What goes up must come down….and sometimes must stay down for awhile. I had a rare cylinder head gasket blow the other evening while flying. I actually have been flying over a year with clues of a minor coolant leak that were confirmed when it turned into a major leak. Shortened story…..it didnt take but a few hours to move the engine back…get to the front end to take off the crankshaft pulleys…cam pulleys…etc. and then get the heads off. The first picture clearly shows a steam cleaned piston on the right. I am replacing the timing belt…all idler pulleys as this is a good preventive maintenance program.
I have always said that if I ever had to tear into my motor…I would put some high performance cams in it. I sent my cams off to be ground down for higher horsepower and to move the torque curve more to where I cruise at. This cam grind will give the valves more lift to achieve the horsepower and torque increase.
It will go from 165 horse to 180. I should have it back in the air next weekend of my cams get back in time.
Stan
Replies
So what happened ... just a partial loss of power?
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Eddie: My temps were rising...so I put it down and then steam was coming out the exhaust....not a good sign.
Stan
Stan who makes the power plant for that bird?
Stan,
Even if the gasket was obviously blown, have the heads pressure tested for cracks. The earlier SOHC heads were almost always cracked :( Might not be a bad idea to have a light surface cut taken off the head too but .... make sure the machine shop you are dealing with has the capabilities to insure the proper surface finish. A lot of shops are still using old equipment that really will not properly resurface a modern aluminum head. Modern gaskets require a very smooth, almost like a mirror finish. I would personally recommend a Fel Pro gasket. Sometimes the factory gaskets are not the best thing once an engine has been run and the surfaces are not pristine. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail.
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
Edited 5/12/2007 4:48 pm ET by MrBill
Stan, I can't help but notice your bolts aren't lined up parallel. Do better!
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Forrest
Subaru engine?
George Patterson
Yes...its a Subaru EJ25.
Stan