internet (oops) but need to (finally) get the head off.

The inlet manifold bolts are an utter bastard to get to, though so I think I will have to take the head off with it and attempt to break the two apart on the garden table. (I know that's the recommended method anyway but I can't clamp anything to anything, so am worried I won't be able to crack the bolts off without the whole lot moving around and stopping me from doing so!)

I think the idler pulley bolt not being done up was the main issue!

I have new pulleys to put on so will make sure to do everything up properly


I've not got to the oil filter yet but hopefully it won't be too tight!

I have skinny arms and quite small hands, so it's no problem wiggling the oil pressure sensor connector to make it work properly, and I changed my 'cursed water plug' underneath the CAS without taking anything off to get to it lol

not if you are quick

if you are slow then it will drain an ammount itself

Rich.

Advertised it ... well, them ... for sale. Sad times

Russell

One day you'll keep a car for a long period

Hope the Elise hits the spot. Is it a mk1 you are after?

so it has been noticed?







re. the lotus, go for it before they are tooooooooo expensive

Rich.